Lesson: How to write a 'Good' case study

Just as a game that begins with a background story and proceeds along strongly defining the characters as and when they appear, your case study should be like a story with main characters that chronologically weave the story taking your readers through their journey leading to a problem that is for them to analyze, judge and then solve. It is of key importance that you provide the readers with adequate amount of information so that they are able to take an informed pathway and also use their own skills on the way to arrive at a solution. The case presented should not stunt their thinking but should enable the readers to think in all possible directions.

The readers should have the same experience as you did while you started investigating the case. Here are some basic steps that one needs to follow:

The Research Phase

1. Library and Internet Research: Find out what has been written on the topic before. Read up all the articles and see if there is already an existing problem that needs to be solved. If not then read, analyze and come up with an interesting idea / problem that you would like to take forward. The problem could be one or plenty. 
2.  Interview people who know the situation or your Topic well: Ask them questions that will help you understand their opinions. Also ask questions in such a way that will get you full information from the other person.

The Analysis Phase

1. Put all information in one place: This is to analyze what is going on so that you can structure the story well.
2. Assign sections of materials to different people: See the problem from different people's perspective so that you have a wider horizon.
3. Try to formulate the case problem in a few sentences: This will help you figure out if you need more information to prepare your case. Defining a problem is the trickiest of it all. Break down your problem into small parts which makes it easier for your readers to solve. Then ask yourself how much information your readers will need to arrive to a solution to your problems. 

Writing the Case Study

1.  Describe the problem or the case question you want your readers to solve: Like in a game or a detective story, the 'Event' or the 'Crime' or the 'Problem' happens right at the beginning. Then there are either flashbacks or the detective that looks for information to help him proceed through the case with an intention of solving it.
2. Organize the sections of the case: Introduction, Background to your story, Main characters/ important people, important / critical facts leading to your problem, statistical data to help your readers to derive a solution, other relevant information and then a conclusion.

Even i am going to write my first case study. I am as excited as a teenager in love and as nervous a shy kid on a stage facing an impatient crowd. Wish me luck and good luck to you too, for yours. :)

Louu,
pK'