Case Study

Case17:Zynga,Inc.:WhoseTurnIsIt?

Conduct a strategic analysis using the Executive Summary template. Prepare and
submit an executive summary that includes the Statement of Integrity, three-page
analysis, and references. The analysis discusses what strategic alternatives are
available and needs to provide a recommended strategy.

You are to work alone to analyze and prepare the Executive Summary for the case. NOTE: Click “Submit Assignment” in the upper right hand corner of your screen to turn in your Executive Summary no later than Sunday, midnight CT.. Name your file with your name and the unit number, i.e. Jones1 or Brown1. Your file should be in either Microsoft word (.doc or .docx) or rich text (.rtf) format.

Synopsis of the Case: The content of the synopsis should present relevant background facts about the case under examination.

Relevant Factual Information about the Problem or Decision the Organization Faced: State the precise problem or decision the organization faced. The section should include information that addressed the business issue under examination. This section should be no longer than a single paragraph.

Explanation of Relevant Concepts, Theories and Applications Derived from Course Materials: This section should be the bulk of your paper. Analysis of the business problem or decision in light of the course concepts must be presented, as well as the business lesson another organization could learn from this situation. Besides citation to the text, learners must conduct research in the University library related to the top. Citing the textbook only is not enough to demonstrate you understand and can apply the course objectives. Here is where comparative and contrasting positions should be considered and examples and illustrations provided.

Recommendations: Provide logical recommendations to address the business lesson identified above. The recommendations need not to be specific to the organization examined, but should consider how other organizations, if similarly situated, could lessen the impact of the problem or decision identified. Recall, that the organization under examination has already moved pasted this problem so any recommendations made, at this point, are fruitless. The focus of this section should be on what other companies should be aware of to address similar problems or decisions. Citation to the textbook alone is insufficient for analysis in this section. Learners should conduct research in the University’s library to support their positions. Depth of scholarship is not demonstrated by providing personal opinions alone, but by using examples, analogies, comparison and illustrations from the academic literature. Not only does this synthesize the material to assist the reader’s understanding, it is an effective way to present the academic sources and extend the discussion of your ideas. This section should be a paragraph or two.

Alternative Recommendations: This section is not a continuation of the prior. Provide suggestions for how to avoid the problem or decision the examined organization faced. Analysis here should be may be forward- thinking, predictive or, most likely, preventative in nature but tied to the thesis statement. Again, opinion is insufficient to provide the required academic analysis. Sources, other than the text, must be provided to sustain the statements made. This section should be a paragraph, at most.

Conclusion: End the assignment with a summary of the important points made in the document. No new information may be presented. Writing a conclusion can be done by rewording the opening or reformulation the topic sentences of each paragraph to make a summary for the reader. This section should be a paragraph, at most.

