What are the essential elements to include in a case study to ensure it effectively demonstrates the problem-solving process and provides valuable insights for the reader?

Question

What are the essential elements to include in a case study to ensure it effectively demonstrates the problem-solving process and provides valuable insights for the reader? Additionally, how can one structure a case study to highlight the key challenges, solutions implemented, and the outcomes achieved, while also ensuring that the narrative remains engaging and informative?

Answer 1

Hello Keith-

There are a number of key components (essential elements) to writing a good case study:

The wrter should begin with an introductory overview of what is being studied. This could be as simple as an opening sentence,,to a more in-depth paragraph. But it should be brief and it should be written from a 30,000 foot level. Find a couple of key words that will engage the reader.

Next, explain the problem that is to be solved. Again, this does not need to be highly detailed. In fact, a simple outline of the problem is best so that the reader does not get exhausted reading your outline and wants to get to your found results..

Then, detail the solutions that would best be applied to solve the problem, including giving examples (maybe even a variety of different solutions). This will be the "meat: of the case study.

If you have any results that can be pointed to in applying those solutions, provide the key results from the application of those solutions.

And with any case study, wrap your writing up with any recommendations that you might want to offer based upon the results obtained, and think about offering the next steps that the reader can take.

I hope that this helps answer your question.