PrintThe Case Study Nonmarket Analysis Team Project consists of three parts submitted individually. Parts I and II are written documents, which may include figures, tables, and graphics. Part III is a slide presentation. Please see Canvas calendar for due dates.
Guidelines for individual Parts of the Case Study are provided below. The following important guidelines apply to all Parts--
Please remember that all parts of this Case Study project must be formatted using APA style, with the exception that you do NOT need an abstract. APA requires in-text citation, which means you have to place a citation in the text of the document next to any information that you gathered from an outside source. Think of it this way: If you did not know the information before you put it in the document, you should cite it. Penn State has an APA guide here, but Purdue University as a more comprehensive one here.
- Audience
Parts I and II of the Case Study are prepared for a general audience. Assume the reader has no prior background on the topic. As you will see, Part III is a presentation that is designed to be delivered to a stakeholder. When creating Part III keep that in mind. - Organization
Use subheads, paragraphs, bulleted lists, and other defining features to organize each Part of your case study clearly and orderly. This will help your team be sure that all bases are covered and will help the audience understand the points you are making. Format all structural features (e.g., subheads, lists) consistently. Be sure that all figures, graphs, and tables are clearly labeled and referenced. - Attribution
For each part of this assignment, you must clearly indicate which team member(s) worked on which section(s). This is very important, and must be done! You can use "comments" (tool available in Word and PowerPoint) or some other method, as long as it is clear. - Overall Presentation
Write in a professional tone (not in the first person). Format Parts I and II consistently. Use page numbers. Give your Case Study a short title and include it on all pages and slides (in footer or header). For all Parts (I, II, and III) include a title page/slide with your Case Study title, course name, date, and names of all Team members. Carefully spell check, grammar check, and proofread each Part before submitting. - References
All sources MUST be cited. Please review the Academic Integrity Guide (link also in Resources menu) for guidelines and formatting methods. Include a properly formatted and organized list of References with each Part of your Case Study. Use APA formatting. - Submitting the Assignments
Please note that there are two due dates for each submission (Parts I, II, and III). The first due date is for individual team members to submit to a team leader. All individual contributions must be submitted at this time to the team leader. As you will see, they will also be submitted on Canvas. A team leader (or leaders) must be selected for each Part. I suggest rotating among group members, but the same person can act as leader for multiple Parts. If you do not submit on time, you will not receive credit for that portion of the assignment. This must be done in order to provide the team leader time to integrate the individual submissions together, check spelling and grammar, and so forth. The second due date is when the full assignment is due. For each Part, you will submit a single document as a group by this second due date. Revisions may be made after the individual submissions are given but before the final group submission is made.
All Parts of all Team Case Studies will be shared with others in this course and will be the subject of Case Study Q & A Discussion Forums. This will happen near the end of the term after all Case Studies are complete.
Part I. Background and Status
(For example, see RPS Case Study, Lesson 1, “Background and Status”)
Research and collect background on your Case Study Issue. Document key terms and concepts, historical context, current status, and the overall timeline of relevant past events and upcoming ones (if known). Clearly explain what the issue is about! Use data, graphs, pictures, and tables as needed to describe the issue. You are NOT taking a side on the issue (yet)! Provide an objective analysis of the issue.
Format Part I as a Word (.doc or .docx) file and upload to Canvas using the link to "Case Study Part I. Background and Status." This is under the Case Study Assignments subheading in the Modules tab. Don't forget to submit your individual contribution on the first due date!
You must identify who worked on each section. You can just insert comment boxes or indicate who wrote the section by putting the student's name next to the section title/header (as long as it is clear who did each section).
Note that all sources must be cited, and direct quotes must be indicated. I use a software that will clearly indicate any material that is plagiarized. I will be very strict about this, and take academic dishonesty very seriously.
