7 Case Studies

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Case Studies This document is uncontrolled when printedLast Updated: April 16, 2013

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What is a case study?

A case study is a written account of a situation generally a business situation. It

usually deals with the development or history of a situation. Your job is to firstly readand understand the case. After thoroughly reading the case you will need to analyse

the situation, then identify any problems and finally suggest or recommend solutions

to these problems. A case study places you in a real situation and requires you to

demonstrate knowledge of a topic. This is done by applying theories and taking into

account any specific factors that may influence the successful outcome of any

recommendations you make. Like any other assignment, a case study requires you

to undertake research. You need to consult a variety of resources (other than yourtextbook) in order to support your responses.

When doing a case study, you are strictly limited to the details relevant at the time in

which the case is set. You cannot conduct analysis or make recommendations

based on issues/events/technologies or any other internal or external situation

factors that may have developed after the time in which the case is set.

Case studies look at a situation read and understand the case

Evaluate a situation identify core issues and problems

Analyse issues in context of theoretical framework

Formulate action plans alternate solutions referring to theoretical outlines

Evaluate/discuss action plans

Recommend/choose an optimum course of action.

Timeframe


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How to prepare for a case study

Always read the case study at least three times before attempting to write your

answer. This is necessary because you may not be able to identify the key issues on

your first read.

The first read : On the first read you probably wont take in much information .

At this stage it is simply a matter of getting a general idea of the situation. With a

pencil/highlighter, underline any words/phrases you do not understand. Use a

dictionary/text book to clarify meanings.

The second read : Having clarified your understanding of difficult terms orphrases you should then attempt to read the case again. When reading the case

the second time, do it slowly, one section at a time. Make your own notes,

summarising the case.

Consider issues such as:

What are you being asked to do?

Who are the key players or stakeholders in this situation (people or

groups)?

What is their role/involvement?

What seems to be the problem or issue? What indicators are there to

suggest that this is the problem?

What are the internal factors that can be controlled from inside the

situation? (both positive and negative)

What are the external factors that influence the situation? (both positive

and negative) What evidence can I find to support my ideas?

What can be implied from the case study?


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If you cannot understand what you are reading you should book an appointment

with the LSU to discuss your assignment.

The third read: At this point you should have a much clearer idea of the case.

You are now in a position where you can develop your notes and link the case

details back to theories/ideas in your course. Identify key words/issues in the

case and consider the topics/issues (from the weekly modules) to which they are

most closely linked. Then develop a set of key words to search for information.

Note- your ability to do this will depend on your attendance at classes and thecompletion of set readings.

Format and presentation

As no two case studies are the same, there is really no set rule for how a case

study should be presented. Always check your course profile or ask your tutor

what the preferred presentation style is for that assignment as it may affect the

nature and extent of your research. Although there are no set rules, some of the

possible presentation styles may include:

General business report

Executive report

(see Chapter 5 Executive Report Writing of the Central Queensland

University, Faculty of Business & Informatics 2006, Guide for students , 6 th

edn, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD.

(available online at: http://bus.cqu.edu.au/CStudent/Guide/default.htm )

Essay

Oral presentation

Question and answer

For cases in Law courses, see the resource Writing & Referencing Law

assignment.


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Case Study Checklist

1 . Approach& St ructure

Have you read the case study thoroughly several times?

Have you approached the case study in the correct way (theoreticaldiscussion/ practical application/ combination)?

Have you conducted the necessary research (did the assignment requireyou to refer to theory, published data, industry information etc?)

Have you addressed all the key questions/tasks asked of you?

Have you addressed the major issues in the case?

Do all paragraphs include topic sentences, explanation and proof(referencing)?

Are sections/paragraphs arranged in logical order ?

Have you answered all the questions/ completed all the analyses askedof you?

2. Content Have you remembered to continually refer back to the case (avoid simplydiscussing general theory throughout - remember the situation you aredealing with)

Have you listed any relevant assumptions

Have you used a variety of appropriate (within the relevant timeframe ofthe case) resources/references to support your ideas?

Have you used the correct referencing format (Harvard style/ Footnotes)

Have you provided correct in-text references (Author date) for all DIRECTand INDIRECT quotes?

Have you included all references in the reference list? Is it in alphabeticalorder?

Have you kept to the word limit?

3. Layout/Grammar/Presen ta t ion

Have you presented the case study in the preferred format(essay/general

business report/executive report/ technical report/question andanswer)?

Have you used complete sentences throughout? Have you written in the third person (i.e. no use of I my or you

etc.)? Have you checked spelling? Have you numbered any headings/subheadings sequentially (if using

reportformat)?Do you have:

Size 12 font 1.5 spacing 3cm margins Page numbers, Name and Student ID number on each page

Assignment co ersheet

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7 Case Studies