Use these six headings in your case study
1. Statement of the Problem(s)
State in a few sentences the problem that exists within the case study. There may be multiple problems. Always keep your audience (a Board of Directors who may have hired you) in mind while formulating the problem statement; they may have opposing views on the situation.
2. Summary of the Facts
Briefly, sum up the facts in the case. It may include pertinent history or background information, industry trends, or other relevant data.
3. Analysis
Analysis is often the most difficult portion of the case to write and should be completed before any attempt to develop physically the writing of the case.
The tools associated with analysis are comparison, contrast, and synthesis. Comparison is looking for and then finding similarities among other elements being analyzed. Contrast is looking for and finding differences between elements. Synthesis is integrating the information and formulating a consistent interpretation of the case.
Other tools include performing an Environmental Scan, a SWOT analysis, or simply listing pros and cons to several key alternatives.
4. Recommendations
This section provides direction. Based on the information and analysis, state your recommendations. This is your “argument.” Using the information of the case and the analysis, you “argue” that certain steps should or not be taken. Your audience must be able to understand the reasons for your recommendations. These recommendations should not be summative in nature, but specific. It is not appropriate from a consultant position to simply suggest “more research” unless you define who, what, where, how, why. Nor should you recommend hiring a consultant. Essentially, you ARE the hired consultant.
5. Conclusion
This section is for concluding remarks.
6. Bibliography of Source(s)