Case Study Writing Tips
Before beginning to outline a case study, writers must decide on less than six dominant communication problems. Case writers must ask, “What is this case study about?” Each problem (topic meant for discussion) should be written in the form of a simple question (For example: What types of sales goals are effective?). If it takes several sentences to ask a problem-defining question, then it is too complicated and not likely to be recognized or understood by readers. If there are more than five problems in a case, readers are apt to become confused and fail to focus on the important problems the writer intended to address. A case study with more than five problems is difficult to discuss in a practical amount of time (a class period, for example) and apt to require many hours of rambling discussion. If the situation being studied contains more than five problems, then the case study should be written in several sections. Each section, in addition to being a continuation of the narrative, should be able possible solutions to the problems (answers to the questions). For example: networking and technology goals are not the most effective ones, activity and task-oriented goals are better. For the purposes of this class, case writers should tie problems to topics discussed in the assigned reading material. There are often multiple approaches to solving problems, several answers to the questions. However, case writers should know what the potential solutions are and have a sense of what the best solutions are.
Case studies do not have to be restricted to problems and how-not-to situations; they can show solutions and how-to situations also. A case study can address several problems and show what was done right in solving them.
Often the best teaching cases are those that contain both appropriate and inappropriate problem solutions. By using this technique, writers do not signal to readers that all the solutions are either right or wrong--case analysts have to figure it out for themselves.
The next step is to select or create situations that give readers a clear delineation of the problems and point the way to a discussion about possible solutions. The most effective way to depict a problem is to write situations or scenes that have conflict in them: scenes in which the characters have opposite points of view, disagreements, or different solutions. Each situation or scene in a case study should either: (1) carry the narrative forward, (2) relate directly to one of the major problems in the case, or (3) provide insight into the personality, motives, and /or communicative behaviors of one or more of the characters. The ideal situation is one that the writer knows will elicit conflicting opinions about potential solutions.
Case Study Writing Tips
1. Keep your audience in mind: Remember that you are writing for students or discussants who may not be familiar with the back- ground, details, and terminology of the situation. Keep jargon to a minimum.
2. Use short-story-writing techniques: A case has flesh-and-blood characters who should be intriguing. Each story element should move the narrative forward.
3. Openings: Grab the reader with a character facing his or her biggest problem: set the scene for the confrontations, the frustrations, and the main conflicts.
4. Present situations and scenes without any attempt at analysis: Scenes must follow a logical order and should illustrate a point, concept, or issue that relates to the problems that the writer wants to have analyzed. Do not give any signals that one solution might be preferred.
5. Provide relevant details: After an opening that sets up the situation, provide relevant details about goals, strategies, dilemmas, issues, conflicts, roadblocks, appropriate research, relevant financial information, people, and relationships. Be stingy with numbers; they must help solve the problems, not confuse readers or send them off on unproductive analytic tangents.
6. Use as much dialogue as possible: Make the characters come alive with dialogue. Straight narrative is boring.
7. Endings: Leave the reader with a clear picture of the major problems--either ask or imply “what is to be done now?”
8. You should follow the basics of general story telling. You need to have a clear introduction, body, and start towards some conclusion. You should also have a clear protagonist and an antagonist.
9. Remember, these are communication cases, so make sure that your problem is clearly communication related.
What are the most common pitfalls of case development?
1. The case with no clear decision or focus.
2. The case with too much in it (unmanageable detail).
3. The case with no structure, or shifting structure.
4. The case with no context (how does this case situation compare with comparable situations?)
5. The case with no actors.
6. The case with no controversy.
7. The case with no drama (boring--selectivity is often the key here. Don't swamp your story with too many sub-plots.)
8. The inside-joke (assumed familiarity).
What are common causes of casewriter's writing block?
1. No structure or clear decision focus (try telling the case story to someone and asking them what is most compelling?)
2. Not enough specifics/concrete details from which to build the story.
3. No sense of urgency (try setting clear deadlines for yourself).
4. No audience (line up several fair, intelligent readers).
Some mundane tips:
1. Always write cases in the present tense. We need to experience the situation along with the main character up to the point where he or she must make a decision.
2. Use nonsexist, nonageist, nonheterosexist, nonracist, etc. language.
3. Use standard case conventions (for example, refer to actors by last names consistently; don't capitalize position titles; number exhibits and refer to them within the text at appropriate points; etc.).
Please make sure that you use the template provided on my website for your case study.
Parts were adapted from Charles Warners “How to Write a Case” and Mary Gentile’s “Twenty-Five Questions To Ask As You Begin To Develop A New Case Study”
Helpful Resources for Writing Cases
yWriter is a software program designed to help writers think through the creative process. You can use it to lay out your story and to write your story – it has a built in word processor. |
http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter.html |
Provides 10 great tips for writing creative short stories. A case is always a good story first. |
http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/creative/shortstory/ |
If you do not have Microsoft Office, Open Office is a great substitute. |
http://www.openoffice.org |
For all of your basic writing needs. |
http://www.writersstore.com |
Writers’ Digest is the largest publisher of both fiction and nonfiction related books and magazines. |
http://www.writersdigest.com/ |
HRB publishes monthly case studies similar to the ones being written in this class. Just run a search in Ebsco Host for HBR and the keyword “case study.” You’ll find tons of examples. |
Harvard Business Review |