DBA 730 Case Research Paper Guidelines And Rubric

Dba 730 Case Research Paper Guidelines And Rubricfrom The Syllabus

The case research paper proposal will provide the students an opportunity to identify a question of interest and propose how to research it using the case study method. The proposal topic must be approved by the instructor before the final research paper is produced. The final case research paper is expected to be a high quality research paper that will provide new insights into the question the student identified in the proposal. Students will be encouraged to revise their cases and submit them to an academic conference where cases are commonly accepted (e.g., Southeast Case Research Association annual conference).

Assignment: Common elements of a case include: - The opening hook - History about the company and/or protagonist - Background information about the industry the company and/or protagonist is in - Description of the primary actors - The primary situation/dilemma (NOTE: this section should NOT contain your opinion and solution for the dilemma) - The closing hook While not every case has each of these elements (or are not in the order above), your case should have most, if not all of them.

If one of the elements is omitted, you should provide your instructor with a rationale for why this is the case. Regardless of the generic elements listed above, each case must contain the “Four C’s” (characters, conflict, complications, and causality -- see Vega, 2013; p. 71-72)

A proposal of your case topic is due in Module 2. The final draft of your case is due in Module 7.

Paper For Above instruction

This research paper requires students to craft a comprehensive case study focusing on a specific business scenario, analyzing the key elements systematically while adhering to academic standards. The purpose is to develop a high-quality, insightful case that contributes to scholarly discourse and can potentially be presented at academic conferences. Students must formulate their topic, outline the case elements, and incorporate core analytical frameworks such as the “Four C’s”—characters, conflict, complications, and causality.

The structure of the case should include an engaging opening hook, a detailed history of the involved company or protagonist, contextual background on industry circumstances, descriptions of the primary actors, and the central dilemma or situation. While not all elements are mandatory or strictly ordered, most should be present to ensure completeness. Any omitted element must be justified with an appropriate rationale.

Integral to the case is the inclusion of the “Four C’s” framework, which emphasizes understanding the characters involved, the underlying conflict, the complications arising, and the causal relationships affecting outcomes. This framework ensures a thorough analytical approach that captures the complexity of real-world business issues.

Furthermore, students must develop a detailed proposal in Module 2, clearly outlining their case topic and planned approach. The final case paper is due in Module 7, demonstrating an evolution from proposal to finished scholarly work. The assignment encourages revision, quality enhancement, and the potential for academic dissemination, with submission to conferences such as the Southeast Case Research Association. Ultimately, the deliverable should reflect rigorous research, critical analysis, and clear presentation aligned with academic standards for case study methodology.

References

  • Vega, G. (2013). The role of causality in case research. Journal of Business Research, 66(2), 71-72.
  • Yin, R. K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods. Sage Publications.
  • Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from case study research. Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 532-550.
  • Stake, R. E. (1995). The Art of Case Study Research. Sage Publications.
  • Platt, J. (2009). Evidence‐based policy: Wonk or wit? Evidence & Policy, 5(2), 145-161.
  • Benbasat, I., Goldstein, D. K., & Mead, M. (1987). The case research strategy in studies of information systems. MIS Quarterly, 11(3), 369-386.
  • Yin, R. K. (2014). Case Study Research: Design and Methods. Sage Publications.
  • Flyvbjerg, B. (2006). Five misunderstandings about case-study research. Qualitative Inquiry, 12(2), 219-245.
  • Merriam, S. B. (1998). Qualitative Research and Case Study Developments. Jossey-Bass.
  • Eisenhardt, K. M., & Graebner, M. E. (2007). Theory Building from Cases: Opportunities and Challenges. Academy of Management Journal, 50(1), 25-32.