Case Problem, MATH318

Case Problem

During the semester you will write a two to six page paper analyzing a case problem from the text. You will be assigned to work on one of the following problems:

Specialty Toys part 2, p. 92
Specialty Toys part 3, p. 92
Specialty Toys part 4, p. 92
Property Purchase Strategy part 1, p. 145
Lawsuit Defense Strategy part 1, p. 146

You may have a preference for a certain problem, or a study group may wish to work together on the same problem. If so, please let me know in writing what you want and why by February 21 at the latest.

Your solution to this problem should be written up in the form of a memo addressed to an appropriate individual or group (e.g. to Glenn Foreman or the CFO of Specialty Toys, Inc.)

The memo should start by outlining the question posed and your answer to that question in simple language. The body of the paper should present the data you're given to start with (consider organizing it in tables!), list any assumptions you made in solving the problem, describe the calculations you use to reach your conclusion, state the results of your calculations, and describe how those results led to your recommendations. You may wish to attach pages of handwritten calculations or a spreadsheet.

Ideally, any of your classmates should be able to reproduce your work and understand your conclusion just by reading the memo.

While working on this report please do not share files, including Excel spreadsheets, with other students. You are encouraged to work together to understand the problem and find a solution to it. However, the report you turn in should reflect your understanding of the problem, not parrot something a classmate has shared with you.

You will be graded on a scale of 0 to 20, where 16 is an A and 14 is a B. Your grade will be assigned according to the criterion below:

Grade Calculation

10 The author uses an elegant method to reach the conclusion and is clearly in command of the subject.

8 All calculations are present, well justified by the data and assumptions provided, and correct.

6 Important steps in the calculations are omitted, entire parts of the question are skipped, or a few errors are made.

4 Many errors are made or many steps are left out.

2 The calculations do not appear to be related to the data given or conclusions reached.

Grade Discussion

5 The question and conclusion are simply stated and it is clear how the mathematics support the conclusion.

4 The question and conclusions are clearly stated but it's occasionally unclear how the calculations answer the questions.

3 Calculations or conclusions are poorly explained.

2 Calculations or conclusions are incorrectly explained.

1 The relation between calculations and conclusions is unclear.

Grade Presentation

5 The paper is well organized and professional.

4 The report opens with a clear description of the problem, data and assumptions and the conclusion is pertinent and well written. Grammar, sentence structure, and paragraph formation are all correct.

3 The introduction or conclusion is weak or confusing, there are 2 or more malformed paragraphs or sentence fragments, or there are 3 or more grammatical or spelling errors.

2 The introduction and conclusion are difficult to identify, many paragraphs are poorly formed, or there are more than 10 grammatical or spelling errors.

1 It is difficult to make sense of the paper.

Grade	Calculation
10	The author uses an elegant method to reach the conclusion and is clearly in command of the subject.
8	All calculations are present, well justified by the data and assumptions provided, and correct.
6	Important steps in the calculations are omitted, entire parts of the question are skipped, or a few errors are made.
4	Many errors are made or many steps are left out.
2	The calculations do not appear to be related to the data given or conclusions reached.

Grade	Discussion
5	The question and conclusion are simply stated and it is clear how the mathematics support the conclusion.
4	The question and conclusions are clearly stated but it's occasionally unclear how the calculations answer the questions.
3	Calculations or conclusions are poorly explained.
2	Calculations or conclusions are incorrectly explained.
1	The relation between calculations and conclusions is unclear.

Grade	Presentation
5	The paper is well organized and professional.
4	The report opens with a clear description of the problem, data and assumptions and the conclusion is pertinent and well written. Grammar, sentence structure, and paragraph formation are all correct.
3	The introduction or conclusion is weak or confusing, there are 2 or more malformed paragraphs or sentence fragments, or there are 3 or more grammatical or spelling errors.
2	The introduction and conclusion are difficult to identify, many paragraphs are poorly formed, or there are more than 10 grammatical or spelling errors.
1	It is difficult to make sense of the paper.