It is helpful to read a case until you are comfortable with the information in it.  Re-readings often are an aid to comprehending facts, possible strategies, or questions that need clarification and were not apparent earlier.  In studying a case, assume you are an outside consultant hired by the firm.  While facts should be accepted as true, statements, judgments, and decisions made by the individuals in a case should be questioned, especially if not supported by facts—or when one individual disagrees with another.

During your reading of the case, you should underline crucial facts, interpret figures and charts, critically review the comments made by individuals, judge the rationality of past and current decisions, and prepare questions whose answers would be useful in addressing the key issue(s).

Identification of the Key Issue(s)

The facts stated in a case often point to the key issue(s) facing an organization, such as new opportunities, a changing environment, a decline in competitive position, or excess inventories.  Identify the characteristics and ramifications of the issue(s) and examine them, using the material in the case and the text.  Sometimes, you must delve deeply because the key issue(s) and their characteristics may not be immediately obvious.