Paper on Google vs Microsoft -help me understand analysis and my school assignment

I am writing a case analysis essay, and I've hit a wall for the past few days. I'm taking 2 classes right now, and I quit studying for my 2nd class while I try to figure out and finish this paper. I could really use some help with getting back on track.

For my case analysis, I was given a handout as a guideline:

"-Define the Problem
What is the critical issue or problems to be solved? This is probably the most crucial part of the analysis and sometime the hardest thing to do in the whole analysis. Perhaps the most common problem in case analysis (and in real life management) is that we fail to identify the real problem and hence solve the wrong problem. What we at first think is the real problem often isn't the real problem.

-Causes of the Problem
Once you have identified the key problem(s), try to find the causes here. Most critical here is avoiding solutions, and avoiding blaming or judging people. You may want to do some additional research here.

-Opportunities
What are the opportunities. You may want to do some research here.

-What went right
You may want to talk about what went right.

-Alternate solutions
in this stage it is important to avoid reaching for a solution too quickly; be creative here and put yourself in the case. Try living with various alternatives that you are thinking about; what would be the impact on you and on others. Be sure to think about the costs and benefits of each alternative.

-Recommendations
Which solution(s) would you recommend and why.

Remember, a case analysis should be a "critical" assessment of issues presented in the case. You should not be offering your "opinion". Instead, use logic and evidence to support the arrival at your conclusions. A case analysis should also "tell a story". So be sure that it flows and hangs together like a story. Hence, it should be presented as a systematic and coherent progression of issues, evidence, and conclusions."

I'm writing a paper on Google versus Microsoft, and the future of computing. I've already written up a couple of pages (minimum requirement is 4 pages), and I presented pros and cons based on my sources. I've never written a case analysis before, and I can't understand what the handout is asking me to do.

I'm hoping someone could 'dumb down' the instructions for me so. If it would help, I can post my essay draft. Thank you in advance.

Hi Chris

The best thing would be to post your draft here.

Well, you need to think of a relevant "problem." An adviser once told me that a research problem must involve "blood, sweat, or money." That was a joke, but he means you need to find a real problem relevant to your topic.

Google and microsoft own the world right now, so they have few problems.

Can you think of a particular product that is having a problem?

Can you change your topic if you think of a good problem, perhaps a problem that is causing inefficiency, safety violations, or loss of money.

Start by describing how a problem is costing money, and then do this section by section.
As a warmup, look at your own problems in real life, and apply this system of analysis:
define it
what is cause
opportunity
what works well
...etc.

Thanks for the reply. Here is what I have so far:

"Google Versus Microsoft
Technology giants Microsoft and Google are in competition to change the way we interact with computers. Microsoft has dominated the desktop environment(cite) and Google rose to prominence with its Internet services. The two companies are taking their expertise and success in the industry, and applying it to shape the future of computing.

Microsoft's success comes from their operating system, Windows, and their application suite, Microsoft Office. The software is installed on local desktop computers. Windows reached peak popularity before the Internet gained mainstream adoption in the 1990s. While Internet has grown worldwide, Windows is still based on a desktop core that interacts with the expanse of the Web.

For desktop computing, most applications do not require an Internet connection. The user's information is kept on the computer's storage drive. There are disadvantage of this model. The consumer has to maintain the hardware, and consult the software vendor for updates. All of the applications and information must be accessed by the device-- be it a desktop computer, portable laptop or netbook.

Google has gained a lot of experience in Internet computing, based on their dominance in web searching and other web-based ventures. Their vision of computing involves the "cloud," or applications and information delivered from data centers to your computer through the Web-- essentially the reverse of traditional desktop computing. Cloud computing's advantages include platform-agnostic access-- your information and applications could be viewed through any computer, netbook, or cell phone. The hardware requirements for processing a web service is far less complicated than the desktop model. That includes lower costs for hardware repair and upgrades. The costs for web services like applications and information storage should be far lower than the typical desktop setup.

The disadvantages of a cloud computing model are the requirement for a constant Internet connection. Possibly the biggest disadvantage is storing information remotely to another hosting company, something many companies would not be willing to agree to.

Microsoft has made it a priority to adopt cloud computing, but their version of the cloud would allow their established desktop model to remain intact. There's another possible reason why Microsoft would want to hold onto the desktop model-- because they may not have the infrastructure in place to fully embrace cloud computing, before Google does. Recently, Microsoft has made attempts to partner with Internet portal Yahoo!. Access to the infrastructure at Yahoo! could help Microsoft compete with Google's cloud strategy.

Google has stated that they aren't interested in toppling Microsoft's empire, but they want the public to use Google's services when it is most practical. That could mean accessing Google Apps on a handheld device or cell phone, or for informal tasks where security is not of utmost concern. The Google Apps suite contains applications like word processing and spreadsheet that don't have as many features as Microsoft Office.

Finally, the battle between Microsoft does not have to be won by the best computing model for consumers and businesses. Microsoft is known for aggressive business practices that have considered anti-competitive by other companies. Also, many companies and end-users are very comfortable and familiar with the Windows and Office interface, and may not be ready to adopt a drastically different approach to computing that Google has proposed.

Putting it all together,"

It's not much, but I think it reflects where I'm having the most problems. This draft of the essay contains all of the facts from a case study in my textbook (Management Information Systems, Global Edition). I have to analyze the case study and I can't change the topic.

...applying it to shape the future of computing. --- (right after this sentence it is good to add one more sentence that shows the MAIN THEME FOR THE WHOLE ESSAY.)

At the end of the first paragraph, it is good to give that idea that you want the reader to remember. Plant it in their minds.

Okay, and similarly, please reread the first sentence of every paragraph and see if those sentences alone could express the main idea. Google this:
How to write a good topic sentence

This essay has excellent writing, but I think you need to work on structure. Rewrite those topic sentences and especially the the thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph. Make it so that the reader could catch your meaning even if she read only the topic sentences of the paragraphs.

:-)