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• Published: 26 August 2024

Health worker perspectives on barriers and facilitators of tuberculosis investigation coverage among index case contacts in rural Southwestern Uganda: a qualitative study

• Paddy Mutungi Tukamuhebwa 1 ,
• Pascalia Munyewende 1 ,
• Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye 2 ,
• Juliet Nabirye 3 &
• Ntombizodwa Ndlovu 1  

BMC Infectious Diseases volume  24 , Article number:  867 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

In 2012, the World Health Organization recommended screening and investigation of contacts of index tuberculosis patients as a strategy to accelerate detection of tuberculosis (TB) cases. Nine years after the adoption of this recommendation, coverage of TB contact investigations in Uganda remains low. The objective of this study was to examine health care providers’ perceptions of factors influencing coverage of TB contact investigations in three selected rural health facilities in Mbarara district, southwestern Uganda.

This study identified provider opinions on the barriers and facilitators to implementation of TB contact investigation using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Using an exploratory qualitative study design, semi-structured interviews with 19 health workers involved in the TB program at district, health facility and community levels were conducted from April 2020 and July 2020. Analysis was conducted inductively using reflexive thematic analysis in six iterative steps: familiarizing with the data, creating initial codes, searching for themes, reviewing themes, developing theme definitions, and writing the report.

Nineteen health care workers participated in this study which translates to a 100% response rate. These included two district TB and leprosy supervisors, five nurses, five clinical officers, six village health team members and one laboratory technician. The three themes that emerged from the analysis were intervention-related, health system and contextual factors. Health system-related barriers included inadequate or delayed government funding for the TB program, shortage of human resources, insufficient personal protective equipment, and a stock-out of supplies such as Xpert MTB cartridges. Contextual barriers included steep terrain, poverty or low income, and the stigma associated with TB and COVID-19. Facilitators comprised increased knowledge and understanding of the intervention, performance review and on-the-job training of health workers.

Conclusions

This study found that most of the factors affecting TB contact investigations in this rural community were related to health system constraints such as inadequate or delayed funding and human resource shortages. This can be addressed by strengthening the foundational elements of the health system - health financing and human resources - to establish a comprehensive TB control program that will enable the efficient identification of missing TB patients.

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Introduction

An estimated 10 million people suffer from active tuberculosis (TB) every year [ 1 ]. The disease continues to be the leading infectious cause of death globally, causing about 1.5 million deaths—95% of which occurred in low- and middle-income countries [ 2 , 3 ]. Although the African region has 9% of the world population, the region contributed 25% of all new TB cases in 2019, becoming the continent with the second-highest TB cases after South-East Asia. In Africa TB is mainly driven by the HIV pandemic, with about 50% of TB cases co-infected with HIV, and is the top cause of death among patients with HIV, causing more than 30% of all AIDS-related deaths [ 4 , 5 ].

In 2012, the WHO recommended the screening and evaluation of contacts of persons with infectious TB as an intervention for increasing TB case detection [ 6 ]. The intervention also provides an opportunity to diagnose latent TB and to scale-up TB preventive therapy among the eligible contacts, such as, children below five years, HIV positive patients, and other high-risk groups [ 7 , 8 ]. Five years later, in 2017, the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) adopted these WHO recommendations as high-level policy, and integrated them into the Manual for Management and Control of TB and Leprosy in Uganda [ 9 ]. Furthermore, in 2019, detailed operational guidelines were developed by the Uganda National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Program (NTLP) to guide and standardize TB contact investigation processes at health facility and community levels [ 8 ].

Despite the WHO policy guidance, coverage of TB contact investigation in many TB high burden countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Lao Republic, Pakistan and Yemen is still low [ 10 ]. A meta-analysis conducted in 2015 by Block et al., showed low TB contact investigation coverage in five countries (2.8% in the Lao Republic, 4.8% in Kenya, 14.9% in Pakistan and 15.1% in Uganda) and high coverage in one country (91.7% in the Democratic Republic of Congo) [ 10 ]. Armstrong et al. (2017), in a prospective multi-center observational study conducted in Kampala, Uganda, reported significant drop-out rates across the steps in the contact investigation cascade [ 11 ]. Among the 338 clients eligible for TB contact investigation, only 61% were scheduled for home visits, and only 50% of them were visited [ 11 ]. Furthermore, among the 131 people who were screened for TB and required definitive evaluation, only 20% were evaluated [ 11 ].

In rural Uganda, the coverage of TB contact investigation is much lower (15.1%) than that in urban areas such as Kampala (20%), and yet many of the missing TB cases are in such hard to reach and underserved rural areas [ 10 , 11 ]. This low coverage increases undiagnosed and untreated TB patients, thus perpetuating the TB pandemic. Furthermore, without TB contact investigation, many TB patients might infect other people in the household and the community, or die from TB related complications [ 12 ]. The low contact investigation coverage contributes to a high numbers of missed diagnoses in Uganda (400,000 in 2014), and high TB transmission rates, which hamper progress towards achievement of the third United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of ending the TB epidemic by 2030 [ 13 ].

Implementation research helps to connect research and practice by speeding-up the development and provision of public health interventions [ 14 ]. Given that urban settings have been the primary focus of the majority of implementation research studies in Africa and that the burden of TB differs between urban and rural areas [ 7 , 15 , 16 ], this study used implementation research tools to investigate the barriers to and enablers of TB contact investigation coverage in rural southwestern Uganda [ 3 ]. Although 82% of the Ugandan population lives in rural areas, there is inadequate information about TB contact investigation coverage, and its barriers and facilitators in rural settings [ 17 ]. The purpose of this study was to investigate the barriers and facilitators of investigation coverage among contacts of TB patients in rural Uganda.

The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) by Damschroder et al. was used to explore barriers and facilitators of implementation in this study [ 18 ]. The framework consists of 39 constructs and five domains: characteristics of the intervention, inner setting, outer setting, individuals involved and implementation process [ 18 ]. The framework has been widely used across the globe to identify the barriers and facilitators of implementation outcomes in various healthcare settings, for example, evaluation of the online frailty tool in primary health care in Canada, integration of hypertension-HIV management in three Ugandan HIV clinics, examining the task shifting strategy for hypertension control at 32 hospitals and community health centers in Ghana and evaluating the implementation context of a quality improvement program for increasing vaccination coverage in Nigeria [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ].

Study setting

This study was conducted in the rural district of Mbarara, located in the southwestern region of Uganda, about 270 km southwest of the capital city, Kampala. According to the 2014 population and housing census, the district had a population of 472,629 (Land area 1785.6 km 2 ), of which 59% resided in rural areas [ 23 ]. In total the district had 87 health facilities including 48 government owned, 26 private clinics and 13 nonprofit health facilities [ 24 ]. There were no data on TB contact investigation available at district level. Health Centres (HC) in Uganda are ranked II, III or IV based on the administrative zone served by the health facility with level II serving a parish, level III serving a sub-county and level IV serving a county [ 25 ]. A HC IV is expected to serve a population of at least 100,000 people. The services offered included general outpatient clinic (including TB and HIV care), immunization, antenatal care, maternity services, inpatient, laboratory, emergency surgery and blood transfusion [ 25 ].

The Ugandan health system operates on a referral basis, with the lowest level of health care provided by community health workers called Village Health Teams (VHTs) and the highest level of care offered at highly specialized hospitals called National Referral Hospitals. Levels of health care increase with complexity in terms of the packages of services offered, staffing levels, and the size of the population served. Three health facilities where the study was conducted were purposively selected due to their rural location, level of care (IV), and significant volume of patients compared to lower levels (II and III).

Coordination of TB services in the district was done by the District TB and Leprosy Supervisor (DTLS), who is responsible for 26 TB diagnostic and treatment centers. Regional coordination of TB activities is done by the Zonal TB and Leprosy Supervisor (ZTLS), while national level coordination and policy formulation is done by the National TB and Leprosy Program (NTLP) [ 15 ].

Study design and study population

A qualitative, exploratory study design was conducted to identify barriers and facilitators to implementing TB contact investigations between April and July 2020. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with all 19 health workers who were purposively selected based on their direct participation in the implementation of TB interventions since they were likely to have the most knowledge and experience with TB contact investigations. These included TB focal persons at the health facilities, clinical officers, nurses, laboratory staff, VHTs, and District TB and Leprosy Supervisors. Health workers who were not in the health facility during the data collection period were excluded from the study. The Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ) were applied to comply with the reporting standards (Table S2 ) [ 26 ].

Data collection

Semi-structured interview guides were developed and included background information about study participants and questions developed according to the five domains of the CFIR. The VHT interview guides were translated into the regional dialect and put through a pilot test to ensure that the questions were understood and to gauge how long the interviews would take. Two health facilities that provided comparable research sites in terms of staffing levels and services were used for the pilot testing.

Physical interviews for the study participants were conducted by the lead researcher (PT) in either English or Runyankore and each interview was tape recorded while a trained research assistant took field notes. Data collection for each category of study participants was continued until saturation was reached [ 27 ]. Since data collection took place during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, precautions were taken to prevent COVID-19 cross-infection on both the researcher and the participants. Interviews were conducted at the selected health facilities in well-ventilated spaces, with both the interviewer and the participant wearing N-95 respirators, and surgical masks, respectively. Each interview lasted between 30 and 45 min and no repeat interviews were conducted.

Data management and analysis

Data were transcribed verbatim by the research team and the lead researcher listened to each audio recording while reading through the transcripts to correct errors in transcription and familiarize himself with the data. Transcripts were not given back to the participants for review or comments because evidence suggests that interviewee transcript review does not add value to the quality and rigor of qualitative research [ 28 ]. PT and JN reviewed the transcripts and made initial notes of interesting features or potential codes and themes in the data. The transcripts were then uploaded into MAXQDA 2020, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis in six iterative and recursive steps as described by Braun and Clarke [ 29 ]. The six steps included (1) familiarization with the data, (2) coding, (3) searching for themes, (4) reviewing the themes, (5) naming and defining the themes, and (6) writing the report [ 29 ]. The first step of the analysis was to look at the participants’ own words and expressions, without preconceived notions or classifications. The researchers then examined the language used by each participant in relation to the five domains of the CFIR. To ensure the reliability and credibility of the research analysis, both researchers PT and JN developed the themes by reading the transcripts independently to establish inter-coder agreement [ 30 ]. After the initial coding, the two-member team met to discuss the independently developed codes and themes and to reach an agreement on the themes. The transcribed texts and quotes were then grouped into themes, and the lead researcher used a reflexive approach to identify similarities or differences among CFIR domains and constructs. This iterative and recursive process provided space for reflexivity and ensured the credibility of the research findings. Themes were then defined and further refined to reflect the challenges and enablers of contact investigation coverage.

The research team and reflexivity

The field research team consisted of the principal investigator (PT), a male master’s student at the University of the Witwatersrand, and a female research assistant (GA), who is trained in population studies and monitoring and evaluation, and she was not employed at the time of this study. The principal investigator is a medical doctor who has training and experience in TB care and is familiar with WHO TB guidelines for contact investigations. He was not affiliated with the District Health Department or the Ministry of Health NTLP and is therefore unlikely to have influenced participant responses. Prior to the study, the principal investigator received training in qualitative research methods at the University of the Witwatersrand, so he was aware of how a researcher’s background, location, and assumptions can influence a qualitative study. The research team did not know the participants beforehand, and they were not directly involved in patient care in a way that would have influenced their responses.

Ethical considerations

This study was cleared by the Human Research Ethics Committees (Medical) at the University of the Witwatersrand (M200101), and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUREC 1/7). The Uganda National Council for Science and Technology granted permission to conduct the study in Uganda (HS569ES). Administrative approval was obtained from the District Health Officer, and the health facility managers of the respective study sites. Information about the study was shared with the participants before the interviews and written informed consent for participation and audio recording was obtained from each participant. To preserve participant privacy, interviews were conducted in a private space within the outpatient units, with only the researchers and the participants present.

Characteristics of study participants

Nineteen participants took part in semi-structured interviews with a response rate of 100% and 21.1% ( n  = 4) of them were male (Table  1 ). The sample comprised five clinical officers (26.3%), five nurses (26.3%), six VHT members (31.6%), one laboratory technician (5.2%), and two DTLs (10.5%). Eight of the participants (42.1%) had over three years’ experience in offering TB care. Clinical officers were paramedics with a diploma in clinical medicine, as opposed to nurses who had a bachelor’s degree in nursing, a diploma, or a nursing certificate. VHTs were lay health workers based in the community to aid with TB interventions in the local population. Laboratory technicians had a diploma in laboratory sciences, whereas DTLSs had one in nursing or clinical medicine.

Barriers and facilitators of TB contact investigation coverage

A reflective thematic analysis of the data gave rise to three themes: health system, contextual and intervention-related factors. The barriers and facilitators identified under each of the three themes (Table S3 ). Based on the WHO’s health system building blocks, the factors affecting the health system emerged under six sub-themes: human resources, commodities, service delivery, leadership and coordination, funding, and health information systems. Contextual factors were further categorized into geographic, social, and cultural, economic, and policy-related factors. Issues affecting TB contact investigations linked to the intervention itself were covered by the final theme (intervention-associated factors).

Barriers and facilitators

Domain 1: characteristics of the intervention.

The intervention related factors reported by the participants fell under three constructs, that is: evidence-base, intervention complexity and implementation cost.

Evidence-base

Out of the 19 healthcare workers involved in this research, 16 were aware of the intervention and its effectiveness in detecting, treating, and stopping the spread of tuberculosis in the community. Some of them had even engaged in relevant programs at the district, health facility, and community levels to improve uptake, such as support supervision, enlisting household contacts, home visits, health education, screening, and sputum sample collection. The DTLSs reported that training and regular orientation on several aspects of TB management, including TB contact investigation, provided easy access to knowledge and information. The district provided training on TB contact investigation to health workers in different platforms, including quarterly performance review meetings. As a result, they had the necessary information, abilities, or confidence to carry out contact investigation tasks.

“Even in meetings , we talk about contact tracing and investigation. Because for us we do meetings quarterly , all those meetings we…include a training in contact tracing and investigation” (Respondent 1—Nurse).

Intervention complexity

Three VHTs reported that TB contact investigations had multiple processes and therefore required a team to go for community visits, which interfered with other ongoing interventions at the health facility, such as TB screening at outpatient clinics, linking positive patients to treatment, providing community-based DOTs for patients on treatment, and following up with clients who defaulted on treatment. They also assisted with other medical services, such as immunizations, prenatal care, and providing ART refills to stable HIV patients. Therefore, during contact investigations, VHTs were mostly involved in community activities, leaving some of the basic facility-based interventions unattended.

“…it interferes with other programs… Now I am here working at the health facility , collecting sputum , screening and… I have many patients attending immunization , antenatal , ART (HIV clinic) , and I am the one who works on them too. And after that , I want to go and do contact tracing… Sometimes I ignore some of the facility activities so that I spare some time to go and do contact tracing in the community” (Respondent 4—VHT) .

Cost of the intervention

During TB contact investigations, it may be required to phone many patients or contacts. It is frequently necessary to call people who have appointments but do not show up at the health facility. Healthcare workers find it challenging to make these calls due to the high airtime requirements of this intervention and the associated cost.

“…some of these contacts need to be contacted on the phone several times because someone tells you he is coming tomorrow; and he doesn’t come. And the person keeps giving appointments without coming. And we do not have all that airtime…” (Respondent 5—Clinical Officer) .

Domain 2: outer setting

Funding from external entities: inadequate funding.

Multiple funding related challenges were reported at national, district and health facility levels. Funding for TB contact investigation was provided, through the Primary Health Care grants released from the Ministry of Health to public health facilities. Additional funds for contact investigation came from USAID through the Regional Health Integration to Enhance Services in Southwestern Uganda; a program for scaling up access to comprehensive HIV, TB and reproductive health services in the region.

Health workers believed that TB was not considered a priority by the Ministry of Health, which led to underfunding of the NTLP, and eventually underfunded TB work at district, health facility and community levels. TB interventions were not integrated into the annual budgeting processes like other interventions. For example, Malaria and sanitation interventions received funds, while TB remained unfunded, since 2014. The DTLS reported that the sanitation program was prioritized and funded better than the TB program, because of the advocacy by the sanitation program.

“…I think if the government says , ‘let us fight this disease’ , they need to put in (funds). Let them consider TB across the board. Let them budget for it like the way they budget for other conditions. Malaria is budgeted for , sanitation…receives money every quarter. But it is like six years (since 2014) when there was money for TB…and it was for only one quarter” (Respondent 1—Nurse).

The DTLSs reported insufficient funds for TB support supervision at the district level, which limited the amount of time the district TB supervisor spends in each health facility for supervision visits. Eventually, the quality of the supervision was compromised because teams did not have sufficient resources to train, mentor and supervise health facility teams.

“Because of the funds being little , we are forced , like in a day , to move to about four facilities. Remember , in TB , there are six indicators that you need to focus on and get to understand what the problem is. So , you find we do not have sufficient time to spend in the facility and support it.” (Respondent 2—Clinical Officer).

Health facility level funding challenges included delayed reimbursement of funds, and inadequate funds for home visits. In some cases, health facilities rely on NGOs for extra funds to conduct contact investigations, because of insufficient funds from the Primary Health Care (PHC) fund.

“…but when you do not have that NGO , things are challenging because you know that PHC money cannot be enough. You find that the PHC money is for only two patients , yet you have like six of them (to follow-up). So , when you do not have that money from NGOs , you cannot do it smoothly.” (Respondent 2—Clinical Officer) .

Some participants reported that they used their own money to trace index TB contacts; however, this money takes a long time to be refunded. Some participants even had a pay gap of about five months, which lowered their morale to continue with community visits.

“Most of the cases , we use our own money… you want to do your job , but transport facilitation (is missing)! Even…when they decide to refund it (money) , it takes so long…for example , since January we have never got that transport (money). We did contact tracing in January , February , March , April and May; we gave them reports , and they see that we are working , but we do not see our transport (refund)” (Respondent 16—VHT).

Critical incidents: COVID-19 pandemic related factors

This study was conducted during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic a lockdown policy was implemented by the government. This was characterized by suspension of public and private transportation, some health workers, TB patients and their contacts were unable to access health facilities. These restrictions affected the mobility of the health workers and patients to the health facility, and undermined TB contact investigation efforts. Besides lockdown measures, the COVID-19 pandemic was also associated with stigma among patients and health workers. Some TB contacts were afraid to report cough, in fear of being suspected of having COVID-19 and having to be quarantined for 14 days as per the MOH recommendations at the time. COVID-19 heightened the stigma associated with TB, because the two conditions have similar symptoms. Health workers could not tell who had COVID-19 or TB and, therefore, avoided anyone presenting with cough, because they feared it might be COVID-19. Some laboratory personnel declined to examine sputum samples because they were concerned that the samples might contain COVID-19 and increase their risk of getting the virus.

“Now with corona (COVID-19) , we would come here and not find any patient or health worker because they did not have transport means during the lockdown. Most of our people stayed at home. Even if you had your own motorcycle , they would not allow you to ride it…” (Respondent 13—Clinical officer).

Partnerships and connections: collaboration with NGOs and community-based organizations

Health workers and VHTs reported that the district and health facilities are networked with NGOs and community-based organizations which support the implementation of TB contact investigation and other health interventions. The primary implementing partner was Regional Health Integration to Enhance Services in Southwestern (RHITES-SW) Uganda, which supports the district with transportation and materials, while doing household visits.

Along with funding TB contact investigation, district-based NGOs also sponsored radio airtime to increase awareness and create demand for TB services.

