Working independently until the peer review on Nov 8, you’ll write a case study of global nonprofit strategic communication including crisis management, and donor relations. For this ongoing study, you’ll choose your own “client” as a case study, talking with me first about possibilities. For more information about this approach, the PDF “Guide to Conducting Harvard Case Analyses” is on our Week 5 Canvas module.

Key points about this case study approach:

BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE.

Must be limited to the time period of the case; so a proposed case study of public relations and development in 1990 would only include 1990 solutions. FOR THIS CLASS, the time period of analysis is TODAY.

There is no “right answer” because there might be many, so focus on your logic and critical thinking.

You can make assumptions, but don’t create details that have no basis in reality.

No passive actions; for instance, don’t recommend that a task force be formed to study the problem.

You are limited to four pages, not counting the cover or financial pages, so your writing must be effective and efficient.

STRUCTURE OF THE CASE STUDY (You’ll choose your own case study “client” during the first weeks of class, after talking with me. )

COVER PAGE, not more than 1 page. Your name, name of the case, the date, course name/number, plus synopsis publishable as a blog post

ANALYSIS, not more than 4 pages, including these elements:

Key Strategic Issue/Problem Identification, less than 1 page:

BACKGROUND, 2-4 sentences

ISSUE/PROBLEM that is direct, actionable, and strategically focused (not operationally or tactically focused), 1-2 sentences. “What happens to the org within the next 1-4 years if the issue is not addressed?” A strategically focused issue/problem would greatly affect the org.

SCENARIOS, 3-5 sentences, two per scenario: Describe the best case, likely case, and worst case scenarios if no action is taken to address the issue/problem

Alternatives (2-3) to address key issue/problem, 1-1.5 pages: These must be mutually exclusive AND strategic.

Strategic advantages of the 2-3 alternatives 1-2 sentences for each

Strategic disadvantages of the 2-3 alternatives, 1-2 sentences for each

RECOMMENDATION,½ – ¾ page long: What should this organization do? Select ONE and only one alternative (from above) as the recommendation.

KEY DECISION CRITERIA and/or assumptions, with rationale, that serve as the basis for your decision, 2-3 sentences for 2-3 criteria.

COURSE OF ACTION: From your list of alternatives, elaborate a bit more about your recommendation beyond its previous description, 1-3 sentences

JUSTIFICATION of course of action: Why is this the best alternative, including weaknesses of other alternatives and why you didn’t pick them? 2-4 sentences

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES for the recommendation: Timeframe for achieving, appropriate specific goals, and expected benefits/costs, 2-5 sentences

IMPLEMENTATION/ACTION PLAN, 1-2 pages: How should the organization go about achieving the recommendation? In as much detail as possible, what are the constraints; for instance, are you missing data, etc. Sample items to possibly include:

Specific activities that need to be done

Assigning of responsibilities (how much staff needed for your recommendations)

Costs of each activity (are you including paid advertising)

Time frames of each activity

Measures of success/failure for each activity

Possible issues of coordination

Possible obstacles that need to be dealt with to successfully complete the recommendation