Case Studies

Is not wisdom based on being
well informed?
Plato, 360 BCE Greek

What: Case studies *

• are written summaries or syntheses of real-life cases
  based upon data and research
• require you to isolate and think through the key issues involved
  against both theory and the larger comparative environment
• identify appropriate strategies for the resolution of the 'case'
• weigh the pros and cons of the remedial options/strategies
• recommend and present a rationale for the best resolution

How: The process of developing a case study:

• Define the objective of the case study
• Identify the important players within the organization, the "stakeholders"
• Identify other target groups of the organization, whether clients or suppliers
• State the official mission of the organization studied
• State the historical mission of the organization
• State the understood mission of the stakeholders in the organization

• Scale the importance of stakeholders, whether in decision-making or effect of consequences
• Outline the formal decision-making process
• Note informal decision-making processes
• Identify the process of production or service delivery
• Identify support mechanisms
• Identify competitors

What is the organizational context of the profession or of competitors?

• State the major problem
• State subsequent problems and implications
• State the role of management
• State the role of production/service providers

• Identify strategic issues
• Identify decisions needed to be made
• Identify risk factors
• Identify historical precedents

• Define remedial options
• Compare options as regards pros and cons, theory, risk factors
• Make your recommendation and justify

• Write an executive summary focusing on key elements

See also Organizing group projects