“…RHITES-SW provides us with materials to use , like carrier bags. They provide us with transport to do contact tracing and the information. They normally update us on each and everything that is current in contact tracing and investigation” (Respondent 5—Clinical officer) . “Other stakeholders are working hand in hand with the government and our implementing partners. I see them working as a team to sponsor airtime on radios to create awareness and give some financial assistance.” (Respondent 12 , Clinical Officer).

Policies and laws: availability of updated operational guidelines

The district established favorable communication networks at district and health facility levels, facilitating efficient communication of guidelines, reference materials, and patients’ results. For example, the district had a WhatsApp group, specifically for the district TB team, to share information and monitor district activities.

“…we have a WhatsApp group of all the in charges and TB focal persons , where we discuss TB management and…share guidelines , so whoever needs guideline in TB management , he just goes there” (Respondent 1—Nurse).

Domain 3: inner setting

Available resources.

The barriers that emerged under available resources included, lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), stock-outs of Xpert MTB cartridges and shortage of human resources. Commodities that frequently went out of stock included toolkits for TB contact investigations and Xpert MTB cartridges for conducting Xpert MTB and RIF tests. At times health facilities spend about two months without cartridges, and health workers were notified by the laboratory team not to send sputum samples for analysis, which weighs down contact investigation efforts. Additionally, VHTs reported the lack of essential tools for community visits, especially during extreme weather. Health facilities also frequently ran short of PPE for home-based contact screening, such as masks and gloves, which discouraged them from doing community contact tracing out of fear of acquiring TB.

“…sometimes , there are no GeneXpert (Xpert MTB) cartridges; you find that we are not doing GeneXpert (tests) because cartridges are finished… , at times we take like a month or two without cartridges and…that is not good… , the lab people tell us , ‘do not send samples this month , we do not have (cartridges)’ , which means we are missing people (patients).” (Respondent 12—Clinical Officer). “At times you go to a difficult place…in a rainy season… , you climb a hill while it is raining on you. You do not have an umbrella; you do not have boots or a bag to carry the stuff (materials)…” (Respondent 4—VHT).

Human resource shortage was also reported as barrier. Sometimes, only one health worker was available to go for community visits, yet there are multiple tasks to do, including health education, screening, and sample collection. Therefore, this scarcity of human resources affects the quality of implementation since some of the tasks are left incomplete.

“…sometimes there is a lack of manpower because…the health workers are not enough at the facility , so you find that only one person is going for contact tracing , and the work there is huge , and that person cannot do all the work alone. So , most of the things are not done. They do part of the work and leave out some” (Respondent 15—Nurse).

Two facilitators were discussed under the construct of available resources: presence of a landline telephones to aid communication and a motorcycle to support transportation during community visits. The telephones were loaded with airtime for scheduling household visits and communicating Xpert MTB/RIF results from the hub laboratory while the motorcycle helped to reduce the cost of transportation since community visits only required fuel for the motorcycle.

“We have a health facility motorcycle , which does not force us to put in a lot of money… We just consider the distance we are covering and then put in fuel and move , which is easier than getting a boda-boda (motorcycle taxi).” (Respondent 16—VHT).

Structural characteristics: rugged terrain and poor road network, paper-based reporting systems, and hub and spoke laboratory system

All six VHTs reported that some patients came from hard-to-reach areas, characterized by rugged terrain, where vehicles or motorcycles cannot reach. This makes it hard for health workers to visit such communities for contact investigations. Additionally, some places have poor roads that are impassable during the rainy season, thus affecting service delivery. In such circumstances, health workers use boda-bodas (motorcycle taxis) to a certain point, and then walk the remaining distance. Sometimes the terrain is hilly and exhausting, which discourages teams from doing community visits. Large health facility catchment areas also made it more difficult for field teams to deliver contact investigation services to distant households. As a result, contacts of index TB cases from remote places were instead asked to come to the health facility for further evaluation, however, some of them did not come.

“…for those people who come from hard-to-reach areas , going to those homes is quite challenging. Sometimes we reach a point of walking on foot because we cannot reach there using a car or a motorcycle. So , we must climb a steep hill to look for those patients” (Respondent 4—VHT). “This is a big sub-county; people come from distant areas , even neighboring districts. And of course , as a health worker , you cannot reach every homestead. So , some (contacts) are called to come to the health facility. But because of the long distances , some fail to come.” (Respondent 4—VHT).

Another barrier was the use of the paper-based reporting system. One of the TB focal persons reported that TB contact investigation reports were submitted manually using a paper-based system which affects timeliness of reporting. Submission of reports had to wait for an opportunity when someone was going to the district headquarters, which causes a delay and eventually affects re-imbursement of the payments for activities.

“Sometimes , since we are sending the reports to Mbarara , they reach late because of transport issues. It becomes hard for someone to send the report since you cannot get any transport , so you get someone going to Mbarara , give them the reports , and tell that person where they should be delivering the reports. So , it also takes a bit of time” (Respondent 8—Nurse).

The laboratory system in the district used a “hub and spoke” system, where laboratory samples are collected in peripheral laboratories and transported by motorcycle riders to the central laboratory for analysis. However, participants reported that this system was dysfunctional because of the long results turn-around time, compromised early TB diagnosis and treatment and affected TB contact investigation coverage. In some cases, health workers spent up to two months, waiting for Xpert MTB results.

“And we have a challenge with hub riders… Sometimes , the hub riders take sputum samples to Mbarara , and if they do not go back to pick the results , you will never see them. And you end up spending around two months without results” (Respondent 12—Clinical Officer).

Domain 4: individuals involved

Under characteristics of the individuals involved, participants reported the presence of internal implementation leads called TB focal persons at health facility and DTLS at district level. These were responsible for coordinating the provision of TB services and technical leadership and supervision of the TB program and different levels of care. Additionally, health workers received adequate training on various aspects of TB management including TB contact investigation. Such training sessions supported them with the adequate knowledge and skills to confidently conduct contact investigation activities.

Domain 5: implementation process

The three constructs that emerged under implementation process were planning, engaging and reflection and evaluation.

The DTLSs reported that leaders at the Ministry of Health had transferred the planning, coordination, and funding of TB interventions, including TB contact investigation. Instead, this role was left to implementing partners, usually local and international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), which negatively impacted the TB program at district level. Also, participants reported that implementing partners tend to have different priorities. For example, these organizations mainly focus on HIV interventions, and less on TB. Therefore, it is challenging to divert them from their preferences and focus them on district priorities, since their priorities are often guided by donor funding.

“Also , The Ministry of Health has deliberately left this work (TB contact investigation) …to implementing partners , and it has killed everything. And in that line , I think we can eradicate TB , but if the government is putting in (effort) , not leaving this disease for the implementing partners.” (Respondent 1—Nurse). “They tell you their priority is HIV , and you cannot shift them. They have their …operational guidelines that you cannot change.” (Respondent 1 , Nurse).

Reflection and evaluation

data use to inform program decisions by the district health team was identified as a facilitator. The district held quarterly performance and reflection meetings with the participation of the district’s NGOs, community-based organizations, district health management team, and healthcare providers from the various health centers. In these meetings, attendees discussed their performance, challenges across the different technical areas, and strategies for bridging the gaps.

the involvement of all stakeholders within the district, including health facility teams, district teams, NGOs, and community-based organizations involved in the TB program, in regular engagements to review implementation progress, performance, and plan improvement strategies was reported as a facilitator. Non-Governmental Organizations are actively involved in discussions regarding potential funding opportunities for specific activities.

“…we normally have the district stakeholders meeting , where they (external stakeholders) normally come here , and we discuss performance in different areas - MCH (maternal and child health) and HIV; TB is also given a platform. We tell them about our challenges.” (Respondent 1—Nurse) .

The stigma associated with TB was reported as a common challenge by all participants in this study. For this reason, index TB patients preferred not to be visited at home by a health worker, out of fear of being stigmatized if neighbors and other community members found out that they had TB. Some index TB patients even tried to avoid being visited by giving health workers incorrect phone numbers and physical addresses. Patients with TB and HIV co-infection have an increased fear of disclosing their status because of the misconception that every TB patient has HIV. Additionally, poverty among index TB patients was also found to be a challenge because contacts of TB patients lacked funds to transport them to the health facility for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. As a result, it was necessary for health professionals to collect sputum samples from the community and bring them to the health facility for analysis. This, however, was not always feasible, leaving some of the contacts of TB patients unevaluated.

“…some patients give us wrong telephone contacts , we call the number , it is not on , or a different person picks it. So , we fail to trace that person. Some fear health workers going to their homes. Mostly when the index TB patient is also HIV positive , they do not want people in their villages to see any health care worker coming to their home because they may identify them” (Respondent 11—VHT).

This study explored the factors influencing TB contact investigation coverage in three rural, primary health facilities in Southwestern Uganda. The study is unique in its rural focus unlike previous studies in Uganda and Kenya, which were conducted in cities [ 7 , 15 , 31 ]. The barriers and facilitators identified in this study were diverse and covered all the five domains of the CFIR. Although some studies have used other implementation research tools to identify the barriers and facilitators to implementing TB contact investigation, this study used the CFIR to explore the factors influencing TB contact investigation coverage in Africa.

The key challenges that emerged from this study included health system challenges, such as the lack of funding for TB contact investigation, insufficient PPE and inadequate Xpert MTB equipment for diagnostic testing. The rugged terrain and poor road networks in rural communities also made it difficult for health workers to access patients in the community, and vice versa. Poverty, TB- and COVID19-related stigma were also perceived as barriers. On the other hand, the facilitators to TB contact investigation included an increased awareness of TB contact investigation, adequate knowledge of the Ugandan MoH guidelines, confidence in delivering the intervention and on-the-job training of health workers. In addition, the availability of a telephone and transport to schedule and make household visits were reported as facilitators. The support of key district stakeholders involved in TB contact investigations and quarterly performance review meetings also emerged as facilitators.

The health system barriers that emerged from this research were inadequate or irregular funding, human resource shortages, lack of PPE supplies (face masks, gloves, raincoats, and gumboots), out of stock of Xpert MTB cartridges and lack of airtime for communication. In addition, inadequate or inconsistent funding limited the frequency of the DTLS visits to health facilities for supervision and caused a delay in payment of travel and allowances to field teams, causing TB contact investigation operations to be hampered. This finding is in contrast with another study conducted in urban Kenya, which found that the TB program received sustainable funding for infrastructure and health workforce for contact investigation [ 32 ]. Furthermore, this Kenyan study used the WHO health systems framework. It focused on the stakeholder perspectives of the barriers and facilitators to optimizing TB contact investigation in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. This funding disparity between rural and urban areas could be due to a higher TB prevalence in most urban settings thus attracting the attention of policy makers to allocate more resources there [ 33 ].

Consistent with this study, three studies conducted in Botswana, Ethiopia and Uganda reported human resource shortages as a considerable hindrance to TB contact investigation coverage [ 3 , 15 , 16 ]. In urban Uganda, health workers had other competing duties in the TB clinics, thus, they did not have sufficient time for community-level activities, including household contact tracing [ 15 ]. In this study, sometimes only one health worker was available for community visits, and they could not complete multiple tasks, such as health education, screening, sample collection, HIV testing and documentation in the registers. The staff shortage is partly attributed to a small number of staff trained in TB, and assigning them responsibilities in other units outside the TB unit [ 3 ].

Another challenge identified in this study was a lack of PPE materials such as masks, gloves, raincoats and gumboots for health workers to protect themselves against TB and other infectious diseases (such as COVID-19). Health staff were hesitant to conduct household contact investigations without wearing masks and gloves, to avoid contracting TB and COVID-19. Similarly, protective gear, such as raincoats and gumboots, to be used in harsh weather conditions, were not provided to health workers. There is limited literature on the influence of PPE materials on TB contact investigation coverage and this calls for more research in this area. These findings indicate that the supply chain management system for essential infection control materials is weak. These findings emphasize the need to strengthen mechanisms to guarantee sufficient PPE supplies and sustain the supply chain for these products.

The context within which an intervention is implemented, is recognized as a significant determinant of implementation success [ 18 ]. Contextual factors refer to issues about a person or their environment that can positively or negatively affect the delivery of an intervention [ 18 ]. Socio-economic, policy-related, and geographical barriers emerged as contextual barriers in this research. The socio-economic factors included poverty, lack of phones where patients can be contacted to confirm the appointment of household visits, stigma, and fear of reporting cough in fear of being labelled as having COVID-19.

In Botswana, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda, the stigma associated with Tuberculosis has been reported as a barrier to TB contact investigation. [ 3 , 7 , 15 , 16 ]. Although these studies did not specifically focus on TB contact investigation coverage, stigma hindered household visits, because index TB patients avoided home visits by health workers, out of fear of their status being disclosed to the community and discrimination from them, which could eventually affect demand and coverage of the intervention. An important observation in our study was that stigma was aggravated by the misconception that every TB patient has HIV, and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tuberculosis and COVID-19 have common respiratory symptoms (cough, fever, and breathing difficulties), making it difficult to distinguish the two. This causes diagnostic confusion, and the health workers may also avoid such patients, in fear of contracting COVID-19 [ 34 ]. Furthermore, because of the new COVID-19 stigma, patients with a chronic cough might fear coming to the health facilities for diagnosis, thus complicating the two pandemics [ 34 ].

The COVID-19 lockdown policy implemented in 2020 by the Government of Uganda posed significant challenges to TB contact investigation efforts. Both health staff and patients could not access health facilities, due to stringent lockdown measures, including travel restrictions and public and private transportation prohibitions. Additionally, health providers could not conduct home visits to screen the contacts. Similar findings were found in another study on the impact of COVID-19 on TB programs in Western Pacific nations [ 35 ]. Other COVID-19 related problems encountered in the Western Pacific study included a change in priorities towards the COVID-19 response, as demonstrated by the relocation of TB program staff to the COVID-19 response, and a reduced willingness of patients and contacts to visit health facilities [ 35 ]. Therefore, innovative strategies are required to streamline TB contact investigation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As reported by Cattamanchi et al., geographical challenges contribute to the failure of TB patients and contacts to present at health facilities for TB care [ 36 ]. In their study, health workers reported that the physical remoteness of patients’ homes from the health facility and the rugged terrain encountered during travel, was a challenge [ 36 ]. Likewise, in this study, health workers reported that some index TB patients and contacts came from distant and challenging areas, with steep hills and poor road networks, preventing access to health facilities. This challenge was aggravated by poverty, because patients and contacts from the periphery of the county could not travel to health facilities because of high transport costs.

Facilitators

All health workers interviewed in this study reported awareness of the intervention. They had even engaged in relevant programs to improve its uptake, including enlisting household contacts, home visits, screening, and sputum sample collection. In addition, the clarification of the various steps demonstrated health workers’ adherence to the organizational protocols for TB contact investigations. The increased awareness and fidelity to the guidelines may be attributed to the development and dissemination of local contact investigation guidelines through training and the use of electronic media, such as WhatsApp. Conversely, a similar study conducted in rural Ethiopia found that awareness and adherence to the guidelines were poor because of a lack of refresher training. [ 3 ].

The health system facilitators that emerged from this study include good provider knowledge and access to information, performance review meetings at the district level, and engagement of district stakeholders to obtain their support. In contrast to other studies in Uganda, Ethiopia, and the USA, provider knowledge and confidence (self-efficacy) worked as a facilitator in this study because staff involved in TB contact investigation had received on-the-job training on various aspects of TB management, including contact investigation, diagnosis, and management [ 3 , 15 , 37 ]. In this study, health workers reported that they had the knowledge, skills, and confidence to conduct TB contact investigations successfully. These results are partly attributed to the quarterly district performance review meetings, in which an orientation on TB contact investigation was done and guidelines were shared with health workers.

Reflection and evaluation in TB contact investigation performance were demonstrated by Karamagi et al., in a Quality Improvement study to improve case finding in Northern Uganda [ 38 ]. A review meeting was held to discuss progress on active case finding and develop scale-up plans for the intervention [ 38 ]. Similarly, this study found that quarterly district review meetings were held, to discuss district and health facility performance, challenges, and improvement strategies in various program components, including TB contact investigation. These reflection meetings involved district-based stakeholders such as NGOs, health workers, TB focal persons, and health facility managers, and this promoted ownership of the interventions, and helped in resource mobilization. These meetings were also used to review quarterly TB performance, and develop action plans to improve multiple TB indicators, including TB contact investigation.

Strengths and limitations of the study

This study had the following strengths. First, we included various health provider categories at different levels of the district healthcare system, including community, health facility and district levels, to obtain different perspectives from the participants. Second, this study used implementation science methods such as the CFIR to investigate the rural perceptions of the challenges and enablers of TB contact investigation coverage. The CFIR provided a framework for developing the semi-structured interview guides and interpretation of study findings and this promotes transferability of these results to other settings.

Some weaknesses were also observed. First, index TB patients and their contacts were not interviewed; therefore, some information on the challenges and enablers of contact investigation coverage from the patients’ and caregivers’ perspective may have been missed. Second, data collection was conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown, and some health workers were inaccessible, especially laboratory personnel involved in pandemic control activities at the time. Consequently, the laboratory may have challenges that were not identified in this study. Third, the COVID-19 pandemic may have aggravated some challenges, which were not so pronounced before the pandemic. Finally, the generalizability of our results to other geographical locations may be limited, because this study was conducted in one district in Uganda, which gives it a smaller scope. However, we included three health facilities in different counties, which may improve transferability to other settings.

This study explored health providers perceptions of the barriers and facilitators of TB contact investigation in rural Mbarara district, Southwestern Uganda. This study found that most of the challenges limiting TB contact investigations in rural communities are related to health system; for-example inadequate or delayed funding and human resource shortages. The Ministry of Health in Uganda therefore must strengthen the health system building blocks, particularly health financing and human resources to establish a robust TB control program that will enable the efficient identification of missing TB patients. It also demonstrated the unique challenges affecting the rural settings regarding tuberculosis contact investigation including lack of personal protective equipment, stock-out of Xpert MTB cartridges, shortage of airtime for communication, TB-related stigma, and inconsistent funding for TB contact investigation. Further research is needed to determine the effectiveness of potential implementation strategies for eliminating these barriers in rural communities. Also, having identified the disruptive nature of the COVID-19 pandemic to the achievement of optimal TB contact investigation coverage, there is a need to develop measures for integrating both COVID-19 and TB contact investigation interventions.

Data availability

The dataset used in the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

I acknowledge the contribution of Grace Ayebazibwe (GA), who supported me during the data collection and analysis by taking field notes, transcription, and translation of audio recordings.

This research work was supported by TDR, the Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, which is hosted at the World Health Organization, and co-sponsored by UNICEF, UNDP, the World Bank and WHO. TDR grant number: B40299, first author ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9722-1202. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funder.

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PT, NN and PM participated in the conceptualization and design of the study, developing interview guides, writing the initial version of the manuscript, and reviewing subsequent versions, with substantial input from NMT. With assistance from NN and PM, PT and JN conducted the data analysis. Each author contributed to the writing of the manuscript, and they all reviewed and gave their approval for publishing of the final draft.

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Tukamuhebwa, P.M., Munyewende, P., Tumwesigye, N.M. et al. Health worker perspectives on barriers and facilitators of tuberculosis investigation coverage among index case contacts in rural Southwestern Uganda: a qualitative study. BMC Infect Dis 24 , 867 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-09798-9

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How to Write a Case Study: Step-by-Step Guide with Examples

• October 7, 2022

Content Manager at SocialBee

Why is learning how to write a case study so important?

Well, because it provides your customers with social proof and supporting evidence of how effective your products and services are. Moreover, it eliminates the doubt that usually makes clients give up on their next purchase.

