The Case of Harlow Middle School

Individual Cases- The “case method” is the major learning vehicle of study developed by Harvard University in the late 1890s. Each case study write-up is a memo addressed to the faculty, and includes the following seven components.

The seven components are:

1)Description of Problem & Goal: A brief description of the goal or the challenge (gap analysis, ecological context, evidence and assumptions).

2)Additional Data Needed: What data do I need to understand the obstacles and opportunities? (internal and external environmental scanning)

3)Stakeholder Analysis: (a) Who are the stakeholders? (b) What is their stake? (c) Consequence of your decision for them? (cost/benefit)

4)Decision Model: What information is relevant/What conclusions can be drawn?

5)Options Considered: (Focus your decision-making on two steps: (a) What options would your model recommend? (b) What intentioned outcomes result? (c) What unintended consequences may result? (Positive/Negative)

6)Action Plan: What is our plan of action?

7)Outcome Evaluation/Benchmarking/Monitoring: How will we know if we are succeeding? (Description of specific expected outcomes, success indicators/measures).