Hello, Readers and welcome to the latest installment of the
Educated Leadership Blog!
Our discussion this week involves a web page on eHow.com (King,
2012) that provided information on ways to answer case study questions. In the
Master’s degree program for Leadership that
I am enrolled, we are faced with answering questions about case studies in many
of our classes. As noted by King, “Case study examinations can be used in
business, technology, medicine, psychology, advertising, law, consulting, and
science. The questions are ideal for testing the knowledge of an individual who
must prove his grasp of the subject matter in a particular field, i.e., the legal
professional” (2012, p.1).
King’s discussion was aimed at oral case study examinations,
but the techniques are applicable to any variation of the archetype. She was,
in my opinion, somewhat elementary in her views. She noted, “On the day of the
case study test, relax and allow yourself to remember what you have learned
from previous readings on the subject. You should possess a wealth of knowledge
in this area from classes you have taken or work experience” (King, 2012, p. 1).
There are some seriously broad expectations in that statement.
Further along in her article, King did provide some good
nuggets of information. She pointed out that it is good practice to read the
question, or questions, in their entirety before reading the case. Knowing what
you should be solving or resolving helps focus the mind as one is reading the
case. Additionally, she suggests visualizing the situation posed by the case as
a way of looking for answers. As she mentioned, it could well be that one has
experiences in their life that would apply in the case they are studying. The
brevity of her article does not leave King much room to delve into many techniques
for solving case studies but provides
some basic places to start.
In my experience, understanding the learning points from the
lesson is the primary tool for working with case studies. The situation faced
by the characters in the story will relate back to the reading or information
provided to be studied for the week or weeks prior. I ask myself, “How am I
going to apply the theories and techniques I have been learning about in a way
that will solve or mitigate the issues the protagonists and antagonists face in
the story?”
Additionally, I draw upon my years of experience in the
workforce and in school to look for tools I can apply to the described situation.
I like to look for ways to intertwine my experience and the learning points for
the lesson to apply what I have learned and cement it in my memory.
For someone facing case studies for the first time, Ms. King’s
article is not a bad place to start. While she presents valid points, the lack
of depth in the article leaves it far from comprehensive in utility. I would not
recommend it to someone who has faced case studies already, as they have probably
developed a technique for analyzing and commenting on the information.
King, J. (2012). How to Answer Case Study
Questions. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/how_8342765_answer-case-study-questions.html
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