That is why today we are going to talk about the step-by-step process of writing a case study . We prepared five business case study examples guaranteed to inspire you throughout the process.

Let’s get started!

What Is a Case Study?

A case study is a piece of content that focuses on a case from your business history. It describes the problems your client faced and the solutions you used to help them succeed.

The goal of a writing case study is to promote your business , so your aim should be to put together a compelling story with evidence that backs up all your claims.

Case studies use real-life examples to show your clients the quality and effectiveness of your products and services. It’s a marketing tool that provides credibility and it helps your potential clients gain confidence in your brand.

Case studies can be structured in different formats:

• A written document
• An infographic
• A blog post
• A landing page

Case Study Benefits

A great case study makes your potential customers want to benefit from the products and services that helped your client overcome their challenges. 

Here are the benefits of writing a case study:

• It is an affordable marketing practice
• It decreases the perceived risk of your potential clients
• It provides transparency
• It builds trust and credibility among prospective customers
• It makes your potential clients relate to the problem
• It provides your potential clients with a solution for their problems

How to Write a Case Study

Now that you know what a case study is, let’s get into the real reason why you are here — learning how to write an in-depth study.

Here is the step-by-step process of writing a case study:

• Identify the topic of your case study
• Start collaborating with a client
• Prepare questions for the interview
• Conduct the case study interview
• Structure your case study 
• Make it visual

Step 1: Identify the Topic of Your Case Study

A case study starts with a strategy. Choosing what you want to write about should be closely related to your business needs. More specifically, what service or product do you want to promote through your case study?

Because case studies focus on client challenges, business solutions, and results, you have to carefully pick the case that your potential clients will relate to the most. 

To communicate the benefits of your business, you should focus on a customer story that appeals to a specific segment of your audience . Consequently, you will target clients that relate to your customer example while providing a solution for their needs and pain points — your products and services.

Start by focusing all your research methods on identifying your customers’ main pain points. Then find examples of how your products or services have helped them overcome their challenges and achieve their goals .

Furthermore, to make sure you choose the best case study topic for your buyer persona , you should have a meeting with your sales/customer service team. Because they are in close contact with your customers, they will be able to tell you:

• The main challenges your clients face 
• The services/products that bring them the best results 

These are the main two pieces of information you want your case study to focus on.

Step 2: Start Collaborating with a Client

With a clear topic in mind, you have to find the best fit for your case study. 

However, that is not all. First, you must obtain the client’s permission. After all, your business story is theirs too.

So, craft an email to provide your client with an overview of the case study. This will help them make a decision. 

Your message should include:

• The case study format (video, written, etc.) and where it will be published (blog, landing page , etc.)
• The topic of the document
• The timeline of the process
• The information that will be included
• The benefits they get as a result of this collaboration (brand exposure, backlinks)

Additionally, you can offer to schedule a call or a meeting to answer all their questions and curiosities and provide a means for clear and open communication.

Once you receive a positive response from your client, you can continue with the next step of the process: the actual interview.

PRO TIP: A great way to ensure a smooth and safe collaboration between you and your client is to sign a legal release form before writing the case study. This will allow you to use their information and protect you from issues that may occur in the future. Moreover, if the client is not comfortable with revealing their identity, you can always offer them anonymity.

Step 3: Prepare Questions for the Interview

Now that you have the subject for your case study, it’s time to write and organize your interview in several sets of questions.

Don’t forget that the whole structure of your case study is based on the information you get from your customer interview.

So pay attention to the way you phrase the questions. After all, your goal is to gather all the data you need to avoid creating a back-and-forth process that will consume your client’s time and energy.

To help you create the best questionnaire, we created a set of case study questions and organized them into different categories. 

Here are the five main sections your case study interview should contain:

• The client’s background information
• The problem
• The start of the collaboration
• The solution
• The results

A. The Client’s Background Information

This part of the case study interview must give a comprehensive look into your customer’s business and allow your readers to get to know them better.

Here are some question ideas:

B. The Problem

Now it’s time to get into the reason your client came to you for assistance, the initial challenge that triggered your collaboration.

In this part of the interview process, you want to find out what made them ask for help and what was their situation before working with you.

You can ask your client the following case study questions:

C. The Start of the Collaboration

This part of the case study interview will focus on the process that made your collaboration possible. More specifically, how did your client research possible collaboration opportunities, and why they chose your business? 

This information will not only be informative for your future customers but will also give you a behind-the-scenes look into their decision-making process.

D. The Solution

It’s time to get into one of the most significant parts of the case study interview — the solution. Here you should discuss how your services have helped their business recover from the problems mentioned before.

Make sure you ask the right questions so you can really paint the picture of a satisfied customer.

Have a look at these question examples:

E. The Results

The best proof you can give to your customers is through your results. And this is the perfect opportunity to let your actions speak for themselves.

Unlike the other marketing strategies you use to promote your business, the content is provided by your customer, not by your team. As a result, you end up with a project that is on another level of reliability.

Here is how you can ask your client about their results:

Step 4: Conduct the Case Study Interview

Now that you have a great set of case study questions, it’s time to put them to good use.

Decide on the type of interview you want to conduct: face-to-face, video call , or phone call. Then, consult with your client and set up a date and a time when you are both available. 

It should be noted that during the interview it’s best to use a recording device for accuracy. Maybe you don’t have time to write down all the information, and you forget important details. Or maybe you want to be focused more on the conversational aspect of the interview, and you don’t want to write anything down while it’s happening.

Step 5: Structure Your Case Study 

The hard part is over. Now it’s time to organize all the information you gathered in an appealing format. Let’s have a look at what your case study should contain.

Here are the components of a case study:

• Engaging title
• Executive summary
• Client description 
• Introduction to the problem
• The problem-solving process
• Progress and results

A. Engaging Title

Putting that much work into a project, it would be a shame not to do your best to attract more readers. So, take into consideration that you only have a few seconds to catch your audience’s attention. 

You can also use a headline analyzer to evaluate the performance of your title.

The best case study titles contain:

• Relevant keywords
• Customer pain points
• Clear result

Case study example :

B. Executive Summary

Your executive summary should include a thesis statement that sums up the main points of your case study. Therefore, it must be clear and concise. Moreover, to make your audience curious, you can add a statistic or a relevant piece of data that they might be interested in.

Here is what you should include in your executive summary:

• The business you are writing about (only if the clients wants to make themselves known)
• Relevant statistics

C. Client Description 

Here is where you start to include the information you gained from your interview. Provide your readers with a clear picture of your client and create a context for your case study.

Take your client’s answers from the “Client Background” section of the interview and present them in a more appealing format.

D. Introduction to the Problem

In this section, use your client’s interview answers to write about the problem they were experiencing before working with you.

Remember to be specific because you want your audience to fully understand the situation and relate to it. At the end of the day, the goal of the case study is to show your potential customers why they should buy your services/products.

E. The Problem-Solving Process

Next, explain how your service/product helped your client overcome their problems. Moreover, let your readers know how and why your service/product worked in their case.

In this part of the case study, you should summarize: 

• The strategy used to solve the problem of your customer 
• The process of implementing the solution 

F. Progress and Results

Tell your readers about what you and your client have achieved during your collaboration. Here you can include:

• Graphics about your progress
• Business objectives they have achieved
• Relevant metrics 

Step 6: Make It Visual

To elevate the information you have written for your audience, you must make sure it’s appealing and easy to read. And a great way to achieve that is to use visuals that add value to your case study.

Here are some design elements that will make emphasize your text:

• Graphic symbols that guide the eye (arrows, bullet points, checkmarks, etc.)
• Charts, graphics, tables 
• Relevant screenshots from business reports
• The colors and fonts of your brand
• Your client’s logo

Platforms like Canva can really come in handy while designing your case study. It’s easy to use and it has multiple free slide templates and graphics that save you time and money.

PRO TIP: Share Your Case Study Across All Marketing Channels

A case study is a perfect example of evergreen content that can be reshared endlessly on your social media channels .

Aside from helping you maintain a consistent posting schedule with ease, case study-related posts will increase your credibility and push leads toward the bottom of your marketing funnel . Other examples of social proof evergreen content are reviews, testimonials, and positive social media mentions.

To keep track of all your evergreen posts and have them scheduled on a continuous loop, use a social media tool like SocialBee.

Create evergreen content categories where all your posts get reposted regularly on your social media channels. 

Start your 14-day trial today and start using SocialBee for free!

Aside from promoting your case study on social media, you can also feature it in your newsletter that you can create using email newsletter software , include it as a pop-up on your website, and even create a separate landing page dedicated to your customer study.

Share Your Case Study on Social Media with SocialBee!

Get to writing your own case study.

What do you think? Is writing a case study easier than you thought? We sure hope so.

Learning how to write a case study is a simple process once you understand the logical steps that go into it. So make sure you go over the guide a couple of times before you start documenting your customer success stories.

And remember that the goal of your case study is to attract more leads . Therefore you need to include tangible results and valuable details that will compel your audience to invest in your products and services.

Article written by

Content writer at SocialBee

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5 Steps for Writing a Case Study for Business (+Templates)

Get professional tips for writing a case study that drives business impact. Learn the best format and research method to use alongside examples & templates.

7 minute read

helped business professionals at:

SHORT ANSWER

What is a case study.

• Open with an introductory overview
• Explain the problem in question
• Detail the solutions that solved the problem
• Refer to key results
• Finish with recommendations and next steps

Why you need a case study

“I climbed Mount Everest and I did it all by myself.” “Yeah mate, pics or it didn’t happen.” The same logic applies to case studies. In business, it’s “case studies or it didn’t happen.” A well-written case study legitimizes your product or services. It proves the impact your actions have on the bottom line and is the single most important element of building trust amongst prospective clients. But… How do you write a *perfect* case study? One that engages readers and makes them care about your offering and excited to work with you?

In business, a case study , or customer success story, is a marketing tool that showcases how your product or service helped clients overcome business challenges. It uses statistics, quotes, and specific examples to convincingly highlight your ability to produce results.

What is the purpose of a case study?

The purpose of a case study, usually, is to provide your prospective clients with specific examples of how your products or services can help solve business problems they might be facing.

Case studies legitimize your business activities allowing you to go beyond explaining what you do and focus on how well you do it. (And, in case you were wondering just HOW important case studies are, here’s an item of data to ponder: according to a DemandGen report , 78% of B2B buyers want to review case studies before making a purchase decision. Another study by Uplift found that at the end of 2023, f or the third year in a row, marketers ranked case studies the #1 most effective marketing tactic to increase sales—ahead of general website content, SEO, blog posts, social media, paid ads and other tactics. )

There’s no magic behind it. Just a proven, simple formula I’m about to share with you. Spend the next 7 minutes reading this guide and you’ll learn how to write case studies better than any case study you’ve created in the past. Important caveat: this article explains how to write a case study for business purposes. If you’re interested in writing research case studies for academia, refer to this excellent guide by University of Southern California. If, in turn, you’re struggling with putting together a medical case study, here’s a fantastic 101 by the BMJ . I’m not going to pretend I know better than these guys do.

For your reference, here’s an example of our very own case study, showing how, at Storydoc, we helped the Spot company boost some of their key metrics: Learn How Spot by NetApp boosted their conversion rates 2x.

Spot's team used this deck to boost their conversion 2x

By drawing the bigger picture even deep-tech software products can be easily explained.

Browse interactive case study templates

No matter how great the contents of your case study might be, if you fail to present it in an eye-pleasing way, most likely, no one will really read it. The good news? I’ve put together a gallery of the most professional, attention-grabbing case study templates available online. You can find it here: Case Study Templates & Design Tips Or, take a shortcut to great case study design and use our presentation maker . Have a look below to see what your case study might look like.

And now, let’s get to the case study 101. (If you’re only interested in a specific section of a case study, simply click on a jump-to link in the table of contents below.

Here's how to write a case study:

1. Open with an introductory overview

The last thing you want is for someone to open your case study, give it a quick glance, and decide to skip. See— People don’t usually read case studies. At least not immediately. First, they skim the contents to see if the subject is relevant enough. How to make sure your case study sticks? At the beginning, place an introductory overview (also called an “executive summary”). Provide an overview of the whole case. It’s not supposed to be a catchy intro but a full synopsis, detailing the problem at hand, your assumptions, the solutions implemented, and the results achieved.

How to write a case study introduction?

Introduce the purpose of the case study—specify exactly what you were aiming to achieve.

Define the problem or the most significant challenge. For instance, low conversion rates, a technological issue or high costs. (It could also be a combination of such factors!)

Explain briefly what the solution to the problem was.

Share the most important results your actions produced. Don’t go into too much detail, a few key points will do. It’s best if you can quantify the results: numbers pop!

Keep it short. Usually, 2–4 paragraphs + a few bullet points with key results will do.

While, as its name implies, this section comes at the beginning of your case study, write it last. First, craft the rest of your document, then pick the most important bits and compile them into the introductory overview.

2. Explain the problem in question

“Adam caught a flat tire. In the middle of the desert. He had no spare, no signal, no food, and only enough water to keep him alive for 48 hours.” Oh dear, poor Adam! What could possibly be done to help him?! See, in your case study, make the client seem like Adam so that, later on, you can paint your company like the miraculous savior. Of course, I’m exaggerating, but only so much. The purpose of the “problem” section in a case study is to arouse emotions from the readers. Ideally, in such a way that they can picture themselves as Adam. Highlight a problem your product or services solve and present an example of when that problem was troubling a client really badly.

How to write a “problem” section in a case study?

In a single sentence, describe your customer’s business challenges and objectives.

Explain the problem your customer faced that prevented them from achieving those objectives prior to working with you.

If that was the case, mention other solutions your client experimented with that didn’t work out and explain why.

Make it clear how the issue or problem impacted the client’s business results so that it’s easy to understand why a solution was badly needed.

3. Detail the solutions implemented to solve the problem

Here comes the moment to toot your own horn a bit (and also that moment when you can get slightly technical). Present your solutions in reference to the issue your client was dealing with and make it obvious that those are easily replicable for all future cases. Of course, the exact formula for this section will depend on your industry and mode of operation. Sometimes a 2–3 paragraph summary will be enough, in other cases, you’ll need to include more detailed technical specs regarding the solution you implemented.

How to write a solutions section in a case study?

Focus on your customer’s experience in using your product or services.

Explain the process: say how long it took to get the solution up and running and what teams on your customer’s end were involved.

Highlight the features of your product or service that turned out to be the most beneficial to your customer.

If possible, attach or link to relevant assets that will work as real-life examples of your solution (unless, of course, the information is highly sensitive).

Always run your case study by your client’s marketing team before you go live. Even if you’re using direct quotes or verifiable results, it’s ultimately their decision whether or not to make certain information freely available.

4. Refer to key results

In business, nothing speaks louder than ROI and you know it. Prospective customers reading your case study won’t be bothered to take notice of your state-of-the-art technology or innovative approach. Neither will they care about your past customers’ happiness. What they want to know is this: Will that help me save or make money? When writing a case study, your job is to present results in a way that answers the above question with a resounding YES. You need to make it blatantly obvious that your solutions heavily impact the bottom line of the client in question and that such results are easily replicable.

Here’s how to write about results:

In a few bullet points, list numerical results your solution delivered to the client.

Ideally, you’ll want to include revenue-related data: increase in clients’ base, more demos booked, higher conversion rates, or optimized pricing.

If you can’t (or aren’t allowed to) share hard sales numbers, refer to softer KPIs: time saved, customer happiness scores, expanding the community, or enhancing brand visibility.

If possible, by all means include quotes from your client. Results should speak for themselves, obviously, but showing the real human whose problems you solved makes for a much more powerful narrative. Plus, it further adds credibility to the case study. Start by preparing a list of powerful case study questions to guide your client interviews.8

5. Finish with recommendations and next steps

Everyone enjoys a solid epilogue. To end on a high note, include a list of key findings from your case study. Even if a given reader won’t decide to get in touch with you, at least you’ll provide them with a valuable source of knowledge—sometimes that’s enough to keep your company top of mind in the future. Plus, if you’re planning to continue working with the subject of your case study, definitely mention that! It shows that your support is valuable enough to warrant long-term collaboration, not just a one-off endeavor. Now, not every case study requires a call to action (especially if your main purpose is to inform and educate rather than convert, which is okay, too), but for those more commercially-oriented ones, do add it. Make your CTA singular and clear —if the most desired action is to reach out to you, leave your contact details, if you’d rather direct prospects to a landing page or a welcome screen, add a button.

And that’s a wrap!

Here are the key points to keep in mind when writing a case study:

Put an introductory overview at the beginning.

Present the problem you were solving and your exact solutions to that problem.

Include numerical, verifiable results your product or services delivered for the client.

Explain what the next steps are, especially if you plan to continue working with the client.

Finish with a strong, clear CTA, making it easy for prospects to reach out to you.

Thanks for reading the guide. Keeping my fingers crossed for your case study and wishing many successful cases so that you’ll always have something to write about.

Hi, I'm John, Editor-in-chief at Storydoc. As a content marketer and digital writer specializing in B2B SaaS, my main goal is to provide you with up-to-date tips for effective business storytelling and equip you with all the right tools to enable your sales efforts.

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• Knowledge Base

Methodology

• What Is a Case Study? | Definition, Examples & Methods

What Is a Case Study? | Definition, Examples & Methods

Published on May 8, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on November 20, 2023.

A case study is a detailed study of a specific subject, such as a person, group, place, event, organization, or phenomenon. Case studies are commonly used in social, educational, clinical, and business research.

A case study research design usually involves qualitative methods , but quantitative methods are sometimes also used. Case studies are good for describing , comparing, evaluating and understanding different aspects of a research problem .

Table of contents

When to do a case study, step 1: select a case, step 2: build a theoretical framework, step 3: collect your data, step 4: describe and analyze the case, other interesting articles.

A case study is an appropriate research design when you want to gain concrete, contextual, in-depth knowledge about a specific real-world subject. It allows you to explore the key characteristics, meanings, and implications of the case.

Case studies are often a good choice in a thesis or dissertation . They keep your project focused and manageable when you don’t have the time or resources to do large-scale research.

You might use just one complex case study where you explore a single subject in depth, or conduct multiple case studies to compare and illuminate different aspects of your research problem.

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Once you have developed your problem statement and research questions , you should be ready to choose the specific case that you want to focus on. A good case study should have the potential to:

• Provide new or unexpected insights into the subject
• Challenge or complicate existing assumptions and theories
• Propose practical courses of action to resolve a problem
• Open up new directions for future research

TipIf your research is more practical in nature and aims to simultaneously investigate an issue as you solve it, consider conducting action research instead.

Unlike quantitative or experimental research , a strong case study does not require a random or representative sample. In fact, case studies often deliberately focus on unusual, neglected, or outlying cases which may shed new light on the research problem.

Example of an outlying case studyIn the 1960s the town of Roseto, Pennsylvania was discovered to have extremely low rates of heart disease compared to the US average. It became an important case study for understanding previously neglected causes of heart disease.

However, you can also choose a more common or representative case to exemplify a particular category, experience or phenomenon.

Example of a representative case studyIn the 1920s, two sociologists used Muncie, Indiana as a case study of a typical American city that supposedly exemplified the changing culture of the US at the time.

While case studies focus more on concrete details than general theories, they should usually have some connection with theory in the field. This way the case study is not just an isolated description, but is integrated into existing knowledge about the topic. It might aim to:

• Exemplify a theory by showing how it explains the case under investigation
• Expand on a theory by uncovering new concepts and ideas that need to be incorporated
• Challenge a theory by exploring an outlier case that doesn’t fit with established assumptions

To ensure that your analysis of the case has a solid academic grounding, you should conduct a literature review of sources related to the topic and develop a theoretical framework . This means identifying key concepts and theories to guide your analysis and interpretation.