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Name:
Student Name
Assignment:
Textbook Case Analysis Executive Summary – Week
Date Submitted:
Course (include the
section number:
MG495 Business Policy
Statement of Academic Integrity:
I certify that:
1. I prepared this document specifically for this class;
2. I am the author of this document;
3. I am fully disclosing and giving proper credit to any outside assistance received in
its preparation;
4. I cited sources of information (e.g., data, ideas, charts, etc.) and used this material
to support this document.
5. I did not receive any assistance / help / guidance from others.
Student’s Signature
(type your full
name):
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Writing a Textbook Business Case Analysis Executive Summary
Student Name
Park University
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Writing a Textbook Business Case Analysis Executive Summary
APA does not permit the use of the word introduction as a level heading (APA, 2009,
Rule 3.03 p. 63) In fact, the opening does not even carry a heading, except for a restatement of
the paper’s title. One is assumed by its placement at the beginning. Your opening should provide
specific and meaningful information relevant to the business issue of the case. Appropriate intext citation must be provided. The executive summary should be analytical in nature
encompassing a forward thinking view.
Synopsis of the Case
The content of the synopsis should present relevant background facts about the case
under examination. The information provided should be supported by APA in-text citation.
Provide only facts related to the business aspects of the case. Discussion of the background
should be minimal (i.e., a paragraph, two at most), but still analytical.
Relevant Factual Information about the Problem or Decision the Organization Faced
State the precise problem or decision the organization faced. The section should include
information that addressed the business issue under examination. This section should be no
longer than a single paragraph.
Explanation of Relevant Concepts, Theories and Applications Derived from Course
Materials
This section should be the bulk of your paper. Analysis of the business problem or decision
in light of the course concepts must be presented, as well as the business lesson another
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organization could learn from this situation. Besides citation to the text, learners must conduct
research in the University library related to the top. Citing the textbook only is not enough to
demonstrate you understand and can apply the course objectives. Here is where comparative and
contrasting positions should be considered and examples and illustrations provided.
Recommendations
Provide logical recommendations to address the business lesson identified above. The
recommendations need not to be specific to the organization examined, but should consider how
other organizations, if similarly situated, could lessen the impact of the problem or decision
identified. Recall, that the organization under examination has already moved pasted this
problem so any recommendations made, at this point, are fruitless. The focus of this section
should be on what other companies should be aware of to address similar problems or decisions.
Citation to the textbook alone is insufficient for analysis in this section. Learners should conduct
research in the University’s library to support their positions. Depth of scholarship is not
demonstrated by providing personal opinions alone, but by using examples, analogies,
comparison and illustrations from the academic literature. Not only does this synthesize the
material to assist the reader’s understanding, it is an effective way to present the academic
sources and extend the discussion of your ideas. This section should be a paragraph or two.
Alternative Recommendations
This section is not a continuation of the prior. Provide suggestions for how to avoid the
problem or decision the examined organization faced. Analysis here should be may be forwardthinking, predictive or, most likely, preventative in nature but tied to the thesis statement. Again,
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opinion is insufficient to provide the required academic analysis. Sources, other than the text,
must be provided to sustain the statements made. This section should be a paragraph, at most.
Conclusion
End the assignment with a summary of the important points made in the document. No new
information may be presented. Writing a conclusion can be done by rewording the opening or
reformulation the topic sentences of each paragraph to make a summary for the reader. This
section should be a paragraph, at most.
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References
TEXTBOOK CASE ANALYSIS GUIDANCE (CAG)
TO BEGIN, PLEASE PRINT THIS FORM FOR REFERENCE
This supplement to the syllabus is provided to assist you; HOWEVER, it is also a
directive on how to adequately accomplish a case analysis. The case format guidelines
MUST be followed.
CRITICAL THINKING AND ANALYSIS – As a business/management major, or other
major for that matter, and soon to be college graduate, one of the most important
skills/abilities you should possess is the ability to engage in critical thinking and analysis
(using the skills and knowledge you have learned throughout your education and
applying them). You will never have everything presented to you when you are a junior
manager/executive, but you are expected to take what you have and use your
knowledge and skills to make decisions and to arrive at valid and accurate conclusions,
which may and should include “thinking outside the box”.
To those who think you may have some problems, here are some suggestions and
guidance to aid you in your case study preparation:
______________________________________________________________________
The information provided below is designed to assist you in case analysis.
Don’t make anything up; just take information from the case and the time frame of
when the case was written. You are required to use problem solving and critical
thinking skills in this analysis. If something isn’t specifically stated, then consider
the likelihood of it being a possibility for this given firm considering the
timeframe that the case is taking place in, and the type of industry that the firm
operates in.
Also, DO NOT go on the Internet and look at where the firm is today. The only
information about the company that I want you to use in your case analysis is what is
contained in the textbook or in any approved outside sources specifically listed.
a. The case analysis will be based on the time frame of the case. For example, if the
case was written in 2006, then students will use information from 2006 or earlier
publications.
b. Students will use for references other sources of information as well as the textbook.
These sources should include business magazines and professional journals. Online
sites such as Wikipedia, Portable MBA, Quick MBA are not acceptable references for
case analysis in this course.
c. Students should use any of the following magazines and publications as references:
Barron’s, Business Week, Fast Company, Forbes, Fortune, Harvard Business Review,
Wall Street Journal. However, these aren’t the only outside sources that might be
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applicable, so don’t limit yourself to just these few. Using Google or other Search
Engines can certainly assist you. For assistance in how to locate articles in the above
publications, email and/or call the Park Library, toll free at (800) 270-4347.
d. Make sure that you cite and reference the Case Authors, and NOT the Textbook
authors when giving credit for information obtained from the case.
CASE ANALYSIS TOOLS
Use the tools listed in the textbook for your analysis.
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