Post Graduate Programme in Management

2014-15
Term: III
TITLE OF THE COURSE: WRITTEN ANALYSIS AND COMMUNICATION

CREDITS: 2
Name of the Faculty member
Abha Chatterjee
Amrita Joshi Madhushri Shrivastava
Faculty Block - Room No.
A - 204
C -109

B - 110

Shweta Kushal

C- 202

Swatantra

C - 103

Email:
abha@iimidr.ac.in

amritaj@iimidr.ac.in

madhusri@iimidr.ac.in

shweta@iimidr.ac.in

swatantra@iimidr.ac.in

+91-731-2439572

+91-731-2439576

Telephone Number
+91-731-2439527

+91-731-2439594

+91-731-2439544

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The basic role of managers apart from doing routine work is to analyze decision situations,
make decisions, and communicate these decisions and the reasons for arriving at those decisions
to superiors for approval, to peers for co-ordination, and to subordinates for implementation. In
short, he or she is a processor, a decision maker, and a decision implementer. In doing these jobs,
skills in understanding and analyzing a situation and presentation of analysis and recommendation
to a given audience play a significant role. How well one performs this role often differentiates a
good manger from a bad one.
Keeping in view the above role of a manager and the challenges associated with it, the course
Written Analysis and Communication (WAC) has been designed. It is a skill-oriented course, which
focuses on developing logical thinking, analytical skills, and skills of communication in
writing.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Participants will learn how to:

Analyze a given situation, formulate a problem question, and explore a range of

alternatives

Recommend one option, assess its risks, and communicate the decision to key
stakeholders
WAC is not a course for improving language ability, descriptive essay writing skills, or creative
writing. The student is assumed to have these skills even before the course starts.

PEDAGOGY/TEACHING METHOD:
The Case Method and report writing are used in the course. Cases describing real managerial
situations, which call for detailed analyses and decisions that can be implemented, provide the
basis for exercises in analysis and written communication. Report writing exercises are also
situation, problem, and audience specific.
EVALUATION
Group submission
Individual submission I
Individual submission II
Total

WEIGHTAGE
40%
25%
35 %
100%

SCHEDULE OF SESSIONS
MODULE I

INTRODUCTION TO THE WAC STRUCTURE

MODULE OBJECTIVE
To introduce the WAC structure to the class

SESSIONS AND OBJECTIVE

Session 1 and 2 : Case Analysis and WAC structure (guided exercise)
Objective: To let the class analyze case and fit it into standard WAC format
Case 1: Holmesafe Ltd.,
MODULE

II INITIATING WAC REPORT WRITING (GROUP)

MODULE OBJECTIVE
To understand and implement each step of analysis so as to write an effective case report

SESSIONS AND OBJECTIVE

Session 3: Case Analysis (2)
Objective: To understand nuances of analysis and manner of putting it into report format
Case 2: Can a Strong Culture Be Too Strong? (2014) HBR Case No. R1401X
Session 4: Feedback
Objective: To discuss the areas of improvement in the reports submitted by the class
Case 2 (contd.)
MODULE

III

FITTING THE ANALYSIS INTO WAC STRUCTURE

MODULE OBJECTIVE
Guided exercise of analyzing a case and putting it into WAC structure

SESSIONS AND OBJECTIVE

Session 5 and 6 : Case Analysis and Peer evaluation
Objective: To analyze the case in groups and peer evaluate
Case 3: We googled you (2007), HBR, Product No. R0706 X

MODULE

IV

CASE ANALYSIS AND WAC REPORT WRITING

MODULE OBJECTIVE
To polish analyzing and report writing skills

SESSIONS AND OBJECTIVE

Session 7 : Case Analysis
Objective: To analyze the case
Case 4: Gen Y in the Workforce, HBR, Product No. R0902X
Session 8: Feedback on Case 4
Objective: To discuss areas of improvement in Report writing
Session 9: Case Analysis
Objective: To analyze the case
Case 5: Henry Tam and the MGI Team,HBR Product No. 404068
Session 10: Feedback on Case 5
Objective: To discuss areas of improvement in Report writing

****