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Overview of case studies
Case studies: Stages in the process
Stage 1
Analyse
Analyse the task. Focus on task instructions/questions and marking criteria/rubrics.
Read the case
Read the case in detail.
Identify
Identify key issues and problems.
Stage 2
Research
Research the topic and surrounding areas.
Link to theory
Link problems to relevant theory, models or practice.
Stage 3
Develop solutions
Evaluate and prioritise for most effective solutions, consider constraints/obstacles.
Make recommendations
All recommendations need to be practical and actionable.
Edit/proof
Check for spelling, grammar and that there is a logical structure.
Submit
Stage 1
Analyse
Analyse the task. Focus on task instructions/questions and marking criteria/rubrics.
Read the case
Read the case in detail.
Identify
Identify key issues and problems.
Stage 2
Research
Research the topic and surrounding areas.
Link to theory
Link problems to relevant theory, models or practice.
Stage 3
Develop solutions
Evaluate and prioritise for most effective solutions, consider constraints/obstacles.
Make recommendations
All recommendations need to be practical and actionable.
Edit/proof
Submit
Structure
Case study analyses are generally presented in a report-style format. They are usually written for a professional audience (e.g. a client or manager) as well as your lecturer.
A case study should have:
- a logical structure
- sections with headings and subheadings.
Always follow the requirements of your subject area (e.g. management, nursing, engineering) and your assessment task instructions.
A business case study is usually highly structured, as in the example shown below.
Title page
Table of contents
Executive summary
- Introduction
- Context (Background)
- Purpose
- Discussion
- Identification of issues and problems
- Solutions
- Conclusion & Recommendations
Reference list
See the Report writing tutorial for more information.