IND/MEC 713: Project Management

Case Study Assignment 2

Due Date: November 26, 2016 (Saturday, Noon)
INSTRUCTIONS:
1.

This assignment counts for 3% of your final grade (as part of participation grade).

2.

This is a group assignment. Just as team work is encouraged in understanding and

executing projects, you should form or join a team to work out this assignment. The
number of students in a group can be 5 to 7. Group members for this assignment can
also be from different lab sections, and need not be the same as that of case study 1.

3.

Please write down the name, student # for each student in the group on the cover page of
the case study report.

4.

All submissions should be on D2L Assignment drop box. Hard copy or email
submissions will not be accepted.

5.

Each group should submit only one case study report. In case of multiple submissions,
only the latest submission will be kept on D2L.

6.

Late submissions (better late than never!) with 20% penalty will be accepted for two
more days after the due date. However, to avoid penalty, submit by the due date and
dont try to update your submission after the due date.

5.

Good luck!

CASE STUDY

Text book pages 308-313: Concrete Masonry Corporation

Each member of the group should read the case study in detail, schedule a meeting or a
conference and discuss together to answer the questions on page 313, in a report format.
The objective of this case study is to develop a harmonious team working skill, goal
oriented evaluation & selection skills, and report writing skills.
CASE STUDY REPORT
Please dont just answer the questions. Please prepare a report in 3-pages (maximum)
typewritten, one-and-half-spaced, using default margins and 12-point type. In addition to
the main body, you can attach an appendix that includes a list of references, and any details of
the calculations, figures, tables, etc. The appendix itself should not exceed 2 pages.
Your report should start with an executive summary (maximum 0.5 pages), which summarizes
your report in short. The main body of the report should present a detailed discussion based on
the provided questions and your analysis of the quantitative questions. Clearly state your
assumptions. Be selective. Do not restate case facts. Summary tables in the text are encouraged
for quantitative information. The details of the calculation can be put in the appendix, but any
result that is important for answering questions or providing managerial insights should be
referenced in the text. You may use figures to visually represent information contained in the
text. Make sure tables and figures are referenced in the text.

General Guidelines
An ideal case study report should be composed of four sections: (a) executive summary, (b)
problem analysis, (c) detailed recommendations, and (d) limitations.
Executive Summary
State the goals and major issues. If you do not intend to address all of the major problems in
your recommendations, then indicate which one(s) you do intend to address. Use caution in
your selection. Do not choose a minor problem with an obvious solution. Next, summarize your
recommendations. Indicate the results you expect. This section of the report should take from
one to two paragraphs.
Analysis and Selection criteria
Provide any analysis necessary to support your statement of the problems. Indicate the
significance or importance of the problems through discussion of their magnitude, urgency,
difficulty, and/or possible consequences of a delay in addressing them. Discuss causal

relationships whenever possible. You may include a discussion of secondary problems, as well.
Indicate why you think these are secondary.
Recommendations
Give the details of your recommendations. Take a stand for action. Do not merely suggest "more
study" or "call in a consultant." Direct your recommendations to eliminating the underlying
causes, not merely minimizing or eliminating the symptoms. Indicate precisely how these will
help to alleviate the problem. Provide supporting analysis. Include the most significant and
relevant facts, assumptions and principles. Include computational support where appropriate.
You may want to discuss major alternatives that you rejected with a brief explanation of your
reasons for rejecting them. Discuss the results you expect in greater detail, give support, and
indicate when you anticipate the realization of the benefits. Be realistic. Identify major costs
necessary for implementation. (This should be the primary section.)
Limitations
Discuss limitations of your analysis or recommendations. These might include assumptions you
made but do not feel comfortable with, or impediments to success that may prove more difficult
than you expect. Discuss potential disadvantages of your recommendations.