Part II. Stakeholders and Nonmarket Analysis Summary Framework
(For example, see RPS Case Study, Lesson 2, “Stakeholder and Nonmarket Analysis Summary Framework”)
Identify stakeholders (firms, associations, groups, or individuals) that have an interest in the outcome of your team’s Issue. Each team member must analyze one stakeholder. Your stakeholder list MUST represents a balance of different positions on the Issue. You need to have at least two that support and two that oppose the issue.
Use the RPS Case Study Part II as a model. For each stakeholder, provide name, type of organization, and its mission. Establish stakeholder’s initial position on the issue and explain the basis for this position.
For each stakeholder, continue the analysis with an orderly presentation of all variables related to demand and supply of nonmarket action.
To evaluate demand for nonmarket action, assess available substitutes, aggregate benefits, and per capita benefits. To evaluate supply of nonmarket activities, assess effectiveness (numbers, coverage, and resources) and cost of organizing. Provide specific justifications for the supply/demand scale item that you use.
To make these assessments, you’ll need to establish a scale for each variable. You can use the one in the RPS case study (for example, benefits are “small”, “moderate”, “considerable”, “large” or “substantial”) or design your own. Either way, include the scale you are using in your case study.
In all cases, be sure to give some reasoning that supports the value you have assigned. E.g. if you indicate that “coverage” is “extensive,” explain why you believe this to be true.
Now you are ready to predict the likelihood of the stakeholder taking nonmarket action. To do this, review the information you have collected to this point. For each stakeholder, weigh the demand for taking action against the supply of action. The greater the demand, the more likelihood of taking action. The greater the cost (considering available resources), the less likelihood of taking action. You’ll need to establish a scale for this too. You can use the one from the RPS case study or establish your own. Either way, be sure to include it.
Finally, summarize all of your findings into a Nonmarket Analysis Summary Framework. You’ll find an Excel template for the Nonmarket Analysis Summary Framework in the “Team Project/Case Study Info” folder under the Modules tab. Be sure to group stakeholders based on their position on the issue. Integrate the Excel Summary Framework into your Part II document.
You must identify who worked on each section. You can just insert comment boxes or provide a list of who worked on what.
Again, you are not taking sides on this issue. You must include two stakeholders that support and two stakeholders that oppose the issue.
Format Part II as a Word (.doc or .docx) file and upload to Canvas ("Case Study Part II. Stakeholders and Framework"). Don't forget to submit your individual submission by the first due date!
Part III. Strategy and Recommendations
Parts I and II of the Case Study didn't "pick sides." Part I framed the issue (Background and Status). Part II identified key stakeholders on all sides of the issue and gave a basis for their positions.
In Part III, your Team WILL take sides. As a Team, select one of your stakeholders and assume you are making nonmarket strategic recommendations to that stakeholder. Clearly identify the stakeholder to whom your presentation is submitted.
Imagine that your Team has been invited to make recommendations to this stakeholder. You've been asked to prepare and submit a presentation of no more than 20 slides. The presentation needs to stand on its own (you can include limited notes in the Notes section of PowerPoint if desired). It will be submitted electronically and shared with others, without your being there.
Present your Team's nonmarket strategy recommendations with as much detail as possible. If your issue will be handled in a government arena, consider appropriate public politics strategies. If your issue is not being addressed in a government arena, consider appropriate private politics strategies. Or some of both. Include specifics; be imaginative!
You must identify who worked on each section. You can just insert comment boxes or provide a list or put names in the notes section of the PowerPoint.
Organize your strategy and recommendations carefully. Be sure that what you are suggesting and why will be clear to your stakeholder. But, do not pack your slides with words and data. Be creative and succinct. Feel free to write limited narrative in the slide notes at the bottom of the page, but please keep the slides themselves relatively uncluttered.
The RPS Case Study “Strategy and Recommendations" in Lesson 3 gives an example of a nonmarket strategy that you may find to be a helpful reference. It is not, however, in a presentation (slide) format as required for Part III of your Team's Case Study.
Format Part III as a PowerPoint Presentation (.ppt or .pptx) file and upload to Canvas ("Case Study Part III. Strategy and Recommendations"). Individual submissions must be made by the due date.