BEX5601 The Business Environment – Business Case Study Analysis Assignment Tim Hortons case
Weight: 40%
Length: 2,000 words (not including appendices, citations, references, and illustrations)
Type: Individual assessment
Case Analysis Format: The following format is recommended for preparing this assessment
(Only these headings)
Cover page (identifying student’s name, student identification number, and workshop time).
Table of Contents (with page numbers)
Explanation of Key Business Environment Issues (relevant PEST analysis)
Problem Statement.
Problem Analysis.
Identification of Alternative Solutions.
Evaluation of Alternative Solutions.
Recommended Course of Action.
Reference list
Useful Guidelines for Preparing a Case Study Analysis
Please note: These guidelines are not intended to be exhaustive. Students will need to thoroughly familiarise themselves with case study analysis methods prior to preparing this assessment. Resources for case study analysis are available in the Assessment Resources folder on the BEX5601 Moodle site.
1. Explanation of the Key Business Environment Issues – You cannot solve the focal organisation’s problem unless you fully understand the business environment in which the problem is occurring. This section of the case study should be relatively brief. Only include those business environment factors that will impact the proposed solutions you develop to solve the organisation’s problem. Do not simply repeat information from the case. Analyse how the business environment issues are creating problems for the organisation.
2. Problem Statement – Now that you have analysed the potential problems the focal organisation is facing in its business environment, separate the root problem from the symptoms. Analyse how the problem affects the business/corporate objectives of the organisation as well as the macro environment(s) in which the organisation operates. The problem statement must be worded in a clear manner that makes it actionable, i.e. able to be solved. The problem statement should be brief, i.e. 1-2 sentences only.
In business cases studies, you may find more than one problem facing the focal organisation. Ask yourself: Which is the biggest problem/challenge facing the organisation? (That is, which problem is having the business impact on the organisation’s operations). Why is this the biggest problem? Then, solve that (i.e. the biggest) problem only.
3. Problem Analysis – Now that you have fully understood the business environment the focal organisation is operating in, you need to demonstrate an analytical understanding of the business environment elements that caused the problem. Do not simply describe how the problem impacted the organisation, analyse the effect the problems are having on the ability of the focal organisation to operate. You should only identify the one (1) problem that has the biggest impact on the organisation’s ability to operate in its industry and analyse it.
4. Identification of Alternative Solutions – You are required to identify three (3) solutions to the problem you identified in the previous step. Ask yourself: Are the solutions relevant in the current business environment? Do the proposed solutions address the root problem facing the organisation? HINT: All proposed alternative solutions must be capable of solving the focal organisation’s identified problem.
5. Evaluation of Alternative Solutions – Discuss and justify the process of evaluating each solution. Are the evaluations consistent with the business environment in which the focal organisation operates? (The evaluation criteria does not have to be the same for each solution, however, the criteria must be logical in terms of the business environment in which the focal organisation operates). The logic comes from detailed research derived from academic literature.
6. Recommended Course of Action – From the evaluation of the alternative solutions (in the previous step) that potentially solve the focal organisation’s problem, select the one best solution that you recommend the organisation adopts to solve their problem. The remaining two solutions should be ranked in order of the strength the solution has in solving the organisation’s problem. That is, after you have recommended the best solution, from the remaining two solutions, which is the second best? Which is the third best? Why?