ELEMENTS OF A CASE STUDY

A case study may consist of one scenario or several, and it may take many forms, from a traditional paper-based document to films, videos or audio recordings.

INTRODUCTION

The introduction defines the problem to be examined

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS

provides a scenario of the situation
and offers more detail about the various players in the
scenario, including the organisation,

STATUS REPORT

describes the organisation’s actions, on
the matter.

CASE PROBLEMS

Give a situation and ask learners what they would do
next.

Appendices

includes exhibit copies of documents, charts,
technical specifications and so on.

The case study document may be as short as two pages or as long as thirty.

The case study is often accompanied by a set of teaching notes, one to several pages long.

ELEMENTS OF TEACHING NOTES

SYNOPSIS

The synopsis presents a brief overview of the case in question.

Educational objectives

includes a discussion of the
learning points raised by the case.

Discussion outline/question set

provides the instructor
with guidelines for how to teach the case.

Tips for resolving the case problem

these tips might describe the objectives of the problem and tasks to be undertaken.

Appendices

may include a bibliography, a glossary of relevant terms or a list of other activities or exercises that might be used to further
learning of the subject.