Credited to UNSW https://student.unsw.edu.au/writing-case-studyWriting the Case StudyHow should I approach it?Investigating and writing up a report will require the completion of specificstages. You will need to timetable sufficient time to complete each stage,but also be aware that some stages are revisited while you are analysingthe case and writing the report. Thinking and writing becomes a cyclicalprocess.Stages essential for analysing and writing a case study report may include:1. Define the taskYour first step is to read the case and all the instructions for theassignment.Use the checklist as a guide. You can print out this checklist to record yourdefinition of the task. You may find it helpful to compare and discuss yourunderstanding of the task with other students or colleagues. Try to visualiseall the elements of the problem by using mind-maps to chart the mainissues on a large piece of paper.Checklist for defining the task QuestionYour comments1. What is the context/background of the case study? (eg.the type of industry, location, who requested the report)2. What appears to be the problem? (Read the case andsummarise in your own words what you initiallyunderstand to be the situation/problem/risks etc )3.What questions or instructions have been given to guideyour analysis of the problem?4.What tools will you use for your analysis? (mind-map,SWOT, PEST, matrix, template, computer program etc )5.What else do you already know about this situation orthis type of problem?6.What else do you need to know?7.How will the report be presented? (Due date, length,essential sections, conventions, presentation) Credited to UNSW https://student.unsw.edu.au/writing-case-study2. Consider which theories and analysis tools may apply to thesituationYour course notes, text books and readings should indicate the appropriatemethodology for your case study analysis.Identify the problemsIn your initial analysis you should identify the problems (issues/risks etc)inherent in the case. Read to uncover the organisations history of successand failure in relation to the case, the communication processes that areoccurring, and relevant current strengths and weaknesses of theorganisation or its activities that relate to the case.A useful technique here is to create a mind-map of the situation, theprocesses and problems or issues. Use the mind-map to separate theproblem elements and to note the most important and their relationships.In your notes, document the causes and consequences of the problemshighlighted in the case and also your preliminary ideas for solutions. Beprepared to discover more problems and solutions as you continue youranalysis of the case!Apply analysis toolsThere are many tools available for analysis in the management andengineering fields but you need to evaluate which tools would best apply toyour assessment of the issues/problems / risks etc. If you are unsure aboutwhich tool to use, read the rationale and purpose of each tool and discussthe options with your colleagues and course facilitator.Document your results and ideasIt is important to create a complete set of notes that will be useful to refer towhen writing up the case study report. For this reason record your findingsand your own thoughts on the case. Also clearly document any testing,calculations or specifications that relate to your investigation of solutions aswell.3. Make recommendations and form conclusionsMake RecommendationsRecommendations are a clear statement (in text and/or table format) ofwhat action should be taken to minimise, solve or remove the problemsCredited to UNSW https://student.unsw.edu.au/writing-case-studybeing investigated. Recommendations usually require a detailed actionplan for implementation of a solution or a range of solutions depending onfuture events/scenarios.According to Jarvis (2002), for each part of your solution ask:? Will it work why what could possibly go wrong?? Who will do it, are they capable, who else might be, who might beblock?? When- timing-sequence?? How and how much cost it out- where are the pay offs/savings?Form conclusionsConclusions are drawn from your analysis and assessment of the situation.You usually consider must and desirable objectives. Also consider thelimitations of your recommendations based on your testing of solutions andoriginal assumptions that had to be made in the case.4. Write the reportThis section provides some advice on the process of writing up your report.Plan the reportBefore you begin to write the report, it is essential to have a plan of itsstructure. You can begin to plan the report while you are investigating thecase.Fist, prepare an outline (in list or mind-map format) of the main headingsand subheadings you will have in the report. Then add notes and ideas tothe outline which remind you of what you want to achieve in each sectionand subsection. Use the outline to help you consider what information toinclude, where it should go and in what sequence. Be prepared to changeyour outline as your ideas develop. Finally, the outline headings andsubheadings can be converted into the contents page of your report.Schedule your writing timePrepare a schedule for writing and editing the sections of the report. Allowsome extra time just in case you find some sections difficult to write. Beginby writing the sections you feel most confident about. Preliminary sections(executive summary, introduction) and supplementary sections(conclusions, reference list and appendices) are usually prepared last.Credited to UNSW https://student.unsw.edu.au/writing-case-studySome writers like to begin with their conclusions (where the writersthoughts are at that moment) or the methodology (its easier to write aboutyour own work).Analyse your audienceIn writing a case study report in your course, the report is often intended foran imaginary person so you need to make sure that your language andstyle suites that person. For example, a report for senior management willbe different in content and style and language to a technical report. A reportto a community group would also be different again in content, style andlanguage. Audience definition helps you decide what to include in thereport based on wh
