Corporate Governance at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia: Not “A Good Thing”
A case study analysis must not just summarize the case. It should identify key issues and problems, and outline and assess alternative courses
of action.
In this case, you will look more closely at corporate governance. Specifically, you will learn that you need corporate governance in an
organization along with how this controls different decisions. You will look also at the internal and external mechanisms.
In addition to the requirements for the analysis of a case study covered below, please specifically answer the following questions:
How did Stewart’s control of the board interfere with directors’ carrying out their fiduciary duties?
What changes in the makeup of the board would have improved governance?
How might changes in corporate bylaws have improved governance?
Format: Must include these headers
Title page
Company and Situation: Describe the Company and Situation
To begin your case study analysis, discuss the critical incidents that have contributed to the current position of the company. Here you must
identify the most important facts surrounding the case .
Does the problem or challenge facing the company come from a changing environment, new opportunity, a declining market share, or inefficient
internal or external business processes?
Strengths, Weaknesses and Alternatives: Identify Strengths and Weaknesses as well as Alternatives
Examine the value creation functions of the company and specify alternative courses of action.
List the courses of action the company can take to solve its problem or meet the challenge it faces. What changes to organizational processes
would be required by each alternative? What management policy would be required to implement each alternative?
Remember, there is a difference between what an organization “should do” and what that organization actually “can do.” Some solutions are too
expensive or operationally difficult to implement, and you should avoid solutions that are beyond the organization’s resources. Important:
Identify the constraints that will limit the solutions available. Is each alternative executable given these constraints?
Implementations: Analyze Implementations This portion of the case study analysis requires that you identify and analyze the structure and
control systems that the company is using to implement its business strategies. Evaluate organizational change, levels of hierarchy, employee
rewards, conflicts, and other issues that are important to the company you are analyzing.
Recommendations: Make Recommendations The final part of your case study analysis should include your recommendations for the company. Every
recommendation you make should be based on and supported by the context of your case study analysis, i.e., what you have already written.
