How to write a case study

Explains how to write a case study in a step by step process.

1. How to write a case study?
Recent developments
Prepared by:
Arindam Bhattacharjee
Research Intern at IIM Kozhikode
MBA 1
st
year , NIT Rourkela

2. What is a case study ?
A case study is an account of an activity, event or problem
that contains a real or hypothetical situation and includes
the complexities one would encounter in the workplace.
Case studies are used to understand how the complexities
of real life, influence decisions.
Tolearnfromacasestudyanalysisoneshouldbe
"analyzing,applyingknowledge,reasoninganddrawing
conclusions"(Kardos&Smith1979).

3. Features of a case study :
•According to Kardosand Smith (1979) a good case has the
following features:
It is taken from real life (true identities may be concealed) and is
believable for reader.
It is taken from real life (true identities may be concealed) and is
believable for reader.
It consists of many parts and each part usually ends with problems
and points for discussion. There may not be a clear cut off point to
the situation
It includes sufficient information for the reader to treat problems and
issues.

4. Types of case scenario :
Factual Case Scenarios
•Lot of details on real solutions and outcomes.
•Students learn on :
•a) Did the manager/leader solve the problems &
•b) Did the solutions work out and why?
Fictional Case Scenarios
•Solution may or may not be applicable for a given
situation.

5. Approaches to Case studies :
TheAnalyticalApproach
•Thecasestudyisexaminedinordertotryand
understandwhathashappenedandwhy.Itisnot
necessarytoidentifyproblemsorsuggestsolutions.
TheProblem-OrientedMethod
•Thecasestudyisanalyzedtoidentifythemajor
problemsthatexistandtosuggestsolutionsto
theseproblems.

6. The case study should :
Relate the theory to a practical
situation; for example, apply
the ideas and knowledge
discussed in the coursework to
the practical situation at hand
in the case study.
Identify the problems
Select the major problems in
the case
Suggest solutions to these
major problems
Recommend the best solution
to be implemented
Detail how this solution should
be implemented

7. Points to remember :
Case
It is the “real life”
situation.
Case study
It is the analysis
of “real life”
situation.

8. How to write the case study in eight steps ?
•Outline the purpose of the case study
•Describe the field of research –this is
usually an overview of the company
•Identify the theory that will be used.
Synopsis/Executive
Summary
•Identify the problems found in the case.
•This section is often divided into sub-
sections, one for each problem.
Findings
•Summaries the major problem(s).
•Identify alternative solutions to this/these
major problem(s) (there is likely to be more
than one solution per problem)
Discussion

9. How to write the case study in eight steps ?
•Sum up the main points from the findings and
discussion
Conclusion
•Choose which of the alternative solutions should be
adopted
•Briefly justify your choice explaining how it will solve
the major problem(s)
•Here integration of theory and coursework is
appropriate
Recommendations
•Explain what should be done, by whom and by when
•If appropriate include a rough estimate of costs (both
financial and time)
Implementation

10. How to write the case study in eight steps ?
•Make sure all references are cited
correctly
References
•Note any original data that relates to
the study but which would have
interrupted the flow of the main body.
Appendices
(if any)

11. Template for a Case Study Protocol
1.Check records
2.Background Analysis
3.Design of case study
4.Data Collection
5.Analysis
6.Validity
7.Study limitations
8.Identify target audience
9.Schedule

12. Recent developments
Concept(s)Title of
Research
Paper
Author(s)Publication
Year
Name of
Journal
Database
Reflective
Writing
Reflective
Writing: A
management
skill
Barbara Anne
Sen
2010 Library
management
Emerald
Insight
PhDthesis vs
Journal article
The “dos and
don'ts” of
writing a
journal article
TaunoKekäle,
Petra de
Weerd‐Nederho
f, Sara Cervai,
Massimo
Borelli,
2009Journal of
Workplace
Learning
Emerald
Insight
Researchcase
study vs
teaching case
study
Transforming
research case
studies into
teaching cases
Pavel Štrach,
André M.
Everett
2008Qualitative
Research in
Organizations
and
Management
Emerald
Insight

13. Recent developments
Concept(s)Title of
Research
paper
Author(s)Publication
Year
Name of
Journal
Database
Sensitivity
Analysis in
business case
study
Writing a
convincing
business case
for project
funding
John
McLaughlin
2003 Journal of
Facilities
Management
Emerald Insight
Verticaland
Horizontal
Linking
Writing a
scientific
publication for
a management
journal
John Øvretveit2008 Journal of
Health
Organization
and
Management
Emerald Insight
Gap model of
service quality
How to develop
student-centred
management
cases
Klaes Eringa &
Perry Yi Jin
2013 Research in
Hospitality
management
Emerald Insight

14. Check list on writing a case study
Jargon
should be
minimum
Know the
case
thoroughly
Be
analytical
Grab the
attention
Present the
situation
without
bias
Provide
relevant
details
Challenge
the reader

15. Merits and demerits of case studies
•Learner-centered approach to education
•Vehicle for developing skills in conflict
resolution
•Means for relating concepts to new
situations and solving problems
Advantages
•The tendency for even well-written cases
seems somewhat artificial
•Incomplete and/or missing information in
case
•The lack of definitive “answers” to the cases
Disadvantages

16. Conclusion
The case for use of case studies
in the college classroom has
been and continues to be well
articulated.
The case study method has
been popular in MBA curricula
for decades.
Harvard is the trend-setter and
most prolific publisher of cases.
More attention has been
directed to the utilization of
case studies in accounting
education in recent years.
Conclusion

17. References :
•“How to write case study ”, Monash University, Published in July 2007
•“Reflective writing: A management skill”,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01435121011013421, accessed on 8
th
May 2017
•“Winning project approval: Writing a convincing business case for project
funding”,http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14725960410808294,accessed on 8
th
May 2017
•“The “dos and don'ts” of writing a journal article”,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13665620910924925, accessed on 8
th
May 2017
•“Writing a scientific publication for a management journal”,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14777260810876349,accessed on 8
th
May 2017
•“Student-written Case Studies: The Benefits to the Internal Audit
Curriculum”,http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02686909410053520,accessed on
8
th
May 2017
•“Transforming research case studies into teaching cases”,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17465640810920287, accessed on 8
th
May
2017.

18. THANKS