Individual Project - The London 2012 Olympic Games Your individual project consists in working through the Harvard Business School Case Study \"The London 2012 Olympic Games\". When working through the case study make sure to consider all subjects covered in the various classes. While there is plenty of material in the case study, researching additional information is a plus. th The project is due for the last class on May 11 , where we will discuss it. How to prepare the Case Study What is a case? Along with group work, experiential learning and traditional lectures, case studies are an important component of the education. A case is a description of a situation faced by an organization. It typically includes information regarding the organization's history, management team and processes as well as the other data. Why are cases used in the classroom? Analyzing a case provides practice both in diagnosing an organization's situation and in formulating action plans to improve that situation. Case studies allow program participants to follow along as a real-life company problem unfolds. Using the same information the profiled company's managers had at each stage, participants learn to diagnose (and solve) problems quickly, to identify new opportunities, and to develop several possible courses of action simultaneously. Then, as a group, the class evaluates everyone's plans, discussing the potential risks and rewards of each. Part of what makes case analysis challenging and difficult is also what makes it so valuable: The issue is not stated in the case. It is up to the reader to determine what the issue is. Cases have no unique answer. They usually have more than one good solution. Information is incomplete, misleading, or extraneous. The reader must ascertain what information is of value. However, there are typically questions stated in the case study that need to be answered. Remember that in real business the challenge is not to find answers to questions, but the right questions in the first place. In other words, case studies try to mirror real life. Analyzing a case gives the reader a chance to practice making sound business decisions and solving complicated problems when there is no obviously right answer. Working through a case study, participants hone the same strategic thinking skills they use to tackle difficult problems in their own workplaces. How should a case be analyzed? 1. Read the case quickly. Try to get a sense of the big picture rather than focusing on details. You should be able to diagnose the problem area, be it marketing, manufacturing, human resources or perhaps a combination of areas. 2. Read the case again, this time focusing on specific, relevant facts that support your diagnosis of the problem area. Make use of both qualitative and quantitative information, particularly information that is included in the exhibits. 3. State the problem in clear, concise terms. Be careful not to confuse symptoms of the problem with the actual problem. 4. Generate alternative solutions to the problem as you have stated it. Some solutions may be included in the case write-up. Other solutions may be based on your own previous experiences. Still other solutions may incorporate principles you learned during class. 5. Evaluate the alternatives in terms of how well they achieve a resolution to the BAS222 Event Management & Operations Paul Freudensprung organization's problem as you have defined it. Recomend the best solution. 6. Consider the implementation of your solution and the possible problems it may cause. Think of steps you can take to ensure a trouble-free implementation. 7. Prepare to defend your solution and its implementation as the best possible choice. Remember: Case analysis is more an art than a science. There are no prescribed solutions. Present points 3 to 6 in a report in word format (use graphics and illustrations wherever helpful) Prepare a short PPT for point 7 to present in the last class. BAS222 Event Management & Operations Paul Freudensprung