SUGGESTIONS FOR A GOOD CASE STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATION WRITE-UP:

• When writing your strategic recommendation memo, pretend you are about to present this information to the Board of Directors or the CIO of the company in reference. Thus, try not to use vague and voluminous statements, but rather clear and meaningful ones ...remember, your job may be at stake!
• You may complement your analysis with up-to-date, additional information for the organizations described in the cases (good sources would be business and computer periodicals, as well as research journals or even the web.)
• You may also add any other information (current technological developments, other organizations with similar situations and problems, research references and models) relevant to the case that could be integrated into your final analysis.

    Fritolay  - this is an "A" memo

    USAA - this is a "A" memo

    Union Bank of Switzerland - this is a "B" memo

This part is a guide to preparing the case for discussion:

STEP 1: ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT SITUATION ...[WHAT?]

- What are the facts?
- Can you see the whole picture?
- Discuss/exchange ideas with other students (if possible).

- What can you conclude from the situation described?
- Can you observe or predict peoples attitudes, power and influence relationships and their performance criteria?
- What is the role of IT and information management in the case?

- Can you separate the problems from the symptoms?
- Why do you think these problems exist (your assumptions)?

- What would you recommend to solve the problems identified?
- Does your analysis support your recommendation?
- What are the consequences for each alternative?