Case Study – a written description of a real life problem or situation with no analysis or conclusion, only the facts arranged in chronological sequence … a snapshot of a particular situation within a complex environment … with a focus on a protagonist who is facing a major decision.

http://video.pbs.org/video/1024203198/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJUAGc9yH6A
PBS Nova: Space Shuttle disaster

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/knew/view/
Frontline: The Man Who Knew

Purpose – to place you in the role of decision makers, give you the opportunity to sharpen your problem solving skills and to improve your ability to think and reason rigorously.

Preparation for discussion
1. skim the text quickly & establish the broad issues
2. reread case carefully, underlining key facts
3. write out a list of the main problems in the case & sort out & list the relevant considerations decisions for each one
4. prioritize the problems & list alternatives
5. develop a set of recommendations to address these problems; apply what you have learned in the class readings and lectures
6. evaluate your decisions & be prepared to provide your reasons for making them

Written Assignment  –
Your analysis of the case that you selected for your written assignment should be 2-3 typed, not handwritten, pages. Make sure you identify the name of the case.

What are the broad issues? Are they individual communication issues? Are there systems issues? What type of organization are you looking at? Traditional? Hierarchical? Bureaucratic? Transactional? Relationship based?

What organizational communication behaviors can be attributed to the problem?

How could the problem have been better handled through organizational systems and communication?