at readers need to know to perform their jobs better orwhat the readers need to know to increase their knowledge about yoursubject. These notes on audience analysis are adapted from Huckin andOlsen (p1991)*After: Huckin & Olsen ,1991.1.? Who will read the report? Think about all the uses of the report andwhere and when it would be read. Reports written within anorganisation may be read by different people and differentdepartments; for example, technical and design specialists,supervisors, senior managers, lawyers, marketing and financespecialists.? What are the readers needs and goals? Each department or unitin an organisation has its own needs and goals. Understanding thedifferent perspectives can help you decide how to communicatepersuasively to these groups. For example while design engineersmay prefer to develop new or alternative design to show progress intheir field, the marketing specialist may prefer that the organisationimitate a known successful design to save time.Credited to UNSW https://student.unsw.edu.au/writing-case-study? How do I make communication clear formanagers? Communication must be accessible and useful to busymanagers as they will primarily seek important generalisations. Thishas implications for the reports structure, the amount of orientation orbackground information provided and the level of technical languageused. An executive summary, introductions to new sections andconcluding summaries for major sections should be included in thereport.? What might be the readers preferences or objections to thereport? You may need to address the significance andbenefits/limitations of your recommendations from a number ofreaders perspectives in the report. You may also need to considercompromises as a way to acknowledge potential conflicts orcriticisms of your recommendations or solutions.Prepare a draft reportWriters rarely produce a perfect piece of text in their first attempt so anumber of drafts are usually produced. Careful planning and editing willensure a consistent professional standard in the report. You will need to dothe following:? Revise the task oftenDo this by keeping both the readers needs and the reports objectives inmind as you gather information, take notes and write sections of the report.? Be selectiveDo this by taking clear notes, which include the information gathered andyour thoughts about the usefulness and the implications of this information.Review your notes to decide what is essential information to include in thereport.? Create a logical structureUse your contents page outline to decide where information will go. Withineach section, plan the subheadings and then decide on the sequence ofinformation within these.Check that your writing flows and that your ideas are supported andplausible. If you are not sure what to look for, here are links to advice andactivities on report organisation, cohesion and evidence.Credited to UNSW https://student.unsw.edu.au/writing-case-studyEnsure that all your figures and tables communicate a clear message.Show a colleague your visuals to check how they will be interpreted orread.? Edit, edit, editFor first drafts, a word processors spell checker and grammar checker canbe useful however, do not rely solely on these tools in your final edit asthey are not perfect. Errors will be overlooked or even created by theseprograms! The best ways to edit are to read a printed copy and wherepossible get a colleague to read and give feedback.Here is a report checklist that you can print out: CHECKLIST5. Prepare the reference listThe reference list is a list of all the sources you refer to in the report. If youdo not reference sources of information, your assignment could be failed.As you read and take notes remember to collect the following informationso that you can easily and quickly assemble your reference list. Books/Journal ArticlesElectronic MediaStandardsBooks? Author surname andinitial? Year of publication? Book title? Publisher? City where publishedIf an edited book, then alsocollect the titles and authors ofindividual chapters that youtake notes from.Journal articles? Author surname andinitial? Year of publication? Article heading? Journal title? Volume & issuenumbersCollect similar informationfor books and journals.Also collect:? Type of medium(computer file,online image,internet, CD ROM,database name)? URL (web address)? Date document wasupdated or date youaccessed the source.? Email-discussionname, email listaddress? Author (usually anorganisation)? Year of publication? Title? Standard/patentnumber? Publisher? City where published Credited to UNSW https://student.unsw.edu.au/writing-case-study ? First and last page ofthe article Further advice on the conventions for formatting reference lists and in textreferences can be found at The Learning Centres online resources.6. Prepare cover/title pageCheck your course requirements on the content and layout of the title page.As a general rule include the following:? Institution the authors are affiliated with: eg UNSW School of SafetyScience? Title of the reportEg BHP Billiton Risk Assessment: Strategic Political Risks to BHPsOperations In Angola.? Author/s names (+ student numbers)? Course name and code? Date document was submitted7. Final editAt this stage it is best if you can leave the report for a day or so beforeconducting a final proof-read. This assists you to approach your report as areader rather than as the writer so you will more easily see errors. Youshould expect to spend a couple of hours on this task.1. Reread the assignment guidelines so the task is fresh in your mind.Read the whole report to check that there is a logical structure to thewhole report.2. Check each section of the report (including your executive summary,introduction and conclusion) for content and structure. Note changesto make in the sequence of sections.3. Note (highlight) changes you wish to make within sections (delete,simplify, expand, reorganise). In particular look closely at transitionsections, figures and tables, sentences, referencing conventions anddocument formatting.4. Read through the report and make changes as required.Here are some editing activities for you to try!