There are many different research methods you can use to collect data on your subject. Case studies tend to focus on qualitative data using methods such as interviews , observations , and analysis of primary and secondary sources (e.g., newspaper articles, photographs, official records). Sometimes a case study will also collect quantitative data.

Example of a mixed methods case studyFor a case study of a wind farm development in a rural area, you could collect quantitative data on employment rates and business revenue, collect qualitative data on local people’s perceptions and experiences, and analyze local and national media coverage of the development.

The aim is to gain as thorough an understanding as possible of the case and its context.

In writing up the case study, you need to bring together all the relevant aspects to give as complete a picture as possible of the subject.

How you report your findings depends on the type of research you are doing. Some case studies are structured like a standard scientific paper or thesis , with separate sections or chapters for the methods , results and discussion .

Others are written in a more narrative style, aiming to explore the case from various angles and analyze its meanings and implications (for example, by using textual analysis or discourse analysis ).

In all cases, though, make sure to give contextual details about the case, connect it back to the literature and theory, and discuss how it fits into wider patterns or debates.

If you want to know more about statistics , methodology , or research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• Normal distribution
• Degrees of freedom
• Null hypothesis
• Discourse analysis
• Control groups
• Mixed methods research
• Non-probability sampling
• Quantitative research
• Ecological validity

Research bias

• Rosenthal effect
• Implicit bias
• Cognitive bias
• Selection bias
• Negativity bias
• Status quo bias

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Your Step-By-Step Guide To Writing a Case Study

Creating a case study is both an art and a science. It requires making an in-depth exploration of your chosen subject in order to extract meaningful insights and understand the dynamics that more general surveys or statistical research might not uncover. At the same time, your case study also needs to be a compelling read to ensure those insights get attention from other people!

Unsurprisingly, the prospect of crafting an effective case study can be daunting. It calls for strategic planning, careful organization, and clear communication, all of which can be challenging even for experienced researchers. That's why we've created this step-by-step guide, which breaks the process down into manageable steps, demystifying the journey from defining your research question to sharing your findings. Whether you're a seasoned researcher or a first-timer, this guide aims to equip you with the necessary tools and tips to create a case study that's not just informative, but also engaging and impactful.

Are you ready to unlock the potential of case studies? Let's dive in!

What is a case study?

First, it's important to understand what a case study is – and what it isn't.

A case study is a thorough exploration of a specific subject or event over a certain time frame. Case studies are utilized in numerous fields, including sociology, psychology, education, anthropology, business, and the health sciences, and employ various research techniques to shed light on complex issues.

A case study does not provide absolute proof or conclusions that can be universally applied. Because it concentrates on one particular case or just a few cases, the findings might not apply to different contexts or subjects. Case studies also aren't ideal for determining cause-and-effect relationships as they do not use controlled conditions to separate and measure the impacts of different factors. Lastly, it must be said that a case study isn't just a random assortment of facts or observations; it necessitates a clear research question, a methodical approach to data collection and analysis, and a thoughtful interpretation of the results.

Getting started

Now that we've established the definition and purpose of a case study, let's explore the process by which one is created. You can produce a case study by following these nine steps:

1. Define the purpose of your case study

Before you start writing a case study, you need to define its purpose clearly. Ask yourself: What is the research question or problem you aim to solve? What insights are you looking to uncover? Your goals will guide your research design and influence your choice of case. This initial stage of introspection and clarification is crucial as it acts as a roadmap for your study.

2. Select the case to study

Once you've defined your research objective, the next step is to choose a suitable case that can help answer your research question. This might be a unique, critical, or representative instance. Unique cases offer the opportunity to observe and analyze a situation that is unusual or not well-understood. In contrast, a representative or typical case is often chosen because it represents other cases or a broader phenomenon.

In any case, be sure to justify your choice. Explain why the case is of interest and how it can contribute to the knowledge or understanding of the issue at hand. For instance, if you're studying the effects of corporate restructuring on employee morale, you might choose to focus on a company that recently underwent a significant restructure.

3. Conduct a thorough literature review

Performing a literature review involves a careful examination of relevant scholarly articles, books, and other sources related to your research question or problem. In the process, you identify gaps in the current knowledge and determine how your case study can address them. By critically examining existing research, you will not only gain a comprehensive understanding of your chosen topic but also be able to refine your research question or hypothesis, if necessary.

4. Choose a methodological approach

The methodological approach used in your case study will depend on your research objectives and the nature of the case. Methodologies that can be employed in case studies include qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods .

Qualitative methods are often used when the goal is to explore, understand, or interpret certain phenomena. These involve approaches like interviews, focus groups, or ethnography. Quantitative methods, on the other hand, are used when the goal is to test hypotheses or examine relationships between variables. Quantitative approaches often include experiments. Also, surveys may be either qualitative or quantitative depending on the question design.

You may choose to use a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods (mixed methods) if it suits your research objectives.

5. Collect and organize your data

Data collection should be systematic and organized to maintain the integrity and reliability of your research. You need to plan how you will record and store your data to ensure that it's accessible and usable.

If you're conducting interviews or observations, consider using recording devices (with participant consent) to capture the data accurately. In addition, you may want to transcribe the recorded material for easier analysis. If you're using documents or archival records, develop a system for coding and categorizing the data.

6. Analyze the data

Analysis involves interpreting your data to draw out meaningful insights; it is in this stage that your findings start to take shape. Depending on the nature of your data and your research question, you might use any of a variety of analysis methods. For qualitative data, you might employ thematic analysis to identify key themes or grounded theory to generate a new theoretical framework. For quantitative data, you might use statistical analysis to identify patterns or correlations.

Always be open to unexpected findings. Your initial hypotheses might not be supported, or you might uncover new insights that you hadn't initially considered. Remember that all data, whether they fit neatly into your analysis or not, provide valuable insights and contribute to the holistic understanding of your case.

7. Write the case study report

After analyzing the data, it's finally time to compose your case study. In terms of structure, a typical case study might consist of an introduction, background information, the collected data (results), analysis of that data, and the conclusion. Here's a brief breakdown of each section:

• Introduction: The introduction should be brief but engaging, providing a clear statement of the research question or problem, explaining why the case was chosen, and outlining what the case study will cover.
• Background: The background provides the context for your case. Describe the case, its history, and any relevant information that will help readers understand the situation.
• Results: This section should provide a comprehensive account of what you found, without interpretation or opinion. Present your findings in a clear, organized manner. Use visuals such as charts or graphs if they aid comprehension.
• Analysis: This section should provide your interpretations and arguments. Discuss the patterns, themes, or relationships you've identified in your data. Explain what these findings mean in relation to your research question.
• Conclusion: Finally, summarize the key insights from your case study along with their implications. Discuss the limitations of your study and propose avenues for future research.

8. Review and revise

The process of writing a case study doesn't actually end when the report is written; you also need to review your writing for coherence, clarity, and correctness. Don't underestimate the importance of this step! Make sure the information flows logically and that your arguments are well-supported. Check for any grammar or spelling errors. Having a peer or mentor review your work can be incredibly helpful as they provide a fresh perspective and can catch mistakes you might have missed.

9. Get approval if required

If your case study involves human subjects, you may need to obtain approval from an ethical review board. You'll also need to obtain informed consent from your subjects and ensure you respect their privacy and confidentiality throughout the research process. Always follow your institution's ethical guidelines and any other relevant legislation .

Practical tips for writing a compelling case study

Getting through all those steps can feel like a formidable challenge, but here are some practical tips to make the process more manageable:

Be systematic and organized

Given the importance of detail in case studies, it's vital to be systematic and organized from the get-go. This means keeping meticulous records of your data, your sources, and any changes to your research design. A good practice is to maintain a research journal or log where you can record your process, thoughts, and reflections.

In addition, use technology to your advantage. Digital tools like citation managers can help you keep track of your sources and make formatting references a breeze, while spreadsheet or database software can assist in managing and organizing your data. Developing a consistent system for labeling and storing information at the outset will save you time and effort later when you need to retrieve data for analysis.

Stay focused

One common pitfall in research and writing is loss of focus: getting sidetracked by interesting but ultimately irrelevant digressions, which can be very easy, especially when you're dealing with a rich and complex case. Always remember your research question and objectives, and let these guide your study at every step. It's perfectly acceptable – and in fact advisable – to delineate what your study will not cover. Setting clear boundaries can help you stay focused and manage the scope of your study effectively.

Use visual aids

Visual aids such as charts, diagrams, or photographs can greatly enhance your case study. They provide readers with a break from the monotony of text and can communicate complex data or relationships more easily. For instance, if you're presenting a lot of numerical data, consider using a chart or graph. If you're describing a process or sequence of events, portraying it in a flowchart or timeline might be useful. Remember, the goal is to aid comprehension, so make sure your visual aids are clear, well-labeled, and integrated into the text.

Include direct quotes

If your case study involves interviews, including direct quotes can add depth and a sense of the personal to your findings. They provide readers with a firsthand perspective and make your case study more engaging.

When using quotes, be sure to integrate them smoothly into your text. Provide enough context so readers understand the quote's relevance. Also, remember to adhere to ethical guidelines– always respect confidentiality and anonymity agreements.

Maintain ethical standards

Ethics is a fundamental consideration in all research, including case studies. Ensure you have proper consent from participants, respect their privacy, and accurately present your findings without manipulation.

Misrepresenting data or failing to respect participants' rights can lead to serious ethical violations. Always follow your institution's ethical guidelines and any other relevant legislation. If in doubt, seek advice from a supervisor or your institution's ethics committee.

Acknowledge limitations

Every research study has limitations, which could relate to the research design, data collection methods, or other aspects of the study. Being transparent about the limitations of your study can enhance its credibility; moreover, not only does identifying limitations demonstrate your critical thinking and honesty, but it also helps readers accurately interpret your findings.

Finally, acknowledging the limitations of your work helps to set the stage for further research. By identifying aspects that your study couldn't address, you provide other researchers with avenues for building on your findings.

Learn from examples

Before you start writing your case study, it can be helpful to review some published case studies in your field. Different fields may have different conventions, and familiarizing yourself with case studies in your own field can help guide your writing. Look at the structure, tone, and style. Pay attention to how the authors present and analyze data, and how they link their findings back to the research question. You can also learn a lot from the strengths and weaknesses of previously published works. However, remember to develop your own unique voice and perspective – don't just mimic what others have done.

Design for triangulation

Triangulation involves using multiple data sources or methods to gain a more comprehensive and balanced understanding of your research topic. By coming at your research question from multiple directions, such as by examining different datasets or using different methods, you can increase the validity of your results and gain more nuanced insights.

For example, if you're studying the impact of a new teaching method in a school, you might observe classes, interview teachers, and also survey students. Each method will provide a slightly different perspective, and together, they allow you to develop a more complete picture of the teaching method's impact.

Practice reflexivity

Reflexivity involves reflecting on how your assumptions, values, or experiences might influence your research process and interpretations. As a researcher, it's essential to be aware of your potential biases and how they might shape your study.

Consider keeping a reflexivity journal where you can note your thoughts, feelings, and reflections throughout the research process. This practice can help you stay aware of your biases and ensure your research is as objective and balanced as possible.

Write for your audience

Always make sure that your writing is on target for your intended audience. If you're writing for an academic audience, for example, you'll likely use a more formal tone and include more detailed methodological information. If you're writing for practitioners or a general audience, you might use a more accessible language and focus more on practical implications.

Remember to define any technical terms or jargon, and provide sufficient context so your readers can understand your research. The goal is to communicate your findings effectively, regardless of who your readers are.

Seek feedback

Feedback is valuable for improving your case study. Consider sharing drafts with your peers, mentors, or supervisors and asking for their input. Fresh eyes can provide different perspectives, catch errors, or suggest ways to strengthen your arguments.

Remember, feedback is not personal; it's about improving your work. Be open to critique and willing to revise your work based on the feedback you receive.

Writing a case study is a meticulous process that requires clear purpose, careful planning, systematic data collection, and thoughtful analysis. Although it can be time-consuming, the rich, detailed insights a well-executed case study can provide make this study design an invaluable tool in research.

By following this guide and adopting its practical tips, you will be well on your way to crafting a compelling case study that contributes meaningful insights to your chosen field. Good luck with your research journey!

Header image by Kateryna Hliznitsova .

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How to Write a Case Study: The Compelling Step-by-Step Guide

Is there a poignant pain point that needs to be addressed in your company or industry? Do you have a possible solution but want to test your theory? Why not turn this drive into a transformative learning experience and an opportunity to produce a high-quality business case study? However, before that occurs, you may wonder how to write a case study.

You may also be thinking about why you should produce one at all. Did you know that case studies are impactful and the fifth most used type of content in marketing , despite being more resource-intensive to produce?

Below, we’ll delve into what a case study is, its benefits, and how to approach business case study writing:

Definition of a Written case study and its Purpose

A case study is a research method that involves a detailed and comprehensive examination of a specific real-life situation. It’s often used in various fields, including business, education, economics, and sociology, to understand a complex issue better. 

It typically includes an in-depth analysis of the subject and an examination of its context and background information, incorporating data from multiple sources, such as interviews, observations, and existing literature. 

The ultimate aim is to provide a rich and detailed account of a situation to identify patterns and relationships, generate new insights and understanding, illustrate theories, or test hypotheses.

Importance of Business Case Study Writing

As such an in-depth exploration into a subject with potentially far-reaching consequences, a case study has benefits to offer various stakeholders in the organisation leading it.

• Business Founders: Use business case study writing to highlight real-life examples of companies or individuals who have benefited from their products or services, providing potential customers with a tangible demonstration of the value their business can bring. It can be effective for attracting new clients or investors by showcasing thought leadership and building trust and credibility.
• Marketers through case studies and encourage them to take action: Marketers use a case studies writer to showcase the success of a particular product, service, or marketing campaign. They can use persuasive storytelling to engage the reader, whether it’s consumers, clients, or potential partners.
• Researchers: They allow researchers to gain insight into real-world scenarios, explore a variety of perspectives, and develop a nuanced understanding of the factors that contribute to success or failure. Additionally, case studies provide practical business recommendations and help build a body of knowledge in a particular field.

How to Write a Case Study – The Key Elements 

Considering how to write a case study can seem overwhelming at first. However, looking at it in terms of its constituent parts will help you to get started, focus on the key issue(s), and execute it efficiently and effectively.

Problem or Challenge Statement

A problem statement concisely describes a specific issue or problem that a written case study aims to address. It sets the stage for the rest of the case study and provides context for the reader. 

Here are some steps to help you write a case study problem statement:

• Identify the problem or issue that the case study will focus on.
• Research the problem to better understand its context, causes, and effects.
• Define the problem clearly and concisely. Be specific and avoid generalisations.
• State the significance of the problem: Explain why the issue is worth solving. Consider the impact it has on the individual, organisation, or industry.
• Provide background information that will help the reader understand the context of the problem.
• Keep it concise: A problem statement should be brief and to the point. Avoid going into too much detail – leave this for the body of the case study!

Here is an example of a problem statement for a case study:

“ The XYZ Company is facing a problem with declining sales and increasing customer complaints. Despite improving the customer experience, the company has yet to reverse the trend . This case study will examine the causes of the problem and propose solutions to improve sales and customer satisfaction. “

Solutions and interventions

Business case study writing provides a solution or intervention that identifies the best course of action to address the problem or issue described in the problem statement. 

Here are some steps to help you write a case study solution or intervention:

• Identify the objective , which should be directly related to the problem statement.
• Analyse the data, which could include data from interviews, observations, and existing literature.
• Evaluate alternatives that have been proposed or implemented in similar situations, considering their strengths, weaknesses, and impact.
• Choose the best solution based on the objective and data analysis. Remember to consider factors such as feasibility, cost, and potential impact.
• Justify the solution by explaining how it addresses the problem and why it’s the best solution with supportive evidence.
• Provide a detailed, step-by-step plan of action that considers the resources required, timeline, and expected outcomes.

Example of a solution or intervention for a case study:

“ To address the problem of declining sales and increasing customer complaints at the XYZ Company, we propose a comprehensive customer experience improvement program. “

“ This program will involve the following steps:

• Conducting customer surveys to gather feedback and identify areas for improvement
• Implementing training programs for employees to improve customer service skills
• Revising the company’s product offerings to meet customer needs better
• Implementing a customer loyalty program to encourage repeat business “

“ These steps will improve customer satisfaction and increase sales. We expect a 10% increase in sales within the first year of implementation, based on similar programs implemented by other companies in the industry. “

Possible Results and outcomes

Writing case study results and outcomes involves presenting the impact of the proposed solution or intervention. 

Here are some steps to help you write case study results and outcomes:

• Evaluate the solution by measuring its effectiveness in addressing the problem statement. That could involve collecting data, conducting surveys, or monitoring key performance indicators.
• Present the results clearly and concisely, using graphs, charts, and tables to represent the data where applicable visually. Be sure to include both quantitative and qualitative results.
• Compare the results to the expectations set in the solution or intervention section. Explain any discrepancies and why they occurred.
• Discuss the outcomes and impact of the solution, considering the benefits and drawbacks and what lessons can be learned.
• Provide recommendations for future action based on the results. For example, what changes should be made to improve the solution, or what additional steps should be taken?

Example of results and outcomes for a case study:

“ The customer experience improvement program implemented at the XYZ Company was successful. We found significant improvement in employee health and productivity. The program, which included on-site exercise classes and healthy food options, led to a 25% decrease in employee absenteeism and a 15% increase in productivity . “

“ Employee satisfaction with the program was high, with 90% reporting an improved work-life balance. Despite initial costs, the program proved to be cost-effective in the long run, with decreased healthcare costs and increased employee retention. The company plans to continue the program and explore expanding it to other offices .”

Case Study Key takeaways

Key takeaways are the most important and relevant insights and lessons that can be drawn from a case study. Key takeaways can help readers understand the most significant outcomes and impacts of the solution or intervention. 

Here are some steps to help you write case study key takeaways:

• Summarise the problem that was addressed and the solution that was proposed.
• Highlight the most significant results from the case study.
• Identify the key insights and lessons , including what makes the case study unique and relevant to others.
• Consider the broader implications of the outcomes for the industry or field.
• Present the key takeaways clearly and concisely , using bullet points or a list format to make the information easy to understand.

Example of key takeaways for a case study:

• The customer experience improvement program at XYZ Company successfully increased customer satisfaction and sales.
• Employee training and product development were critical components of the program’s success.
• The program resulted in a 20% increase in repeat business, demonstrating the value of a customer loyalty program.
• Despite some initial challenges, the program proved cost-effective in the long run.
• The case study results demonstrate the importance of investing in customer experience to improve business outcomes.

Steps for a Case Study Writer to Follow

If you still feel lost, the good news is as a case studies writer; there is a blueprint you can follow to complete your work. It may be helpful at first to proceed step-by-step and let your research and analysis guide the process:

• Select a suitable case study subject: Ask yourself what the purpose of the business case study is. Is it to illustrate a specific problem and solution, showcase a success story, or demonstrate best practices in a particular field? Based on this, you can select a suitable subject by researching and evaluating various options.
• Research and gather information: We have already covered this in detail above. However, always ensure all data is relevant, valid, and comes from credible sources. Research is the crux of your written case study, and you can’t compromise on its quality.
• Develop a clear and concise problem statement: Follow the guide above, and don’t rush to finalise it. It will set the tone and lay the foundation for the entire study.
• Detail the solution or intervention: Follow the steps above to detail your proposed solution or intervention.
• Present the results and outcomes: Remember that a case study is an unbiased test of how effectively a particular solution addresses an issue. Not all case studies are meant to end in a resounding success. You can often learn more from a loss than a win.
• Include key takeaways and conclusions: Follow the steps above to detail your proposed business case study solution or intervention.

