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Professional Stage - Specialist Options

Case Study

The Examination

The Case Study will consist of a three-hour examination based on details circulated in advance of the examination date. The length of the Case Study will vary from time to time, but will be in the format of a booklet some 10 - 20 pages long. It will be designed to test the ability of candidates to analyse a situation which corresponds as closely as possible to one which might be met in real life, and to write clearly and effectively on it. The Case Study will be broadly based within the general field of purchasing and supply chain management and will assume a sound knowledge of all compulsory subjects within the CIPS course, at both Foundation and Professional Stages.

General Advice on the Case study

In assessment, emphasis will be placed on the following points:

Analysis of the case study

Analysis should lead to the identification of the problems to be solved. For example, it would not be adequate to state ‘the company is unprofitable’ because the lack of profit is a symptom, not a cause, of the problems. Therefore you would need to analyse costs and revenues to identify the reasons for inadequate profits.

Use of appropriate knowledge and techniques

In analysing a case study, and in dealing with the problems therein, you will need to draw on relevant knowledge and use appropriate techniques such as have been dealt with in Foundation Stage and other Professional Stage subjects. For example, use of financial ratios might be used to assess the company’s strengths and weaknesses. In developing solutions to problems you may need to draw on key theories. The examiners will be looking for evidence that you understand and can apply appropriate theories and techniques.

Decision and recommendations

In most case studies, as in real life, there is rarely a ‘right’ answer; there are many possible solutions, some of which are better than others. Where several solutions exist you should outline the courses of action which could be followed, identify the relative merits and disadvantages of each, including any problems in implementation, and then give a clear decision or recommendation.

Communication Skills

Finding the solution to a problem is no use if you cannot convince other people (particularly the reader of your report) of its merits. Therefore effective communication is vital. You should therefore make sure your answers demonstrate:

• a logical structure

• a clearly stated analysis and evaluation.

• good presentation including any sub-headings, charts, diagrams or tables of data which help the reader to follow your argument.

• clear, legible writing free from grammatical and spelling mistakes.

Specific Advice

• Answer the actual questions asked.

• Analyse the case - do not copy it..

• Use appropriate knowledge, theories and techniques.

• Apply the relevant concepts and techniques.

• Assess alternative courses of action.

• Make your decisions clear.

• Justify your decisions.

• Argue your recommendations clearly and logically.

• Present your proposals in a well-written form.

Further Assistance

Previous Case Studies and question papers together with an analysis of the questions can be purchased from the CIPS as well as the useful book “Learning from Case Studies” by G Easton (Prentice/Hall). Prices and order forms are available from the CIPS Bookshop and on the website.