Course Requirements & Grading
(1) Class participation (30%)
Constructive criticism of lectures, assigned readings, or case materials is particularly encouraged. Another useful (and rewarded) form of participation refers to pointing out important issues or illustrations of issues that would otherwise be neglected by the class. People who feel unaccustomed to participating in class should contact the instructor early in the semester.
(2) Two individual case write-ups (20%)
Each report should be 4-5 double-spaced pages, 12-point font, liberal margins . The first write-up should be based on a case assigned for one of the first six sessions. Write-ups are due at the start of the class to which they refer. The format is free but you should address the questions listed on the cover page for each session's readings. Your discussion should be mostly based on the conceptual, technical, and factual knowledge acquired during the course. Feel free to be analytically judgmental and evaluative. Avoid summarizing or repackaging information that is already available in the case materials unless you expose evidence in some unexpected way (e.g. through the calculation of ratios, or the drawing of graphs or the preparation of a typology). It is not necessary for you to compile and analyze additional information.
(3) One group case write-up (25%)
Self-formed groups of three to five (ideally four) students will meet and produce a collective analysis of one of the cases in the syllabus or of another firm that involves a similar situation. This analysis should be in greater depth than the individual write-ups and in general will require obtaining some additional information. The reports should be approximately 10 double-spaced pages, excluding tables, figures, bibliographies, appendices, etc. Group write-ups will be due in October , although you are encouraged to turn them in earlier.
(4) Final Exam ,in-class, one-hour, closed-book exam (25%)
A combination of short and essay questions to monitor more closely how much the student has picked up from the course. No particular preparation is required for the exam. Regular attendance and participation in the course will have equipped you sufficiently to answer the questions asked.