Generally, a case study requires you to integrate practice and theory, so that you can relate theoretical concepts to real-life practical/professional situations.

A case can be an event, a happening, a person or group of people, an object, a text, an idea or an institution etc.  You are analysing the case by mapping it against a theoretical explanation, in order to understand and see the big picture – What has happened? Why has it happened?

It can be in the form of an essay or a report (check the assignment question and check with your lecturer/tutor).

You may be asked to identify:

  • the major problems in the case and why these have arisen
  • the potential solutions to the problems, and
  • recommendations and justifications.

Identification of problems:

  • Provide an overview of the case study.
  • Summarise the problems (including the evidence and causes), from major to minor, in your own words.
  • Relate the identified problems to theory.

Solutions to identified problems:

  • Provide rational and reasonable solutions to the problems you have identified in the case.
  • Evaluate each solution in terms of its advantages and disadvantages, costs involved, levels of expertise/ resources needed to implement them etc.
  • You might want to consider the following when evaluating the solutions: costs /time /resources /levels of expertise.

Recommendations: 

  • Outline your recommendations based on the solutions for each of the identified problems.
  • Your recommendations should be realistic, practical and achievable, and be supported by relevant theories.

 

Common errors in case study writing

  • not fully understanding the case and 'what's going on'
  • oversimplfying the problems and not engaging with the deeper issues
  • making unrealistic recommendations which are not feasible nor affordable
  • not engaging at a deeper level and being able to 'interpret the facts' of what is going on' behind the scenes

 

 

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Adapted from:
Morley-Warner, T. 2009, Academic writing is… A guide to writing in a university context, Association for Academic Language and Learning, Sydney.
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology 2009, Study & Learning Centre, accessed 15 June 2009, <http://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/>.