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Midterm Exam and Case Analysis Preparation Notes
Exam Preparation Overview
Midterms week indicated a focus on exam preparation.
Practicing with a practice exam, but encountered issues with understanding performance results.
Practice exam shows results as pending; needs a fix for visibility of answers.
Importance of understanding how well you performed before retaking.
Exam Logistics
Format: 50 questions, 100 minutes.
Exam types include straightforward and scenario-based questions.
Opens tomorrow at 9 AM, closes Sunday at 11:59 PM.
Single sitting, the clock begins as soon as the exam starts.
No camera required; maintain honor system and honesty policy.
Notes allowed, but no other outside resources.
Exam Guidance
Utilize recordings and PowerPoint slides (especially the edited versions).
Encourage reviewing textbook chapters for thorough understanding.
Questions about the exam style and approach to studying mentioned by other students.
Individual Case Analysis
Timing: Due at the end of week 10, currently week 7.
Group projects will begin after completion of individual case analysis.
Instructions for the analysis posted under week 10 in class.
Discussion of teams for group project will be announced.
Communication encouraged within groups to foster collaboration before project assignment.
Case Study Details
Focus on Southwest Airlines; analyze challenges and strategic decisions.
Elements included in case: company’s history, financial statements, current challenges, and strategic direction.
Financial data for analysis includes balance sheets, income statements, and financial ratios from the last three years.
Questions to Address in Analysis
Business Model
Evaluate the appealing aspects of Southwest's business model and performance measures.
Strategic Elements
Discuss significant components of Southwest's strategy and its effectiveness.
Current Issues
Identify issues Southwest faces and their planned actions to address these issues.
Industry Analysis
Conduct a five-forces analysis of the airline industry; identify the most pressing forces impacting Southwest.
Financial Ratios
Calculate a minimum of 10 financial ratios, compare against competitors and industry averages with interpretations.
Alternative Strategies
Propose alternative strategies Southwest should consider given their current challenges.
General Formatting for Case Analysis
Standard formatting: Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced.
Follow APA format for citations and references.
The emphasis on understanding and carefully interpreting financial data and ratios essential for analysis.
Concept Clarification
Discussion on generic strategies: explain cost leadership, differentiation, focused cost leadership, and focused differentiation.
Use of industry examples (e.g., Walmart and Apple) provided to clarify strategic concepts.
Final Thoughts
The instructor suggests students start preparing for case analysis post-midterm.
Future Q&A sessions will be available for further clarifications on the case study and exam preparation.
Exam Preparation Overview
As midterms week approaches, there is an increased focus on comprehensive exam preparation strategies to enhance performance and understanding of the material.
Students are engaging in practice exams to gauge their readiness, but some have reported issues with the visibility of their performance results.
Specifically, the practice exam results are shown as pending; this issue needs to be resolved to ensure students can review their answers and identify areas of improvement prior to retaking the exam.
Understanding one’s performance before attempting a retake is crucial for targeted studying and improving outcomes.
Exam Logistics
Format: The exam consists of 50 questions, to be completed in a duration of 100 minutes.
The types of exam questions include both straightforward and scenario-based formats, which will test a range of knowledge and application skills.
The exam will open tomorrow at 9 AM and will remain available until Sunday at 11:59 PM.
It is a single sitting exam; the timer will begin as soon as students start the exam, emphasizing the importance of time management.
A camera is not required during the exam; however, students must adhere to the honor system alongside the institution’s honesty policy to maintain academic integrity.
Students are allowed to use their notes during the exam, but no other outside resources are permitted, ensuring that all materials used are pre-approved and accessible for study purposes.
Exam Guidance
Students are encouraged to utilize course recordings and PowerPoint slides, especially the edited versions for clarity and focused review.
A thorough review of relevant textbook chapters is recommended to ensure a strong understanding of key concepts and applications.
Other students have expressed questions about the exam style and effective studying approaches, highlighting the need for peer support and collaboration in preparation.
Individual Case Analysis
Timing: The case analysis report is to be submitted by the end of week 10, with the current context indicating that it is now week 7.
Group projects will commence following the individual case analysis, allowing teams to apply the concepts learned independently.
Detailed instructions for the analysis have been posted under week 10 in the course materials for ease of access and reference.
Information about team formation for the upcoming group project will be announced soon, fostering collaboration and preparation.
Communication among group members is highly encouraged to promote teamwork and effective division of tasks before the project assignment is made.
Case Study Details
The focus of the case study will be on Southwest Airlines, where students are expected to conduct a detailed analysis of the challenges it faces and the strategic decisions made to address these challenges.
Key elements to be included in the case analysis are: the company’s history, comprehensive financial statements, current operational challenges, and the strategic direction taken by the airline.
Financial data to analyze will include balance sheets, income statements, and a set of financial ratios spanning the last three years to provide insights into the company's performance over time.
Questions to Address in Analysis
Business Model - Evaluate the appealing aspects of Southwest's business model, including performance measures and operational efficiency.
Strategic Elements - Discuss the significant components of Southwest's strategy, including cost leadership and customer service, assessing their effectiveness in the current market.
Current Issues - Identify and detail the key issues Southwest currently faces alongside their planned actions to address these challenges effectively.
Industry Analysis - Conduct a five-forces analysis of the airline industry, identifying the most pressing external forces impacting Southwest and their potential implications.
Financial Ratios - Calculate a minimum of 10 financial ratios, compare them against industry averages and competitors, providing interpretations that highlight performance insights.
Alternative Strategies - Propose a range of alternative strategies Southwest Airlines should consider in light of their current operational challenges, backed by financial and strategic reasoning.
General Formatting for Case Analysis
Standard formatting specifications are: Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced to ensure readability.
Adherence to APA format for citations and references is mandatory to maintain academic integrity and formatting standards.
A strong emphasis is placed on understanding and accurately interpreting financial data and ratios, a vital element for a substantive analysis.
Concept Clarification
A discussion on generic strategies is included: explaining cost leadership, differentiation, focused cost leadership, and focused differentiation.
Relevant industry examples (e.g., Walmart and Apple) will be provided to clarify strategic concepts in a practical context.
Final Thoughts
The instructor suggests that students begin preparing for the case analysis immediately following midterm examinations to ensure ample time for thorough research and compilation of analysis.
Future Q&A sessions will be scheduled to provide additional support and clarification regarding the case study and exam preparation, fostering an environment conducive to learning.
NoteStudied by 9 peopleNoteStudied by 226 peopleNoteStudied by 16 peopleNoteStudied by 10 peopleNoteStudied by 71 peopleNoteStudied by 2847 people