Case study

YOU MAY NOT USE ALL PIECES OF EACH SECTION OR EACH SECTION. YOU SHOULD USE THIS FORMAT TO DISCUSS THIS CASE. SHOW ALL FOR FORMULAS AND CALCULATIONS. YOU CAN INSERT THESE IN THE SECTION OR REFER ME, AS THE READER, TO AN APPENDIX WHERE YOU CLEARLY LABEL THE CALCULATIONS.

There are usually eight sections in a COMPLETE case study.

Synopsis/Executive Summary

• Outline the purpose of the case study

• Describe the field of research – this is usually an overview of the company

• Outline the issues and findings of the case study without the specific details

• Identify the theory that will be used.

• Here, the reader should be able to get a clear picture of the essential contents of the study.

• Note any assumptions made (you may not have all the information you’d like so some assumptions

may be necessary eg: “It has been assumed that…”, “Assuming that it takes half an hour to read

one document…”)

Findings

• Identify the problems found in the case. Each analysis of a problem should be supported by facts

given in the case together with the relevant theory and course concepts. Here, it is important to

search for the underlying problems for example: cross-cultural conflict may be only a symptom of the

underlying problem of inadequate policies and practices within the company.

• This section is often divided into sub-sections, one for each problem.

Discussion

• Summarize the major problem/s

• Identify alternative solutions to this/these major problem/s (there is likely to be more than one

solution per problem)

• Briefly outline each alternative solution and then evaluate it in terms of its advantages and

disadvantages

• No need to refer to theory or coursework here.

Conclusion

• Sum up the main points from the findings and discussion

Recommendations

• Choose which of the alternative solutions should be adopted

• Briefly justify your choice explaining how it will solve the major problem/s

• This should be written in a forceful style as this section is intended to be persuasive

• Here integration of theory and coursework is appropriate

Implementation

• Explain what should be done, by whom and by when

• If appropriate include a rough estimate of costs (both financial and time).

References

• Make sure all references are sited correctly. USE APA FORMAT.

Appendices (if any)

• Note any original data that relates to the study but which would have interrupted the flow of the main

Body

Created from a variety of sources

Hubbell, P. (n.d.) Case Analysis. Retrieved from www.cgu.edu/pages/846.asp

Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne. (n.d.). Format for Written Case Analysis. Retrieved from users.ipfw.edu