Tips for How to Write a Case Study

Here are some bonus tips for how to write a case study. These tips will help improve the quality of your work and the impact it will have on readers:

• Use a storytelling format: Just because a case study is research-based doesn’t mean it has to be boring and detached. Telling a story will engage readers and help them better identify with the problem statement and see the value in the outcomes. Framing it as a narrative in a real-world context will make it more relatable and memorable.
• Include quotes and testimonials from stakeholders: This will add credibility and depth to your written case study. It also helps improve engagement and will give your written work an emotional impact.
• Use visuals and graphics to support your narrative: Humans are better at processing visually presented data than endless walls of black-on-white text. Visual aids will make it easier to grasp key concepts and make your case study more engaging and enjoyable. It breaks up the text and allows readers to identify key findings and highlights quickly.
• Edit and revise your case study for clarity and impact: As a long and involved project, it can be easy to lose your narrative while in the midst of it. Multiple rounds of editing are vital to ensure your narrative holds, that your message gets across, and that your spelling and grammar are correct, of course!

Our Final Thoughts

A written case study can be a powerful tool in your writing arsenal. It’s a great way to showcase your knowledge in a particular business vertical, industry, or situation. Not only is it an effective way to build authority and engage an audience, but also to explore an important problem and the possible solutions to it. It’s a win-win, even if the proposed solution doesn’t have the outcome you expect. So now that you know more about how to write a case study, try it or talk to us for further guidance.

Are you ready to write your own case study?

Begin by bookmarking this article, so you can come back to it. And for more writing advice and support, read our resource guides  and  blog content . If you are unsure, please reach out with questions, and we will provide the answers or assistance you need.

Categorised in: Resources

This post was written by Premier Prose

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How to Write a Case Study: A Step-by-Step Guide (+ Examples)

by Todd Brehe

on Jan 3, 2024

If you want to learn how to write a case study that engages prospective clients, demonstrates that you can solve real business problems, and showcases the results you deliver, this guide will help.

We’ll give you a proven template to follow, show you how to conduct an engaging interview, and give you several examples and tips for best practices.

Let’s start with the basics.

What is a Case Study?

A business case study is simply a story about how you successfully delivered a solution to your client.

Case studies start with background information about the customer, describe problems they were facing, present the solutions you developed, and explain how those solutions positively impacted the customer’s business.

Do Marketing Case Studies Really Work?

Absolutely. A well-written case study puts prospective clients into the shoes of your paying clients, encouraging them to engage with you. Plus, they:

• Get shared “behind the lines” with decision makers you may not know;
• Leverage the power of “social proof” to encourage a prospective client to take a chance with your company;
• Build trust and foster likeability;
• Lessen the perceived risk of doing business with you and offer proof that your business can deliver results;
• Help prospects become aware of unrecognized problems;
• Show prospects experiencing similar problems that possible solutions are available (and you can provide said solutions);
• Make it easier for your target audience to find you when using Google and other search engines.

Case studies serve your clients too. For example, they can generate positive publicity and highlight the accomplishments of line staff to the management team. Your company might even throw in a new product/service discount, or a gift as an added bonus.

But don’t just take my word for it. Let’s look at a few statistics and success stories:

5 Winning Case Study Examples to Model

Before we get into the nuts and bolts of how to write a case study, let’s go over a few examples of what an excellent one looks like.

The five case studies listed below are well-written, well-designed, and incorporate a time-tested structure.

1. Lane Terralever and Pinnacle at Promontory

This case study example  from Lane Terralever  incorporates images to support the content and effectively uses subheadings to make the piece scannable.

2. WalkMe Mobile and Hulyo

This case study  from WalkMe Mobile  leads with an engaging headline and the three most important results the client was able to generate.

In the first paragraph, the writer expands the list of accomplishments encouraging readers to learn more.

3. CurationSuite Listening Engine

This is an example of a well-designed printable case study . The client, specific problem, and solution are called out in the left column and summarized succinctly.

4. Brain Traffic and ASAE

This long format case study (6 pages) from Brain Traffic  summarizes the challenges, solutions, and results prominently in the left column. It uses testimonials and headshots of the case study participants very effectively.

5. Adobe and Home Depot

This case study  from Adobe and Home Depot  is a great example of combining video, attention-getting graphics, and long form writing. It also uses testimonials and headshots well.

Now that we’ve gone over the basics and showed a few great case study examples you can use as inspiration, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work.

A Case Study Structure That Pros Use

Let’s break down the structure of a compelling case study:

Choose Your Case Study Format

In this guide, we focus on written case studies. They’re affordable to create, and they have a proven track record. However, written case studies are just one of four case study formats to consider:

• Infographic

If you have the resources, video (like the Adobe and Home Depot example above) and podcast case studies can be very compelling. Hearing a client discuss in his or her own words how your company helped is an effective content marketing strategy

Infographic case studies are usually one-page images that summarize the challenge, proposed solution, and results. They tend to work well on social media.

Follow a Tried-and-True Case Study Template

The success story structure we’re using incorporates a “narrative” or “story arc” designed to suck readers in and captivate their interest.

Note:  I recommend creating a blog post or landing page on your website that includes the text from your case study, along with a downloadable PDF. Doing so helps people find your content when they perform Google and other web searches.

There are a few simple SEO strategies that you can apply to your blog post that will optimize your chances of being found. I’ll include those tips below.

Craft a Compelling Headline

The headline should capture your audience’s attention quickly. Include the most important result you achieved, the client’s name, and your company’s name. Create several examples, mull them over a bit, then pick the best one. And, yes, this means writing the headline is done at the very end.

SEO  Tip:  Let’s say your firm provided “video editing services” and you want to target this primary keyword. Include it, your company name, and your client’s name in the case study title.

Write the Executive Summary

This is a mini-narrative using an abbreviated version of the Challenge + Solution + Results model (3-4 short paragraphs). Write this after you complete the case study.

SEO  Tip:  Include your primary keyword in the first paragraph of the Executive Summary.

Provide the Client’s Background

Introduce your client to the reader and create context for the story.

List the Customer’s Challenges and Problems

Vividly describe the situation and problems the customer was dealing with, before working with you.

SEO  Tip:  To rank on page one of Google for our target keyword, review the questions listed in the “People also ask” section at the top of Google’s search results. If you can include some of these questions and their answers into your case study, do so. Just make sure they fit with the flow of your narrative.

Detail Your Solutions

Explain the product or service your company provided, and spell out how it alleviated the client’s problems. Recap how the solution was delivered and implemented. Describe any training needed and the customer’s work effort.

Show Your Results

Detail what you accomplished for the customer and the impact your product/service made. Objective, measurable results that resonate with your target audience are best.

List Future Plans

Share how your client might work with your company in the future.

Give a Call-to-Action

Clearly detail what you want the reader to do at the end of your case study.

Talk About You

Include a “press release-like” description of your client’s organization, with a link to their website. For your printable document, add an “About” section with your contact information.

And that’s it. That’s the basic structure of any good case study.

Now, let’s go over how to get the information you’ll use in your case study.

How to Conduct an Engaging Case Study Interview

One of the best parts of creating a case study is talking with your client about the experience. This is a fun and productive way to learn what your company did well, and what it can improve on, directly from your customer’s perspective.

Here are some suggestions for conducting great case study interviews:

When Choosing a Case Study Subject, Pick a Raving Fan

Your sales and marketing team should know which clients are vocal advocates willing to talk about their experiences. Your customer service and technical support teams should be able to contribute suggestions.

Clients who are experts with your product/service make solid case study candidates. If you sponsor an online community, look for product champions who post consistently and help others.

When selecting a candidate, think about customer stories that would appeal to your target audience. For example, let’s say your sales team is consistently bumping into prospects who are excited about your solution, but are slow to pull the trigger and do business with you.

In this instance, finding a client who felt the same way, but overcame their reluctance and contracted with you anyway, would be a compelling story to capture and share.

Prepping for the Interview

If you’ve ever seen an Oprah interview, you’ve seen a master who can get almost anyone to open up and talk. Part of the reason is that she and her team are disciplined about planning.

Before conducting a case study interview, talk to your own team about the following:

• What’s unique about the client (location, size, industry, etc.) that will resonate with our prospects?
• Why did the customer select us?
• How did we help the client?
• What’s unique about this customer’s experience?
• What problems did we solve?
• Were any measurable, objective results generated?
• What do we want readers to do after reading this case study analysis?

Pro Tip:  Tee up your client. Send them the questions in advance.

Providing questions to clients before the interview helps them prepare, gather input from other colleagues if needed, and feel more comfortable because they know what to expect.

In a moment, I’ll give you an exhaustive list of interview questions. But don’t send them all. Instead, pare the list down to one or two questions in each section and personalize them for your customer.

Nailing the Client Interview

Decide how you’ll conduct the interview. Will you call the client, use Skype or Facetime, or meet in person? Whatever mode you choose, plan the process in advance.

Make sure you record the conversation. It’s tough to lead an interview, listen to your contact’s responses, keep the conversation flowing, write notes, and capture all that the person is saying.

A recording will make it easier to write the client’s story later. It’s also useful for other departments in your company (management, sales, development, etc.) to hear real customer feedback.

Use open-ended questions that spur your contact to talk and share. Here are some real-life examples:

Introduction

• Recap the purpose of the call. Confirm how much time your contact has to talk (30-45 minutes is preferable).
• Confirm the company’s location, number of employees, years in business, industry, etc.
• What’s the contact’s background, title, time with the company, primary responsibilities, and so on?

Initial Challenges

• Describe the situation at your company before engaging with us?
• What were the initial problems you wanted to solve?
• What was the impact of those problems?
• When did you realize you had to take some action?
• What solutions did you try?
• What solutions did you implement?
• What process did you go through to make a purchase?
• How did the implementation go?
• How would you describe the work effort required of your team?
• If training was involved, how did that go?

Results, Improvements, Progress

• When did you start seeing improvements?
• What were the most valuable results?
• What did your team like best about working with us?
• Would you recommend our solution/company? Why?

Future Plans

• How do you see our companies working together in the future?

Honest Feedback

• Our company is very focused on continual improvement. What could we have done differently to make this an even better experience?
• What would you like us to add or change in our product/service?

During the interview, use your contact’s responses to guide the conversation.

Once the interview is complete, it’s time to write your case study.

How to Write a Case Study… Effortlessly

Case study writing is not nearly as difficult as many people make it out to be. And you don’t have to be Stephen King to do professional work. Here are a few tips:

• Use the case study structure that we outlined earlier, but write these sections first: company background, challenges, solutions, and results.
• Write the headline, executive summary, future plans, and call-to-action (CTA) last.
• In each section, include as much content from your interview as you can. Don’t worry about editing at this point
• Tell the story by discussing their trials and tribulations.
• Stay focused on the client and the results they achieved.
• Make their organization and employees shine.
• When including information about your company, frame your efforts in a supporting role.

Also, make sure to do the following:

Add Testimonials, Quotes, and Visuals

The more you can use your contact’s words to describe the engagement, the better. Weave direct quotes throughout your narrative.

Strive to be conversational when you’re writing case studies, as if you’re talking to a peer.

Include images in your case study that visually represent the content and break up the text. Photos of the company, your contact, and other employees are ideal.

If you need to incorporate stock photos, here are three resources:

• Deposit p hotos

And if you need more, check out Smart Blogger’s excellent resource: 17 Sites with High-Quality, Royalty-Free Stock Photos .

Proofread and Tighten Your Writing

Make sure there are no grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors. If you need help, consider using a grammar checker tool like Grammarly .

My high school English teacher’s mantra was “tighten your writing.” She taught that impactful writing is concise and free of weak, unnecessary words . This takes effort and discipline, but will make your writing stronger.

Also, keep in mind that we live in an attention-diverted society. Before your audience will dive in and read each paragraph, they’ll first scan your work.  Use subheadings  to summarize information, convey meaning quickly, and pull the reader in.

Be Sure to Use Best Practices

Consider applying the following best practices to your case study:

• Stay laser-focused on your client and the results they were able to achieve.
• Even if your audience is technical, minimize the use of industry jargon . If you use acronyms, explain them.
• Leave out the selling and advertising.
• Don’t write like a Shakespearean wannabe. Write how people speak. Write to be understood.
• Clear and concise writing is not only more understandable, it inspires trust. Don’t ramble.
• Weave your paragraphs together so that each sentence is dependent on the one before and after it.
• Include a specific case study call-to-action (CTA).
• A recommended case study length is 2-4 pages.
• Commit to building a library of case studies.

Get Client Approval

After you have a final draft, send it to the client for review and approval. Incorporate any edits they suggest.

Use or modify the following “Consent to Publish” form to get the client’s written sign-off:

Consent to Publish

Case Study  Title:

I hereby confirm that I have reviewed the case study listed above and on behalf of the [Company Name], I provide full permission for the work to be published, in whole or in part, for the life of the work, in all languages and all formats by [Company publishing the case study].

By signing this form, I affirm that I am authorized to grant full permission.

Company Name:

E-mail Address:

Common Case Study Questions (& Answers)

We’ll wrap things up with a quick Q&A. If you have a question I didn’t answer, be sure to leave it in a blog comment below.

Should I worry about print versions of my case studies?

Absolutely.

As we saw in the CurationSuite  and Brain Traffic  examples earlier, case studies get downloaded, printed, and shared. Prospects can and will judge your book by its cover.

So, make sure your printed case study is eye-catching and professionally designed. Hire a designer  if necessary.

Why are good case studies so effective?

Case studies work because people trust them.

They’re not ads, they’re not press releases, and they’re not about how stellar your company is.

Plus, everyone likes spellbinding stories with a hero [your client], a conflict [challenges], and a riveting resolution [best solution and results].

How do I promote my case study?

After you’ve written your case study and received the client’s approval to use it, you’ll want to get it in front of as many eyes as possible.

Try the following:

• Make sure your case studies can be easily found on your company’s homepage.
• Tweet and share the case study on your various social media accounts.
• Have your sales team use the case study as a reason to call on potential customers. For example: “Hi [prospect], we just published a case study on Company A. They were facing some of the same challenges I believe your firm is dealing with. I’m going to e-mail you a copy. Let me know what you think.”
• Distribute printed copies at trade shows, seminars, or during sales presentations.
• If you’re bidding on a job and have to submit a quote or a Request for Proposal (RFP), include relevant case studies as supporting documents.

Ready to Write a Case Study That Converts?

If you want to stand out and you want to win business, case studies should be an integral part of your sales and marketing efforts.

Hopefully, this guide answered some of your questions and laid out a path that will make it faster and easier for your team to create professional, sales-generating content.

Now it’s time to take action and get started. Gather your staff, select a client, and ask a contact to participate. Plan your interview and lead an engaging conversation. Write up your client’s story, make them shine, and then share it.

Get better at the case study process by doing it more frequently. Challenge yourself to write at least one case study every two months.

As you do, you’ll be building a valuable repository of meaningful, powerful content. These success stories will serve your business in countless ways, and for years to come.

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How to Write a Case Study - All You Wanted to Know

What do you study in your college? If you are a psychology, sociology, or anthropology student, we bet you might be familiar with what a case study is. This research method is used to study a certain person, group, or situation. In this guide from our dissertation writing service , you will learn how to write a case study professionally, from researching to citing sources properly. Also, we will explore different types of case studies and show you examples — so that you won’t have any other questions left.

What Is a Case Study?

A case study is a subcategory of research design which investigates problems and offers solutions. Case studies can range from academic research studies to corporate promotional tools trying to sell an idea—their scope is quite vast.

What Is the Difference Between a Research Paper and a Case Study?

While research papers turn the reader’s attention to a certain problem, case studies go even further. Case study guidelines require students to pay attention to details, examining issues closely and in-depth using different research methods. For example, case studies may be used to examine court cases if you study Law, or a patient's health history if you study Medicine. Case studies are also used in Marketing, which are thorough, empirically supported analysis of a good or service's performance. Well-designed case studies can be valuable for prospective customers as they can identify and solve the potential customers pain point.

Case studies involve a lot of storytelling – they usually examine particular cases for a person or a group of people. This method of research is very helpful, as it is very practical and can give a lot of hands-on information. Most commonly, the length of the case study is about 500-900 words, which is much less than the length of an average research paper.

The structure of a case study is very similar to storytelling. It has a protagonist or main character, which in your case is actually a problem you are trying to solve. You can use the system of 3 Acts to make it a compelling story. It should have an introduction, rising action, a climax where transformation occurs, falling action, and a solution.

Here is a rough formula for you to use in your case study:

Problem (Act I): > Solution (Act II) > Result (Act III) > Conclusion.

Types of Case Studies

The purpose of a case study is to provide detailed reports on an event, an institution, a place, future customers, or pretty much anything. There are a few common types of case study, but the type depends on the topic. The following are the most common domains where case studies are needed:

• Historical case studies are great to learn from. Historical events have a multitude of source info offering different perspectives. There are always modern parallels where these perspectives can be applied, compared, and thoroughly analyzed.
• Problem-oriented case studies are usually used for solving problems. These are often assigned as theoretical situations where you need to immerse yourself in the situation to examine it. Imagine you’re working for a startup and you’ve just noticed a significant flaw in your product’s design. Before taking it to the senior manager, you want to do a comprehensive study on the issue and provide solutions. On a greater scale, problem-oriented case studies are a vital part of relevant socio-economic discussions.
• Cumulative case studies collect information and offer comparisons. In business, case studies are often used to tell people about the value of a product.
• Critical case studies explore the causes and effects of a certain case.
• Illustrative case studies describe certain events, investigating outcomes and lessons learned.

Need a compelling case study? EssayPro has got you covered. Our experts are ready to provide you with detailed, insightful case studies that capture the essence of real-world scenarios. Elevate your academic work with our professional assistance.

Case Study Format

The case study format is typically made up of eight parts:

• Executive Summary. Explain what you will examine in the case study. Write an overview of the field you’re researching. Make a thesis statement and sum up the results of your observation in a maximum of 2 sentences.
• Background. Provide background information and the most relevant facts. Isolate the issues.
• Case Evaluation. Isolate the sections of the study you want to focus on. In it, explain why something is working or is not working.
• Proposed Solutions. Offer realistic ways to solve what isn’t working or how to improve its current condition. Explain why these solutions work by offering testable evidence.
• Conclusion. Summarize the main points from the case evaluations and proposed solutions. 6. Recommendations. Talk about the strategy that you should choose. Explain why this choice is the most appropriate.
• Implementation. Explain how to put the specific strategies into action.
• References. Provide all the citations.

How to Write a Case Study

Let's discover how to write a case study.

Setting Up the Research

When writing a case study, remember that research should always come first. Reading many different sources and analyzing other points of view will help you come up with more creative solutions. You can also conduct an actual interview to thoroughly investigate the customer story that you'll need for your case study. Including all of the necessary research, writing a case study may take some time. The research process involves doing the following:

• Define your objective. Explain the reason why you’re presenting your subject. Figure out where you will feature your case study; whether it is written, on video, shown as an infographic, streamed as a podcast, etc.
• Determine who will be the right candidate for your case study. Get permission, quotes, and other features that will make your case study effective. Get in touch with your candidate to see if they approve of being part of your work. Study that candidate’s situation and note down what caused it.
• Identify which various consequences could result from the situation. Follow these guidelines on how to start a case study: surf the net to find some general information you might find useful.
• Make a list of credible sources and examine them. Seek out important facts and highlight problems. Always write down your ideas and make sure to brainstorm.
• Focus on several key issues – why they exist, and how they impact your research subject. Think of several unique solutions. Draw from class discussions, readings, and personal experience. When writing a case study, focus on the best solution and explore it in depth. After having all your research in place, writing a case study will be easy. You may first want to check the rubric and criteria of your assignment for the correct case study structure.

