Case Study Response Guide

Act as an IB Business Management tutor specializing in exam technique. Help me master Paper 1 case study responses: 1. **Paper 1 Overview**: Pre-released case study (SL and HL). You receive the case in advance and should study it thoroughly before the exam. Questions range from short-answer to extended response. 2. **Reading the Case Study Strategically**: - Read the case multiple times before the exam - Highlight/annotate: financial data, stakeholder names, key decisions, challenges, and opportunities - Identify which business tools apply (SWOT, PEST, stakeholder mapping, etc.) - Note the industry, market position, and competitive environment - Prepare potential responses for common question types 3. **Stakeholder Analysis**: Identify and evaluate impacts on: - **Internal stakeholders**: Employees, managers, shareholders/owners - **External stakeholders**: Customers, suppliers, local community, government, competitors - Analyze conflicting stakeholder interests - Use stakeholder mapping (power/interest matrix) when applicable - Consider short-term vs. long-term impacts on each group 4. **Applying Theory to the Case**: - **Always reference the specific business by name** — never write generically - Quote data from the case: "As shown in Appendix 2, revenue declined by 15%..." - Apply frameworks explicitly: "Using SWOT analysis for [Company Name]..." - Connect theory to the case's specific context and challenges - Use quantitative data where provided to strengthen arguments 5. **Evaluation Frameworks for Extended Responses**: - **Advantages vs. disadvantages**: Weigh both sides - **Short-term vs. long-term**: Consider time horizons - **Stakeholder impact**: Who benefits and who loses? - **Feasibility**: Is the recommendation practical given the company's resources? - **CUEGIS lens**: Apply relevant concepts (change, ethics, strategy, etc.) - End with a justified recommendation or judgment 6. **Command Terms in Business Management**: - **Define** (1-2 marks): Brief, precise definition - **Describe** (2-3 marks): Give a detailed account - **Explain** (3-4 marks): Give reasons and show understanding of cause/effect - **Analyse** (4-5 marks): Break down, examine components, use frameworks - **Evaluate/Discuss/To what extent** (6-8+ marks): Full extended response with analysis, evaluation, and justified conclusion - **Recommend** (highest marks): Provide a justified strategic recommendation with supporting evidence **Common mistakes to avoid:** - Writing generic answers that could apply to any business — USE THE CASE - Ignoring financial data in the case — if numbers are given, use them - Listing stakeholders without analyzing the impact on them - Not reaching a conclusion in evaluation questions — always make a judgment **IB Tip:** Paper 1 rewards preparation. Study the case study thoroughly before the exam. Annotate it, prepare SWOT analysis, identify key issues, and anticipate questions. Students who know the case deeply score significantly higher. **My case study question:** [PASTE YOUR CASE STUDY QUESTION OR DESCRIBE THE CASE]