BUSINESS 2257
Accounting & Business Analysis
Western University · Ivey Business School
─────────────────────────────────
THE COMPLETE IVEY CASE
ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK GUIDE
How to Solve Any Ivey Case in Exam Conditions
✓ 6-Step DECIDE Framework
✓ Financial Analysis Toolkit (Income Statement · Cash Flow · Balance Sheet)
✓ 10 Solved Case Templates with Model Answers
✓ 90-Minute Exam Time Management System
✓ Common Ivey Cases: Creemore, Phil's Haulage, Enigma & more
· Updated for Summer Day Final Exams · Graded A+
, HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE · Read this first
Business 2257 at Western uses the Ivey case method exclusively. Unlike traditional courses with multiple-
choice exams, BUS 2257 evaluates you on your ability to read a business case, identify the real problem,
run a quick financial analysis, and make a defensible recommendation — all under time pressure.
This guide gives you a repeatable, tested system for doing exactly that. Use it to:
• Practice the 6-step DECIDE framework until it becomes automatic
• Quickly set up financial statements from case data
• Structure your written responses the way Ivey professors expect
• Manage your time across reading, analysis, and writing in 90 minutes
⚡ The single most important thing to know about BUS 2257 cases:
The "right" answer is almost never about finding THE correct number. It's about demonstrating a logical,
well-supported reasoning process. A clearly structured argument with minor calculation errors beats a
correct number with no explanation every time.
, SECTION 1 · The 6-Step DECIDE Framework
Every Ivey case — regardless of industry, topic, or complexity — can be solved using this framework.
Memorize the acronym. Apply it in every practice case before your exam.
D — Define the Decision
What is the one decision the protagonist must make? Write it as a single sentence in the form: "Should
[person/company] [do X] or [do Y]?"
• Read the last paragraph of the case first — it usually states the decision explicitly
• Distinguish the central decision from background context and symptoms
• Common BUS 2257 decision types: accept/reject an investment, choose between financing options,
set a price, approve a budget, resolve a cash flow crisis
Exam tip — D step (time: 2 minutes)
Write your decision statement at the top of your answer before doing anything else. It anchors your entire
response and signals to the marker that you understand what the case is actually asking.
E — Establish the Criteria
What does a good decision look like? List 3–5 criteria that any viable option must satisfy. These come from
the case protagonist's stated goals and constraints.
• Financial criteria: profitability, cash flow, payback period, ROI, break-even
• Strategic criteria: fits company mission, competitive position, growth potential
• Operational criteria: feasible to implement, within capacity, manageable risk
• Personal criteria: family goals, risk tolerance, lifestyle (common in small business cases)
Example criteria from a typical BUS 2257 case: (1) Generates positive cash flow within 12 months, (2) NPV >
0 at a 10% discount rate, (3) Does not require additional borrowing, (4) Consistent with the owner's goal of
maintaining control of the business.
C — Consider the Alternatives
List every realistic option the protagonist has. Most BUS 2257 cases have 2–4 alternatives. Never evaluate
just one option — always compare.
• Always include a "do nothing / status quo" option unless the case makes it impossible
• Look for alternatives the case hints at even if not explicitly stated
• Common BUS 2257 alternatives: expand vs. don't expand, buy vs. lease, debt vs. equity financing,
accept vs. reject a customer/contract, launch vs. delay
Quick alternative-spotting trick
Accounting & Business Analysis
Western University · Ivey Business School
─────────────────────────────────
THE COMPLETE IVEY CASE
ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK GUIDE
How to Solve Any Ivey Case in Exam Conditions
✓ 6-Step DECIDE Framework
✓ Financial Analysis Toolkit (Income Statement · Cash Flow · Balance Sheet)
✓ 10 Solved Case Templates with Model Answers
✓ 90-Minute Exam Time Management System
✓ Common Ivey Cases: Creemore, Phil's Haulage, Enigma & more
· Updated for Summer Day Final Exams · Graded A+
, HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE · Read this first
Business 2257 at Western uses the Ivey case method exclusively. Unlike traditional courses with multiple-
choice exams, BUS 2257 evaluates you on your ability to read a business case, identify the real problem,
run a quick financial analysis, and make a defensible recommendation — all under time pressure.
This guide gives you a repeatable, tested system for doing exactly that. Use it to:
• Practice the 6-step DECIDE framework until it becomes automatic
• Quickly set up financial statements from case data
• Structure your written responses the way Ivey professors expect
• Manage your time across reading, analysis, and writing in 90 minutes
⚡ The single most important thing to know about BUS 2257 cases:
The "right" answer is almost never about finding THE correct number. It's about demonstrating a logical,
well-supported reasoning process. A clearly structured argument with minor calculation errors beats a
correct number with no explanation every time.
, SECTION 1 · The 6-Step DECIDE Framework
Every Ivey case — regardless of industry, topic, or complexity — can be solved using this framework.
Memorize the acronym. Apply it in every practice case before your exam.
D — Define the Decision
What is the one decision the protagonist must make? Write it as a single sentence in the form: "Should
[person/company] [do X] or [do Y]?"
• Read the last paragraph of the case first — it usually states the decision explicitly
• Distinguish the central decision from background context and symptoms
• Common BUS 2257 decision types: accept/reject an investment, choose between financing options,
set a price, approve a budget, resolve a cash flow crisis
Exam tip — D step (time: 2 minutes)
Write your decision statement at the top of your answer before doing anything else. It anchors your entire
response and signals to the marker that you understand what the case is actually asking.
E — Establish the Criteria
What does a good decision look like? List 3–5 criteria that any viable option must satisfy. These come from
the case protagonist's stated goals and constraints.
• Financial criteria: profitability, cash flow, payback period, ROI, break-even
• Strategic criteria: fits company mission, competitive position, growth potential
• Operational criteria: feasible to implement, within capacity, manageable risk
• Personal criteria: family goals, risk tolerance, lifestyle (common in small business cases)
Example criteria from a typical BUS 2257 case: (1) Generates positive cash flow within 12 months, (2) NPV >
0 at a 10% discount rate, (3) Does not require additional borrowing, (4) Consistent with the owner's goal of
maintaining control of the business.
C — Consider the Alternatives
List every realistic option the protagonist has. Most BUS 2257 cases have 2–4 alternatives. Never evaluate
just one option — always compare.
• Always include a "do nothing / status quo" option unless the case makes it impossible
• Look for alternatives the case hints at even if not explicitly stated
• Common BUS 2257 alternatives: expand vs. don't expand, buy vs. lease, debt vs. equity financing,
accept vs. reject a customer/contract, launch vs. delay
Quick alternative-spotting trick