Read Also: ' WHAT IS A CREDIBLE SOURCES ?'

Although your instructor might be looking at slightly different criteria, every case study rubric essentially has the same standards. Your professor will want you to exhibit 8 different outcomes:

• Correctly identify the concepts, theories, and practices in the discipline.
• Identify the relevant theories and principles associated with the particular study.
• Evaluate legal and ethical principles and apply them to your decision-making.
• Recognize the global importance and contribution of your case.
• Construct a coherent summary and explanation of the study.
• Demonstrate analytical and critical-thinking skills.
• Explain the interrelationships between the environment and nature.
• Integrate theory and practice of the discipline within the analysis.

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Case Study Outline

Let's look at the structure of an outline based on the issue of the alcoholic addiction of 30 people.

Introduction

• Statement of the issue: Alcoholism is a disease rather than a weakness of character.
• Presentation of the problem: Alcoholism is affecting more than 14 million people in the USA, which makes it the third most common mental illness there.
• Explanation of the terms: In the past, alcoholism was commonly referred to as alcohol dependence or alcohol addiction. Alcoholism is now the more severe stage of this addiction in the disorder spectrum.
• Hypotheses: Drinking in excess can lead to the use of other drugs.
• Importance of your story: How the information you present can help people with their addictions.
• Background of the story: Include an explanation of why you chose this topic.
• Presentation of analysis and data: Describe the criteria for choosing 30 candidates, the structure of the interview, and the outcomes.
• Strong argument 1: ex. X% of candidates dealing with anxiety and depression...
• Strong argument 2: ex. X amount of people started drinking by their mid-teens.
• Strong argument 3: ex. X% of respondents’ parents had issues with alcohol.
• Concluding statement: I have researched if alcoholism is a disease and found out that…
• Recommendations: Ways and actions for preventing alcohol use.

Writing a Case Study Draft

After you’ve done your case study research and written the outline, it’s time to focus on the draft. In a draft, you have to develop and write your case study by using: the data which you collected throughout the research, interviews, and the analysis processes that were undertaken. Follow these rules for the draft:

Use Data to Illustrate Key Points in Your Case Study

Even though your case study is a story, it should be based on evidence. Use as much data as possible to illustrate your point. Without the right data, your case study may appear weak and the readers may not be able to relate to your issue as much as they should. Let's see the examples from essay writing service :

‍ With data: Alcoholism is affecting more than 14 million people in the USA, which makes it the third most common mental illness there. Without data: A lot of people suffer from alcoholism in the United States.

Try to include as many credible sources as possible. You may have terms or sources that could be hard for other cultures to understand. If this is the case, you should include them in the appendix or Notes for the Instructor or Professor.

Finalizing the Draft: Checklist

After you finish drafting your case study, polish it up by answering these ‘ask yourself’ questions and think about how to end your case study:

• Check that you follow the correct case study format, also in regards to text formatting.
• Check that your work is consistent with its referencing and citation style.
• Micro-editing — check for grammar and spelling issues.
• Macro-editing — does ‘the big picture’ come across to the reader? Is there enough raw data, such as real-life examples or personal experiences? Have you made your data collection process completely transparent? Does your analysis provide a clear conclusion, allowing for further research and practice?

Problems to avoid:

• Overgeneralization – Do not go into further research that deviates from the main problem.
• Failure to Document Limitations – Just as you have to clearly state the limitations of a general research study, you must describe the specific limitations inherent in the subject of analysis.
• Failure to Extrapolate All Possible Implications – Just as you don't want to over-generalize from your case study findings, you also have to be thorough in the consideration of all possible outcomes or recommendations derived from your findings.

How to Create a Title Page and Cite a Case Study

Let's see how to create an awesome title page.

Your title page depends on the prescribed citation format. The title page should include:

• A title that attracts some attention and describes your study
• The title should have the words “case study” in it
• The title should range between 5-9 words in length
• Your name and contact information
• Your finished paper should be only 500 to 1,500 words in length.With this type of assignment, write effectively and avoid fluff

Here is a template for the APA and MLA format title page:

There are some cases when you need to cite someone else's study in your own one – therefore, you need to master how to cite a case study. A case study is like a research paper when it comes to citations. You can cite it like you cite a book, depending on what style you need.

Citation Example in MLA ‍ Hill, Linda, Tarun Khanna, and Emily A. Stecker. HCL Technologies. Boston: Harvard Business Publishing, 2008. Print.

Citation Example in APA ‍ Hill, L., Khanna, T., & Stecker, E. A. (2008). HCL Technologies. Boston: Harvard Business Publishing.

Citation Example in Chicago Hill, Linda, Tarun Khanna, and Emily A. Stecker. HCL Technologies.

Case Study Examples

To give you an idea of a professional case study example, we gathered and linked some below.

Eastman Kodak Case Study

Case Study Example: Audi Trains Mexican Autoworkers in Germany

To conclude, a case study is one of the best methods of getting an overview of what happened to a person, a group, or a situation in practice. It allows you to have an in-depth glance at the real-life problems that businesses, healthcare industry, criminal justice, etc. may face. This insight helps us look at such situations in a different light. This is because we see scenarios that we otherwise would not, without necessarily being there. If you need custom essays , try our research paper writing services .

Get Help Form Qualified Writers

Crafting a case study is not easy. You might want to write one of high quality, but you don’t have the time or expertise. If you’re having trouble with your case study, help with essay request - we'll help. EssayPro writers have read and written countless case studies and are experts in endless disciplines. Request essay writing, editing, or proofreading assistance from our custom case study writing service , and all of your worries will be gone.

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What Is A Case Study?

How to cite a case study in apa, how to write a case study.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

How to Write a Case Study – An Easy Step by Step Guide

As freelance writers, we are always on the lookout for ways to generate more profit and higher rates from our writing services, right?

Adding services, like learning how to write a case case study, can be highly profitable and can help to advance your skills as a web writer.

If you aren’t too familiar with them, writing case studies help businesses tell a story about how they’ve helped their customers reach their goals and how their products or services add value to their customers’ bottom line.

However, learning how to write a case study is different than other forms of content marketing that businesses might use, such as white papers or blog posts.

It’s not an ebook or even a general article.

So, what is a case study and how do you effectively write a case study?

Whether you’re a new or experienced online writer looking to expand your services, I want to share with you how to successfully write case studies that will wow your clients.

In this post, I will share with you what a case study is, how to research for a case study, how to write a case study, give you some case study examples, and even share my tried and true template for formatting my case studies.

You don’t have to be an expert case study writer to offer this as a service to your clients either.

If you want to try your hand at case studies, you can add to your portfolio and even write one for yourself and focus on how you’ve helped your clients with their goals.

I’ve had many of my course students write a case study for clients when they had never written one before.

Adding case studies to their services has helped them to get high-paying projects as a new writer.

Even if you are an experienced writer, it’s always beneficial to get some extra help when taking on a new type of writing service.

So, let’s dive into how to write a case study when you’re new to all of this!

Case Study Definition

Diving into a case study analysis, you’ll notice that case studies offer real-life examples of how your client was able to take their customers from point A to point B. Similar to white papers, case studies use cold, hard statistics. Case studies are also research-driven and require setting up interviews and developing interview questions.

One thing you should know right away is that writing case studies require a little more research and time-intensive hours than other forms of writing.

Not only are you gathering analytics and interviewing clients or customers, but you’re also telling a story.

You have to be able to mesh together the numbers and the emotion of the case study to create a written work that will become a powerful piece of advertising for your client.

If you’re new to this style of writing, it’s easy to see how a case study can be confused with white papers as both are research-driven. However, there are two very large differences that make case studies unique.

The first is case studies are more interview-driven about a successful strategy while white papers are more written like a report about a new feature from a business.

The second part is the story behind how your client was able to provide their customers with value that brought them results.

Even if your client is meticulously tracking their customers’ before and after results, you have to get the story behind that information to write an informative and highly valuable case study. One of the biggest advantages of offering case studies as a service is that you can charge a lot more for them.

A typical case study are anywhere between $500 to $1500 and more.

Finally, most case studies are short-for, research problem focussed content. Case studies, unlike white papers, are often much shorter but the information gathering process can be just as time-intensive.

Case studies, therefore, only span a few pages and are usually under 1500 words.

Case Study Examples

For some, learning how to write a business case study  requires looking at examples of what a great case study looks like.

So, what is an example of a case study?

Companies often use a case study as a way to market their services to a potential customer. It helps to showcase how they’re able to solve their customers’ problems and bring them value – kind of like a testimonial – only with way more information!

For example, Drift uses the case studies to highlight how they’re helping their customers book new business and increase leads through the use of real-time messaging chatbots.

Here’s a case study from Drift that focuses on how they helped Aventri book $1.7 million in new sales in just five months!

Or this case study on how Groupon used Sprinklr to increase their customer response time by responding to 76% of their customer messages within 30 minutes.

Any kind of business can use a case study to highlight a client’s success story.

If the business can get testimonials, it can have a marketing case study written. Like Clio, a legal practice management and client intake software increased their chat leads by 625% with Drift within five months for their global sales team.

Drift and Sprinklr, as well as thousands of other businesses like Wishpond and Creative Industries , use case studies to highlight how their products have helped their customers’ businesses, which in turn, helps to get new customers interested in their products or services.

While many businesses use case studies in a B2B format, businesses can also use case studies to market directly to customers.

As well, case studies can also be podcasts, testimonials, or blog posts like this one for the Allergy Kit.

Case Study Template

Now that you know what a case study is, let’s break down exactly what you should put into an effective case study to help your clients bring in more business. Here is a simple case study template that I follow that you can use to get started writing your first case study.

1.   Introduction

The introduction of your case study should always talk about your client. You can mention their brand, their industry, their services, and any other relevant information.

Then, you can make sure to share some important details that highlight what makes them different – their unique selling point.

You can also briefly mention the problem that the customer faced that relates to the solution that the client was able to provide, without going into too much detail. This is what I did in my mock case study example.

2.   Their Challenges

In this section, talk about the key problem, challenges, or any pain points that the customer was facing that the prospective client wanted you to address (you learn about this in the interview process).

Go much more in-depth about the customer’s problem in this section of your case study.

• How did this problem develop?
• Was it a pre-existing issue or something new?
• Was this problem due to changes in their market or other unforeseen circumstances?

Also talk about what the customer’s initial goals were for working with the client, and how they expected to have their problem solved; this will lead to part four of the case study.

Lastly, why did the customer choose to work with my client specifically? A case study interview might proof to help you with this aspect of writing a case study.

This is great information to have as it will help to further build the client’s social proof.

3.   The Solution

The solution part of the case study is where you can propose the solution and mention all the great things that you client did to help their customers achieve amazing results. Include specific strategies that worked or did not.

• Did the client offer a tried and true method to solve the issue or did they do something new?
• What parts of the client’s team were involved and how did they contribute?
• What was the end solution, what did it look like?
• How did the client use their products or services to solve their customer’s issues?
• What was the timeline involved in delivering the solution to the customer?

Try to only focus on the things that potential customers will care about and don’t worry about including things they will not.

I always make sure to tailor my writing to appeal to the particular avatar that the client is marketing to (you find this out in the interview process as well).

4.   The Results

This is where you can include stats about the progress with supporting evidence. Discuss how the client solved their customers’ issues or accomplished the objectives they set out to achieve.

This is the part that ties back into section #2, their challenges.

If you collected or made any fancy charts or graphs, include them in the results section. Make sure to also focus on the benefits that the client’s customers received that go beyond any of the stats listed.

If this is a case study that covers a longer period of time, I like to include both immediate and long term benefits that the customers have experienced.

In talking about the various stats, try and highlight one as the most important and talk about why that is.

Finally, focus on the relationship between the client and their customer and how the customer now feels about their ROI. Was it worth it? Would they hire the client again?

How Do You Write a Case Study?

Now that you saw a basic case study template, let’s dive into how to write a case study for your clients.

How do you write a case study when you a new to this type of case study writing?

Writing case studies includes three parties, you (the writer), the company you are writing the case study for (client), and who the case study is being written about (customer).

The steps to actually writing a case study are not much different than any other form of writing.

It includes research from your client and their customers and the writing itself, being a bit less formal than a white paper.

Finally, you need to know how to format your case study and how to go about gathering all of the information that you need.

Here are some things to consider when writing your case study:

• Your client’s ideal customer (their avatar)
• The case study format
• Researching the company
• Interviewing clients and customers
• Putting together the numbers and emotion

Your Client’s Ideal Customer

While you find this out during the interviewing process, it’s worth noting here.

Before you write your first word, you need to know who your client’s ideal customer is , who they are specifically trying to market to. While some companies might only offer one service that they target one specific customer, others might have multiple.

You need to know who you’re talking to before you start talking.

How to Format a Case Study

There are several different ways you can format a case study.

A case study can be used as a lead magnet or a blog post. They can even be repurposed and turned into sharable infographics or brochures.

You can write your case study on whatever writing platform you’re most comfortable with, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word.

If you’re looking for a formatted case study that can really catch a customer’s eye, Venngage has some really colorful and beautiful case study templates.

Make sure that you’re clarifying with the client beforehand exactly what they’re looking for and what their expectations are.

Technically speaking, it’s not your job as the writer to format the case study.

However, if you’re confident in your design skills you can offer that service as an add-on. You can also easily create beautifully formatted case studies in free programs like Canva, PicMonkey and even Google Docs (that’s what I used for my mock up case study template).

How to Research for a Case Study

Make sure you know enough about the company before you write a case study for them.

You should at least know about their history, what products and services they offer, and what value they bring their customers. It’s helpful to interview someone from the client’s company that’s familiar with marketing so they can give you some insight into how their services are marketed.

You need to know how they’re planning on using the case study in their marketing to really make it effective.

For example, a case study that will be a blog post might be different than a case study that will be a lead magnet.

Interviewing Clients and Customers

You should have two main points of contact for interviews. One from your client and one from their customer base.

As mentioned before, the client you interview should have knowledge of the marketing aspect of the business.

This will help to make sure that what you’re writing about is in line with their marketing goals.

The customer you interview should, first of all, know the goal of the interview and be able to give you the information and stats you’re looking for.

They should also be able to tell you their story and how the client’s service or product benefitted them and added value to their business and to their bottom line.

The actual interview itself can take place over Skype or video chat, on the phone, or if necessary through email.

Although, I would suggest actually talking to people – rather than email – as there might be more questions and further insight that comes up during the conversation.

Putting it All Together

This is where you flex your copywriting skills. Compile all of your data and present it in a way that is engaging to the reader.

You don’t want a boring list of statistics that are going to put your reader to sleep.

This is the part of the case study where the story really comes together and focuses on how your client was able to deliver amazing results to their customers.

You can also format the case study during this time as well.

Writing Case Study Questions

Do you have some questions about writing case studies? Let’s look at the most common questions.

How long do writing case studies take?

It depends on who you are interviewing. If you can reach the company or person quickly, it can take a few weeks to a month to compile the information and write the case study.

However, for some interviews, it can take months before you solidify a date for an interview.

What is the typical length of a case study?

Most case studies are short and no more than 1500 words.

What should a case study include?

The most important things a case study should include is the problem and how the company being profiled helped solved the problem. Case studies are success stories, so laying out the problem is key to understanding if the process was successful.

What/how should you quote pricing for case studies?

My recommendation is to either price each case study individually or to have a starting rate of $300-$500. One thing to note is that case study writing isn’t usually recurring, so adding additional services to your freelance writing business is important.

How to Market Case Study Writing to Businesses

Okay. Let’s look at how you can market yourself as a case study writer.

1. Build a Case Study Portfolio

To show potential clients proof that you can write a case study, have writing samples in your portfolio to support this.

It can be as easy as a mock up – like the one I crated for this post – to guest posting about the importance of white papers for businesses.

2. Niche Yourself as a Case Study Writer

It’s a good idea to title yourself as a case study writer, if you primarily want to write case studies. For example, Bonnie mentions her case study writing as the first thing on her services page.

She does a great job by also providing:

• A case study testimonial
• Case study writing samples
• A case study checklist for people who want to DIY it
• Tips to writing a case study (which are more writing samples for her)

It’s also a good idea to title yourself as a case study writer on social media too!

3. Provide Informational Guest Posts on Case Studies

A great marketing strategy to use is to guest post on topics that relate to how case studies can help businesses with their bottom line.

Find blogs that your ideal client reads or visit business blogs that accept guest posts and guest post those types of topics!

Writing a Case Study

There ya go!

How to write a case study with some case study examples and more!

I hope you find this helpful and start pitching to businesses as a case study writer!

For more posts like this, look at my How to Write Series:

• How to Write a White Paper – A Simple Step by Step Guide
• How to Write a Writing Sample for a Job
• How to Write an About Me Page as a Freelance Writer
• How Writing a Cover Letter Can Help You Land That Job
• How to Write an Email as as Copywriter

Over to you – tell me if case studies is something you will offer now!

Share this post with your friends!

Leave a reply cancel reply, 21 comments.

Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Writing a Case Study

• Purpose of Guide
• Design Flaws to Avoid
• Independent and Dependent Variables
• Glossary of Research Terms
• Narrowing a Topic Idea
• Broadening a Topic Idea
• Extending the Timeliness of a Topic Idea
• Academic Writing Style
• Choosing a Title
• Making an Outline
• Paragraph Development
• Executive Summary
• The C.A.R.S. Model
• Background Information
• The Research Problem/Question
• Theoretical Framework
• Citation Tracking
• Content Alert Services
• Evaluating Sources
• Reading Research Effectively
• Primary Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Tiertiary Sources
• What Is Scholarly vs. Popular?
• Qualitative Methods
• Quantitative Methods
• Using Non-Textual Elements
• Limitations of the Study
• Common Grammar Mistakes
• Writing Concisely
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Footnotes or Endnotes?
• Further Readings
• Annotated Bibliography
• Dealing with Nervousness
• Using Visual Aids
• Grading Someone Else's Paper
• Types of Structured Group Activities
• Group Project Survival Skills
• Multiple Book Review Essay
• Reviewing Collected Essays
• Writing a Case Study
• About Informed Consent
• Writing Field Notes
• Writing a Policy Memo
• Writing a Research Proposal
• Bibliography

The term case study refers to both a method of analysis and a specific research design for examining a problem, both of which are used in most circumstances to generalize across populations. This tab focuses on the latter--how to design and organize a research paper in the social sciences that analyzes a specific case.

A case study research paper examines a person, place, event, phenomenon, or other type of subject of analysis in order to extrapolate  key themes and results that help predict future trends, illuminate previously hidden issues that can be applied to practice, and/or provide a means for understanding an important research problem with greater clarity. A case study paper usually examines a single subject of analysis, but case study papers can also be designed as a comparative investigation that shows relationships between two or among more than two subjects. The methods used to study a case can rest within a quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method investigative paradigm.

Case Studies . Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Mills, Albert J. , Gabrielle Durepos, and Eiden Wiebe, editors. Encyclopedia of Case Study Research . Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2010 ; “What is a Case Study?” In Swanborn, Peter G. Case Study Research: What, Why and How? London: SAGE, 2010.

How to Approach Writing a Case Study Research Paper

General information about how to choose a topic to investigate can be found under the " Choosing a Research Problem " tab in this writing guide. Review this page because it may help you identify a subject of analysis that can be investigated using a single case study design.

