How we structure a case study
Structure varies by discipline and by the brief, but the underlying sequence is stable. It is the sequence markers look for, and departing from it usually costs marks rather than earning them.
- Problem statement, defined precisely rather than restated
- Relevant background, kept short and only where it bears on the problem
- Framework analysis applied to the case evidence
- Findings, stated as claims that follow from the analysis
- Alternatives compared against explicit criteria
- Recommendation with an implementation plan and risks
- Conclusion and, where required, appendices with workings