However, identifying a case to investigate involves more than choosing the research problem . A case study encompasses a problem contextualized around the application of in-depth analysis, interpretation, and discussion, often resulting in specific recommendations for action or for improving existing conditions. As Seawright and Gerring note, practical considerations such as time and access to information can influence case selection, but these issues should not be the sole factors used in describing the methodological justification for identifying a particular case to study. Given this, selecting a case includes considering the following:

• Does the case represent an unusual or atypical example of a research problem that requires more in-depth analysis? Cases often represent a topic that rests on the fringes of prior investigations because the case may provide new ways of understanding the research problem. For example, if the research problem is to identify strategies to improve policies that support girl's access to secondary education in predominantly Muslim nations, you could consider using Azerbaijan as a case study rather than selecting a more obvious nation in the Middle East. Doing so may reveal important new insights into recommending how governments in other predominantly Muslim nations can formulate policies that support improved access to education for girls.
• Does the case provide important insight or illuminate a previously hidden problem? In-depth analysis of a case can be based on the hypothesis that the case study will reveal trends or issues that have not been exposed in prior research or will reveal new and important implications for practice. For example, anecdotal evidence may suggest drug use among homeless veterans is related to their patterns of travel throughout the day. Assuming prior studies have not looked at individual travel choices as a way to study access to illicit drug use, a case study that observes a homeless veteran could reveal how issues of personal mobility choices facilitate regular access to illicit drugs. Note that it is important to conduct a thorough literature review to ensure that your assumption about the need to reveal new insights or previously hidden problems is valid and evidence-based.
• Does the case challenge and offer a counter-point to prevailing assumptions? Over time, research on any given topic can fall into a trap of developing assumptions based on outdated studies that are still applied to new or changing conditions or the idea that something should simply be accepted as "common sense," even though the issue has not been thoroughly tested in practice. A case may offer you an opportunity to gather evidence that challenges prevailing assumptions about a research problem and provide a new set of recommendations applied to practice that have not been tested previously. For example, perhaps there has been a long practice among scholars to apply a particular theory in explaining the relationship between two subjects of analysis. Your case could challenge this assumption by applying an innovative theoretical framework [perhaps borrowed from another discipline] to the study a case in order to explore whether this approach offers new ways of understanding the research problem. Taking a contrarian stance is one of the most important ways that new knowledge and understanding develops from existing literature.
• Does the case provide an opportunity to pursue action leading to the resolution of a problem? Another way to think about choosing a case to study is to consider how the results from investigating a particular case may result in findings that reveal ways in which to resolve an existing or emerging problem. For example, studying the case of an unforeseen incident, such as a fatal accident at a railroad crossing, can reveal hidden issues that could be applied to preventative measures that contribute to reducing the chance of accidents in the future. In this example, a case study investigating the accident could lead to a better understanding of where to strategically locate additional signals at other railroad crossings in order to better warn drivers of an approaching train, particularly when visibility is hindered by heavy rain, fog, or at night.
• Does the case offer a new direction in future research? A case study can be used as a tool for exploratory research that points to a need for further examination of the research problem. A case can be used when there are few studies that help predict an outcome or that establish a clear understanding about how best to proceed in addressing a problem. For example, after conducting a thorough literature review [very important!], you discover that little research exists showing the ways in which women contribute to promoting water conservation in rural communities of Uganda. A case study of how women contribute to saving water in a particular village can lay the foundation for understanding the need for more thorough research that documents how women in their roles as cooks and family caregivers think about water as a valuable resource within their community throughout rural regions of east Africa. The case could also point to the need for scholars to apply feminist theories of work and family to the issue of water conservation.

Eisenhardt, Kathleen M. “Building Theories from Case Study Research.” Academy of Management Review 14 (October 1989): 532-550; Emmel, Nick. Sampling and Choosing Cases in Qualitative Research: A Realist Approach . Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2013; Gerring, John. “What Is a Case Study and What Is It Good for?” American Political Science Review 98 (May 2004): 341-354; Mills, Albert J. , Gabrielle Durepos, and Eiden Wiebe, editors. Encyclopedia of Case Study Research . Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2010; Seawright, Jason and John Gerring. "Case Selection Techniques in Case Study Research." Political Research Quarterly 61 (June 2008): 294-308.

Structure and Writing Style

The purpose of a paper in the social sciences designed around a case study is to thoroughly investigate a subject of analysis in order to reveal a new understanding about the research problem and, in so doing, contributing new knowledge to what is already known from previous studies. In applied social sciences disciplines [e.g., education, social work, public administration, etc.], case studies may also be used to reveal best practices, highlight key programs, or investigate interesting aspects of professional work. In general, the structure of a case study research paper is not all that different from a standard college-level research paper. However, there are subtle differences you should be aware of. Here are the key elements to organizing and writing a case study research paper.

I.  Introduction

As with any research paper, your introduction should serve as a roadmap for your readers to ascertain the scope and purpose of your study . The introduction to a case study research paper, however, should not only describe the research problem and its significance, but you should also succinctly describe why the case is being used and how it relates to addressing the problem. The two elements should be linked. With this in mind, a good introduction answers these four questions:

• What was I studying? Describe the research problem and describe the subject of analysis you have chosen to address the problem. Explain how they are linked and what elements of the case will help to expand knowledge and understanding about the problem.
• Why was this topic important to investigate? Describe the significance of the research problem and state why a case study design and the subject of analysis that the paper is designed around is appropriate in addressing the problem.
• What did we know about this topic before I did this study? Provide background that helps lead the reader into the more in-depth literature review to follow. If applicable, summarize prior case study research applied to the research problem and why it fails to adequately address the research problem. Describe why your case will be useful. If no prior case studies have been used to address the research problem, explain why you have selected this subject of analysis.
• How will this study advance new knowledge or new ways of understanding? Explain why your case study will be suitable in helping to expand knowledge and understanding about the research problem.

Each of these questions should be addressed in no more than a few paragraphs. Exceptions to this can be when you are addressing a complex research problem or subject of analysis that requires more in-depth background information.

II.  Literature Review

The literature review for a case study research paper is generally structured the same as it is for any college-level research paper. The difference, however, is that the literature review is focused on providing background information and  enabling historical interpretation of the subject of analysis in relation to the research problem the case is intended to address . This includes synthesizing studies that help to:

• Place relevant works in the context of their contribution to understanding the case study being investigated . This would include summarizing studies that have used a similar subject of analysis to investigate the research problem. If there is literature using the same or a very similar case to study, you need to explain why duplicating past research is important [e.g., conditions have changed; prior studies were conducted long ago, etc.].
• Describe the relationship each work has to the others under consideration that informs the reader why this case is applicable . Your literature review should include a description of any works that support using the case to study the research problem and the underlying research questions.
• Identify new ways to interpret prior research using the case study . If applicable, review any research that has examined the research problem using a different research design. Explain how your case study design may reveal new knowledge or a new perspective or that can redirect research in an important new direction.
• Resolve conflicts amongst seemingly contradictory previous studies . This refers to synthesizing any literature that points to unresolved issues of concern about the research problem and describing how the subject of analysis that forms the case study can help resolve these existing contradictions.
• Point the way in fulfilling a need for additional research . Your review should examine any literature that lays a foundation for understanding why your case study design and the subject of analysis around which you have designed your study may reveal a new way of approaching the research problem or offer a perspective that points to the need for additional research.
• Expose any gaps that exist in the literature that the case study could help to fill . Summarize any literature that not only shows how your subject of analysis contributes to understanding the research problem, but how your case contributes to a new way of understanding the problem that prior research has failed to do.
• Locate your own research within the context of existing literature [very important!] . Collectively, your literature review should always place your case study within the larger domain of prior research about the problem. The overarching purpose of reviewing pertinent literature in a case study paper is to demonstrate that you have thoroughly identified and synthesized prior studies in the context of explaining the relevance of the case in addressing the research problem.

III.  Method

In this section, you explain why you selected a particular subject of analysis to study and the strategy you used to identify and ultimately decide that your case was appropriate in addressing the research problem. The way you describe the methods used varies depending on the type of subject of analysis that frames your case study.

If your subject of analysis is an incident or event . In the social and behavioral sciences, the event or incident that represents the case to be studied is usually bounded by time and place, with a clear beginning and end and with an identifiable location or position relative to its surroundings. The subject of analysis can be a rare or critical event or it can focus on a typical or regular event. The purpose of studying a rare event is to illuminate new ways of thinking about the broader research problem or to test a hypothesis. Critical incident case studies must describe the method by which you identified the event and explain the process by which you determined the validity of this case to inform broader perspectives about the research problem or to reveal new findings. However, the event does not have to be a rare or uniquely significant to support new thinking about the research problem or to challenge an existing hypothesis. For example, Walo, Bull, and Breen conducted a case study to identify and evaluate the direct and indirect economic benefits and costs of a local sports event in the City of Lismore, New South Wales, Australia. The purpose of their study was to provide new insights from measuring the impact of a typical local sports event that prior studies could not measure well because they focused on large "mega-events." Whether the event is rare or not, the methods section should include an explanation of the following characteristics of the event: a) when did it take place; b) what were the underlying circumstances leading to the event; c) what were the consequences of the event.

If your subject of analysis is a person. Explain why you selected this particular individual to be studied and describe what experience he or she has had that provides an opportunity to advance new understandings about the research problem. Mention any background about this person which might help the reader understand the significance of his/her experiences that make them worthy of study. This includes describing the relationships this person has had with other people, institutions, and/or events that support using him or her as the subject for a case study research paper. It is particularly important to differentiate the person as the subject of analysis from others and to succinctly explain how the person relates to examining the research problem.

If your subject of analysis is a place. In general, a case study that investigates a place suggests a subject of analysis that is unique or special in some way and that this uniqueness can be used to build new understanding or knowledge about the research problem. A case study of a place must not only describe its various attributes relevant to the research problem [e.g., physical, social, cultural, economic, political, etc.], but you must state the method by which you determined that this place will illuminate new understandings about the research problem. It is also important to articulate why a particular place as the case for study is being used if similar places also exist [i.e., if you are studying patterns of homeless encampments of veterans in open spaces, why study Echo Park in Los Angeles rather than Griffith Park?]. If applicable, describe what type of human activity involving this place makes it a good choice to study [e.g., prior research reveals Echo Park has more homeless veterans].

If your subject of analysis is a phenomenon. A phenomenon refers to a fact, occurrence, or circumstance that can be studied or observed but with the cause or explanation to be in question. In this sense, a phenomenon that forms your subject of analysis can encompass anything that can be observed or presumed to exist but is not fully understood. In the social and behavioral sciences, the case usually focuses on human interaction within a complex physical, social, economic, cultural, or political system. For example, the phenomenon could be the observation that many vehicles used by ISIS fighters are small trucks with English language advertisements on them. The research problem could be that ISIS fighters are difficult to combat because they are highly mobile. The research questions could be how and by what means are these vehicles used by ISIS being supplied to the militants and how might supply lines to these vehicles be cut? How might knowing the suppliers of these trucks from overseas reveal larger networks of collaborators and financial support? A case study of a phenomenon most often encompasses an in-depth analysis of a cause and effect that is grounded in an interactive relationship between people and their environment in some way.

NOTE:   The choice of the case or set of cases to study cannot appear random. Evidence that supports the method by which you identified and chose your subject of analysis should be linked to the findings from the literature review. Be sure to cite any prior studies that helped you determine that the case you chose was appropriate for investigating the research problem.

IV.  Discussion

The main elements of your discussion section are generally the same as any research paper, but centered around interpreting and drawing conclusions about the key findings from your case study. Note that a general social sciences research paper may contain a separate section to report findings. However, in a paper designed around a case study, it is more common to combine a description of the findings with the discussion about their implications. The objectives of your discussion section should include the following:

Reiterate the Research Problem/State the Major Findings Briefly reiterate the research problem you are investigating and explain why the subject of analysis around which you designed the case study were used. You should then describe the findings revealed from your study of the case using direct, declarative, and succinct proclamation of the study results. Highlight any findings that were unexpected or especially profound.

Explain the Meaning of the Findings and Why They are Important Systematically explain the meaning of your case study findings and why you believe they are important. Begin this part of the section by repeating what you consider to be your most important or surprising finding first, then systematically review each finding. Be sure to thoroughly extrapolate what your analysis of the case can tell the reader about situations or conditions beyond the actual case that was studied while, at the same time, being careful not to misconstrue or conflate a finding that undermines the external validity of your conclusions.

Relate the Findings to Similar Studies No study in the social sciences is so novel or possesses such a restricted focus that it has absolutely no relation to previously published research. The discussion section should relate your case study results to those found in other studies, particularly if questions raised from prior studies served as the motivation for choosing your subject of analysis. This is important because comparing and contrasting the findings of other studies helps to support the overall importance of your results and it highlights how and in what ways your case study design and the subject of analysis differs from prior research about the topic.

Consider Alternative Explanations of the Findings It is important to remember that the purpose of social science research is to discover and not to prove. When writing the discussion section, you should carefully consider all possible explanations for the case study results, rather than just those that fit your hypothesis or prior assumptions and biases. Be alert to what the in-depth analysis of the case may reveal about the research problem, including offering a contrarian perspective to what scholars have stated in prior research.

Acknowledge the Study's Limitations You can state the study's limitations in the conclusion section of your paper but describing the limitations of your subject of analysis in the discussion section provides an opportunity to identify the limitations and explain why they are not significant. This part of the discussion section should also note any unanswered questions or issues your case study could not address. More detailed information about how to document any limitations to your research can be found here .

Suggest Areas for Further Research Although your case study may offer important insights about the research problem, there are likely additional questions related to the problem that remain unanswered or findings that unexpectedly revealed themselves as a result of your in-depth analysis of the case. Be sure that the recommendations for further research are linked to the research problem and that you explain why your recommendations are valid in other contexts and based on the original assumptions of your study.

V.  Conclusion

As with any research paper, you should summarize your conclusion in clear, simple language; emphasize how the findings from your case study differs from or supports prior research and why. Do not simply reiterate the discussion section. Provide a synthesis of key findings presented in the paper to show how these converge to address the research problem. If you haven't already done so in the discussion section, be sure to document the limitations of your case study and needs for further research.

The function of your paper's conclusion is to: 1)  restate the main argument supported by the findings from the analysis of your case; 2) clearly state the context, background, and necessity of pursuing the research problem using a case study design in relation to an issue, controversy, or a gap found from reviewing the literature; and, 3) provide a place for you to persuasively and succinctly restate the significance of your research problem, given that the reader has now been presented with in-depth information about the topic.

Consider the following points to help ensure your conclusion is appropriate:

• If the argument or purpose of your paper is complex, you may need to summarize these points for your reader.
• If prior to your conclusion, you have not yet explained the significance of your findings or if you are proceeding inductively, use the conclusion of your paper to describe your main points and explain their significance.
• Move from a detailed to a general level of consideration of the case study's findings that returns the topic to the context provided by the introduction or within a new context that emerges from your case study findings.

Note that, depending on the discipline you are writing in and your professor's preferences, the concluding paragraph may contain your final reflections on the evidence presented applied to practice or on the essay's central research problem. However, the nature of being introspective about the subject of analysis you have investigated will depend on whether you are explicitly asked to express your observations in this way.

Problems to Avoid

Overgeneralization One of the goals of a case study is to lay a foundation for understanding broader trends and issues applied to similar circumstances. However, be careful when drawing conclusions from your case study. They must be evidence-based and grounded in the results of the study; otherwise, it is merely speculation. Looking at a prior example, it would be incorrect to state that a factor in improving girls access to education in Azerbaijan and the policy implications this may have for improving access in other Muslim nations is due to girls access to social media if there is no documentary evidence from your case study to indicate this. There may be anecdotal evidence that retention rates were better for girls who were on social media, but this observation would only point to the need for further research and would not be a definitive finding if this was not a part of your original research agenda.

Failure to Document Limitations No case is going to reveal all that needs to be understood about a research problem. Therefore, just as you have to clearly state the limitations of a general research study , you must describe the specific limitations inherent in the subject of analysis. For example, the case of studying how women conceptualize the need for water conservation in a village in Uganda could have limited application in other cultural contexts or in areas where fresh water from rivers or lakes is plentiful and, therefore, conservation is understood differently than preserving access to a scarce resource.

Failure to Extrapolate All Possible Implications Just as you don't want to over-generalize from your case study findings, you also have to be thorough in the consideration of all possible outcomes or recommendations derived from your findings. If you do not, your reader may question the validity of your analysis, particularly if you failed to document an obvious outcome from your case study research. For example, in the case of studying the accident at the railroad crossing to evaluate where and what types of warning signals should be located, you failed to take into consideration speed limit signage as well as warning signals. When designing your case study, be sure you have thoroughly addressed all aspects of the problem and do not leave gaps in your analysis.

Case Studies . Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Gerring, John. Case Study Research: Principles and Practices . New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007; Merriam, Sharan B. Qualitative Research and Case Study Applications in Education . Rev. ed. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 1998; Miller, Lisa L. “The Use of Case Studies in Law and Social Science Research.” Annual Review of Law and Social Science 14 (2018): TBD; Mills, Albert J., Gabrielle Durepos, and Eiden Wiebe, editors. Encyclopedia of Case Study Research . Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2010; Putney, LeAnn Grogan. "Case Study." In Encyclopedia of Research Design , Neil J. Salkind, editor. (Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2010), pp. 116-120; Simons, Helen. Case Study Research in Practice . London: SAGE Publications, 2009;  Kratochwill,  Thomas R. and Joel R. Levin, editors. Single-Case Research Design and Analysis: New Development for Psychology and Education .  Hilldsale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1992; Swanborn, Peter G. Case Study Research: What, Why and How? London : SAGE, 2010; Yin, Robert K. Case Study Research: Design and Methods . 6th edition. Los Angeles, CA, SAGE Publications, 2014; Walo, Maree, Adrian Bull, and Helen Breen. “Achieving Economic Benefits at Local Events: A Case Study of a Local Sports Event.” Festival Management and Event Tourism 4 (1996): 95-106.

Writing Tip

At Least Five Misconceptions about Case Study Research

Social science case studies are often perceived as limited in their ability to create new knowledge because they are not randomly selected and findings cannot be generalized to larger populations. Flyvbjerg examines five misunderstandings about case study research and systematically "corrects" each one. To quote, these are:

Misunderstanding 1 :  General, theoretical [context-independent knowledge is more valuable than concrete, practical (context-dependent) knowledge. Misunderstanding 2 :  One cannot generalize on the basis of an individual case; therefore, the case study cannot contribute to scientific development. Misunderstanding 3 :  The case study is most useful for generating hypotheses; that is, in the first stage of a total research process, whereas other methods are more suitable for hypotheses testing and theory building. Misunderstanding 4 :  The case study contains a bias toward verification, that is, a tendency to confirm the researcher’s preconceived notions. Misunderstanding 5 :  It is often difficult to summarize and develop general propositions and theories on the basis of specific case studies [p. 221].

While writing your paper, think introspectively about how you addressed these misconceptions because to do so can help you strengthen the validity and reliability of your research by clarifying issues of case selection, the testing and challenging of existing assumptions, the interpretation of key findings, and the summation of case outcomes. Think of a case study research paper as a complete, in-depth narrative about the specific properties and key characteristics of your subject of analysis applied to the research problem.

Flyvbjerg, Bent. “Five Misunderstandings About Case-Study Research.” Qualitative Inquiry 12 (April 2006): 219-245.

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How to Write a Case Study: Definition, Outline, Steps & Examples

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A case study is a research method that involves an in-depth examination of a particular subject, often a person, group, event, or organization. It's used to explore complex issues in real-world contexts. A case study can provide insights that might not be achieved with other research methods.

Are you struggling with writing a case study and don't know where to begin? You are not alone. Most students involved in the Psychology or Sociology field often find this task challenging. Especially if they are new to this research method. However, with the right structure and preparation, creating a case study paper will be a piece of cake. 

After reading this article, you will be armed with all essential details including:

Let’s dive right in!

A case study is a research method that involves examining a specific instance to let researchers learn more about an individual, event, organization or concept. It is like a magnifying glass for studying real-life situations. By looking at a single example, we can learn more about complex issues and understand patterns. 

Case studies are used in the fields like Psychology, Business, Statistics or Nursing. As a rule, students apply this research method when writing a dissertation or thesis . 

Depending on the research question and the data needed to address a problem, case studies can involve various research methods.

Research Methods Applied in Case Studies

Case Study Example

Let's recap the main points. 

The primary purpose of a case study is to gain insight into the real-world situations through the investigation and analysis of a single instance. This research design is often applied to meet such goals: 

Every case study writer can customize their work to fit the needs of a specific discipline, as shown below.

Use of Case Studies 

Looking for expert case study help ? Don't hesitate to contact our academic writers today to get the assistance you need. Our team of experts is ready to provide you with top-notch writings to help you achieve your academic or professional goals

There are different types of case studies that scholars or students can bring into play. Each approach has its own focus and is chosen based on research objectives. 

When investigating any phenomenon, it’s important to organize your sections in a logical manner. A structure of a case study usually includes such components:

Before you create a case study, it’s a good idea to prepare an outline. It serves as a skeleton of your project. A well-structured outline of a case study helps organize your thoughts in a logical manner.

Below you can see an example of a basic template. Feel free to use it for inspiration. 

General Outline  

Based on the sample template shown above, arrange your key ideas and highlight critical information. You may change the blocks to meet your assignment’s unique requirements.

Preparation  is the key to success. To make your case study flawless, you need to establish your goal and plan. This will lay the foundation of the whole process before you begin writing.

Ensure you follow these 3 crucial steps before moving further. 

Your professor may provide you with special requirements, case study rubric or exemplary works. The instructions may include details on preferred format, structure, word count, writing style or analysis techniques. Read given material attentively and make sure you fully understand the guidelines. 

Get expertly crafted works to meet your academic needs. Buy case study from certified professionals and ace your assignments with ease.

Researching is the most time-consuming part of writing a case study. Review relevant studies on the research topic to gain a deeper understanding of your subject. You may want to go through different sources and identify their strengths and limitations. Strive to build a bridge between your case study report and existing gaps. 

Make sure to jot down all your ideas, opinions, notes or questions related to your research. This approach will help you build an outline and write a case study accordingly.  

Now you are all set for the data collection process. Identify the most relevant type of information pertinent to your research question.

Consider using primary sources such as interviews, surveys or questionnaires. Secondary resources may include books, articles, case studies and public documents. 

Your data must be accurate and reliable so double-check your research results before integrating them into your project.

Now that you are familiar with the preparation stages, it's time to dive into the writing process. Writing case studies can be challenging. But by following a structured approach, you can produce a clear and engaging work. 

To create a strong project, it's important to carefully plan and execute each step of your flow, from identifying the research question to presenting your conclusions. Below we have prepared detailed guidelines on how to write a case study paper. 

Start your case study introduction by presenting your subject and providing a brief overview of the research objectives. It's important to highlight the significance of your case and explain why it warrants examination. One way to do this is to focus on innovative aspects, such as a novel approach to a problem or a new technology. You can also emphasize the broader implications. 

You should also preview a structure. This will give readers an idea of what to expect. Briefly describe your main points or provide a rough outline. 

Case Study Introduction Example

Before you get to the problem, provide context that explains the issue at hand. Identify the scope and impact of this problem. One efficient strategy of creating case studies that trigger attention is integrating examples or statistics. This helps to understand how severe this situation is. 

Additionally, you may want to highlight any challenges or obstacles that have prevented a problem from being solved. 

Example of Problem Description in a Case Study

>> Read more: How to Write a Problem Statement

Research methods you apply will define how to make a case study. There are multiple ways to collect data. So your primary task here is to figure out what kind of information you want to obtain. 

Your research strategy should align with your objectives. For instance, interviews can help capture detailed information from a small sample of people. On the other hand, surveys involve large groups of individuals. If you are using interviews or surveys, provide a list of questions participants were asked. 

You can also do experiments to test out different theories or conduct document analysis to identify trends. 

>> Learn more: What Is Experimental Design  

Example of How to Describe Research Methods 

The next stage involves coming up with potential solutions. Explain what strategies could be used to address the problem.

For example, if you write a case study on a business-related problem, solutions may involve implementing procedures to improve efficiency. Alternatively, in a healthcare niche, you will offer a new medication or therapy.

Be sure to provide evidence from your research or expert opinions to support your suggestions.

Here’s how to do a case study solutions section. 

Example of Solution

Most scholars judge case study reports by research outcomes. You need to show that your solution works. Analyze collected data and share your most significant findings in your results section . This can be an increase in profits or a patient's health improvement. 

When you write your case study outcomes, it is important to organize the information in a clear and concise manner. Use tables, graphs and charts to illustrate your data visually. 

Provide a short summary of your results and their implications. But don’t just tell. You need to back up your research with evidence. If you used interviews, be sure to include any statistical analysis done for those results. 

Example of Case Study Research Results

A conclusion of a case study is where you wrap everything up and provide recommendations for further research. Sum up your key points and explain how they could be used to solve similar problems. You can also highlight any unexpected findings or insights that emerged during the study. Don’t forget to discuss any ethical considerations or limitations. 

You need to create a lasting impression. For this, end a case study with a thought-provoking statement or call to action. 

Case Study Conclusion Example

Once you are done with writing a case study, you need to carefully review it. Keep an eye on these things when checking your work: 

Besides the content, it is also important to stick to a specific case study paper format. The layout of your paper should follow guidelines of the chosen citation style.

There are different ways to format a case study. Commonly used styles include APA, MLA, Chicago and Harvard. Each format  presents specific requirements for formatting your text and references. 

Check out our detailed guides listed below to learn more about each style. 

>>  How to Write a Paper in APA Format?

>>  How to Do MLA Format?  

>>  How to Write a Chicago Style Paper?

Getting actual examples of case studies can be a great way to learn and understand how to write one. To help you out, we have collected several sample case study paper examples for different disciplines. Feel free to use these samples as inspiration when writing your own paper.

With the right approach, your effort will reward you with an A+. In this section, we will list some actionable tips on how to write a good case study: 

Even a small mistake can undermine your whole work. Here are some common pitfalls students fail to account for in their case studies:

Using a case study approach as your research method has its own pros and cons. On one hand, it is an effective way to explore a particular issue in detail. On the other, there are certain limitations that come with this approach. Below we will cover both strengths and limitations of case studies.

A case study is like a seed that can grow into a fruitful tree, providing resolutions to intricate problems. Here are the biggest case study benefits you can use to your advantage:

As with any research method, case studies have their fair share of drawbacks. Let's take a closer look at some of the most prevalent issues that can arise when using this approach.

Before you write a case study assignment, make sure to recap all the information you have learnt today. Refer to this checklist to ensure you are on the right track. 

Writing a case study can be an incredibly challenging task for any student. However, with the right approach and tips, you can easily turn this daunting task into a pleasant experience. 

We hope this article helped you understand how to write a case study. Remember to focus on the practical part and avoid overgeneralizing or cherry-picking data.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what is a case study in research.

A case study is a research method that involves an in-depth analysis of a particular subject. This approach most often focuses on a single event, person or group. It provides insight into the context of a problem and can be used to explore solutions to intricate issues.

2. What is the difference between a case study and a research paper?

The main difference between a case study and a research paper is in their scope. A case study explores a limited number of subjects, while research papers investigate multiple variables and/or draw conclusions from larger data sets. While both works contain evidence-based information, the focus and approach taken are quite different. Research papers are more general in nature, while case studies focus on narrow problems.

3. How long should a case study be?

The length of a case study varies depending on the type of assignment. Case studies intended for scholarly articles range from 3,000 to 4,0000 words or more. Meanwhile, if it’s a separate chapter in your MA or PhD dissertation, you will need to keep it between 8,000-15,000 words. Follow specific guidelines provided by your professor or institution. 

4. Why is a case study important?

Case studies are an important research tool, as they provide detailed information on a particular issue. By exploring a single instance from multiple angles, researchers can uncover solutions to complicated problems that may not be immediately apparent. Using this method, scientists also test hypotheses and generate new theories.

5. What makes a good case study?

A good case study should be organized, well-researched, and contain evidence. Some characteristics of a case study include:

6. How to start a case study?

To start a case study, begin by carefully reading requirements and identifying the main problem to be addressed. Don't jump to conclusions or make assumptions – take it one step at a time. Once you have a clear understanding of your goal, gather relevant data. This includes doing research, interviewing people, and analyzing relevant documents.

• Definition 
• Case study types
• Basic structure
• Steps on how to write a case study
• Examples that worked.
• Develop a better understanding of complex issues or phenomena 
• Identify patterns and relationships
• Test hypotheses and theories in natural settings
• Provide practical solutions
• Illustrate best practices or successful strategies.
• Descriptive case studies This approach involves a detailed examination of a particular situation or phenomenon to understand it better. Here, researchers see the context, events, and processes that led to a particular outcome, and get a comprehensive picture of the situation.
• Explanatory case studies Explanatory method allows us to understand the "why" and “how” behind a particular event or phenomenon. As the name suggests, this type of case study seeks to test and explain the causal relationship between independent and dependent variables . 
• Exploratory case studies Imagine being a detective and investigating a mystery or problem in its early stages. This is the main idea of an exploratory investigation. It helps to recognize key questions, potential patterns, and areas for further research. It's like peeling back the layers of an onion, revealing new insights and uncovering possible solutions. 
• Intrinsic case studies  Unlike other case study methods, an intrinsic approach is used to explore a unique instance. Here, researchers focus on a particular scenario in its own right, rather than trying to apply the outcomes to a broader population.  
• Instrumental case studies This type of study examines one instance to shed light on a larger group or phenomenon. Instrumental technique is a good choice if you want to develop theoretical frameworks and obtain generalizable findings.
• Cumulative case studies  While conducting cumulative research, students compile and synthesize information from multiple similar instances. Here, you combine the results of multiple studies to draw more generalized conclusions.
• Collective case reports Think of several individual instances being studied together to provide a broader understanding of a specific phenomenon. These instances are often connected by a common theme. This enables researchers to compare and contrast cases and uncover tendencies. 
• Critical case studies Researchers use this method to explore exceptional instances that are particularly interesting or thought-provoking. Critical approach helps to analyze why a specific situation occurred and what could have been done differently.
• Introduction This section is a place to present a case. Provide a brief overview of your instance, introduce your key research objectives and prepare the readers for further analysis.
• Problem identification By laying out a problem, you will be able to show the scope and significance of your topic. Identify the main issue that will be examined and build a clear statement of the problem.
• Background A properly established context sets the stage for research and lays a foundation for case evaluation. Offer relevant background information on the instance. This can be a historical, geographical or cultural context.
• Methodology Describe your  methodology in research  – approach, data collection methods and analysis techniques used in your investigation.
• Solution  Now is the time to determine potential solutions to address the problem, and evaluate the pros and cons of each resolution. Make sure solutions are realistic.
• Results  Once a case study is conducted, you should share your key findings. Mention any data or evidence that was collected and analyzed.
• Discussion This part of a case study is a perfect opportunity for analysis. Discuss the implications of your outcomes and draw conclusions
• Conclusion Summarize your main points, restate a problem and solutions, and offer final recommendations or next steps.
• Brief subject introduction
• Research purpose and objectives
• Necessary context
• Problem/issue
• Problem significance
• Subject/idea history
• Setting or environment description
• Key challenges, opportunities, or turning points
• Research methods used to gather information
• Data analysis methods
• Possible strategies
• Assessment of solutions
• Recommended solvents
• Major discoveries from the data analysis
• Implications
• Limitations/challenges
• Summary of key points
• Restatement of the problem and solution
• Final suggestions or next steps
• Grammar mistakes Proofread your writing for typos and grammar errors. Feel free to use our  Grammar Checker  to make sure you got everything right.
• Clarity Check whether your work is readable and concise. Avoid long sentences and complex structures.
• Sources accuracy Make sure to check all sources for accuracy. It is also important to ensure that all reported data is up-to-date.
• Citations Ascertain whether all sources are properly cited and the same style is used consistently throughout your paper.
• Planning your work ahead Planning your work ahead Make sure to create an outline before you start writing and stick to it throughout the entire process.
• Arranging your data logically Break down complex information into chunks and use visual elements (tables, graphs, diagrams) to present it.
• Structuring your writing Use headings and subheadings to organize your content and make key points easy to access.
• Keeping your text simple Write your case study in an easy-to-read language and refrain from complex sentence structures.
• Remaining impartial Be objective in your analysis and avoid personal biases.
• Focusing too much on the background Provide enough space for analysis of your problem and solution.
• Stuffing with direct quotes Quotes can be used as evidence in your paper. But relying on them too much will make it sound overly repetitive.
• Not referring to all sources Always cite your sources correctly and use only reliable data in your paper.
• Being vague Avoid general statements and be more specific while discussing your results and solutions.
• Failing to mention possible gaps Always consider ethical considerations or limitations.
• In-depth analysis Researchers can gather a lot of information on a specific topic or issue.
• Insights into elaborate issues Allows researchers to examine complex issues in a controlled manner.
• Real-life situations You are able to test theories or hypotheses in real-world settings.
• Comprehensive approach Researchers can collect both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Unique revelations This method can enlight on previously unexplored or understudied areas.
• Limited generalizability Due to the small sample size and unique nature of each case, it can be difficult to generalize findings to a larger population.
• Observer bias Researchers may bring their own biases and perspectives, which can influence their results and interpretations.
• Time-consuming and expensive This approach requires significant time and resources to conduct, making it less feasible for some research questions.
• Lack of control In contrast to experimental research, case studies lack control over extraneous variables. This can make it difficult to establish cause-and-effect relationships.
• Subjectivity Collected data is often subjective and open to interpretation, which can introduce potential errors.
• Precise subject overview
• Thorough analysis that goes beyond surface-level information
• Examination of a single scenario from various perspectives
• Fact-based arguments
• Validated findings.
• checkbox I thoroughly researched my topic and gathered relevant information.
• checkbox A problem/issue is clearly defined. 
• checkbox My case study structure is well-organized. 
• checkbox I used appropriate research methods to gather data.
• checkbox My findings are well-supported by analysis and evidence. 
• checkbox I discussed possible limitations and ethical considerations. 
• checkbox The work offers recommendations for further research.
• checkbox My paper adheres to formatting guidelines required by my instructor.

What Is a Case Study: Definition

What is the purpose of a case study, types of case studies, case study structure: main parts, case study outline, before you start writing a case study, 1. carefully read the instructions , 2. conduct research, 3. gather data, how to write a case study in 7 steps, 1. introduce a case study, 2. describe a problem, 3. discuss research methods , 4. offer solutions to the problem , 5. present your key results, 6. conclude with recommendations, 7. proofread your case study, case study format, case study examples, case study writing tips, mistakes to avoid when writing a case study, advantages and disadvantages of case study, benefits of case study, limitations of case study, case study paper writing checklist, bottom line on how to write a case study.

A researcher is interested in studying the effects of a newly implemented teaching method on student performance. To find out, they observe a class of 30 students over one semester. The researcher compares the test scores from before and after the method was used, documenting its effectiveness.  The study results showed that academic performance had improved by 11.5% since the new teaching method was implemented. The researcher concluded that this approach works well and can be generalized to a broader population.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that can arise in individuals who have experienced a traumatic event. In this case study, we examine the experiences of a patient who was diagnosed with PTSD following a car accident. Our analysis focuses on the patient's symptoms, including intrusive thoughts, hyperarousal, and avoidance behaviors. We also explore the treatments employed to manage these symptoms. By analyzing this case, we aim to provide insights into the challenges of treating PTSD and offer recommendations for improving therapeutic interventions for individuals suffering from this condition.

John is a 28-year-old man who was involved in a serious car accident three months ago. Since then, he has been experiencing PTSD symptoms, including recurring nightmares, flashbacks, and feelings of anxiety. These symptoms have affected his work performance and relationships with family and friends. Despite seeking help from his primary care physician and attending therapy sessions, John has not experienced significant improvement. The challenge is to identify effective treatments that can help John manage his PTSD and improve his quality of life.

In this research, both quantitative and qualitative data were utilized. 10 semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants who had experienced PTSD symptoms following a traumatic event. Additionally, data was collected from a survey of 253 individuals who had not been diagnosed with PTSD. We inquired about their experiences with trauma and the types of coping strategies they used to manage stress. Medical records from John's primary care physician were analyzed to track his progress over time. The combination of quantitative and qualitative data allowed for a comprehensive understanding of John's unique experiences with PTSD.

One potential solution for addressing John's PTSD symptoms is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). According to a study by Bisson and colleagues (2013), CBT has been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD in individuals who have experienced traumatic events. The therapist can work with John to identify and challenge negative thought patterns related to his traumatic experience and teach him coping skills to manage his anxiety and stress.

Our analysis showed that participants who received cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) reported a significant decrease in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as compared to those who received no therapy. Specifically, the group who received CBT experienced a 35% reduction in symptoms. Meanwhile, the control group experienced no significant change. These findings suggest that CBT may be an effective treatment option for individuals with PTSD.

Our research highlighted the significant impact of PTSD on individuals who have experienced a traumatic event. The results suggested that cognitive-behavioral therapy and reprocessing therapy are effective treatments for PTSD. However, more research is needed to determine the long-term effects of these treatments. Additionally, the stigma surrounding mental health and seeking treatment remains a significant barrier to access to care. It is crucial for healthcare professionals and policymakers to address this issue and increase access to mental health services.

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“How to Write Case Studies: A Comprehensive Guide”

Case studies are essential for marketing and research, offering in-depth insights into successes and problem-solving methods. This blog explains how to write case studies, including steps for creating them, tips for analysis, and case study examples. You'll also find case study templates to simplify the process. Effective case studies establish credibility, enhance marketing efforts, and provide valuable insights for future projects.

Case studies are detailed examinations of subjects like businesses, organizations, or individuals. They are used to highlight successes and problem-solving methods. They are crucial in marketing, education, and research to provide concrete examples and insights.

This blog will explain how to write case studies and their importance. We will cover different applications of case studies and a step-by-step process to create them. You’ll find tips for conducting case study analysis, along with case study examples and case study templates.

Effective case studies are vital. They showcase success stories and problem-solving skills, establishing credibility. This guide will teach you how to create a case study that engages your audience and enhances your marketing and research efforts.

What are Case Studies?

1. Definition and Purpose of a Case Study

Case studies are in-depth explorations of specific subjects to understand dynamics and outcomes. They provide detailed insights that can be generalized to broader contexts.

2. Different Types of Case Studies

• Exploratory: Investigates an area with limited information.
• Explanatory: Explains reasons behind a phenomenon.
• Descriptive: Provides a detailed account of the subject.
• Intrinsic : Focuses on a unique subject.
• Instrumental: Uses the case to understand a broader issue.

3. Benefits of Using Case Studies

Case studies offer many benefits. They provide real-world examples to illustrate theories or concepts. Businesses can demonstrate the effectiveness of their products or services. Researchers gain detailed insights into specific phenomena. Educators use them to teach through practical examples. Learning how to write case studies can enhance your marketing and research efforts.

Understanding how to create a case study involves recognizing these benefits. Case study examples show practical applications. Using case study templates can simplify the process.

5 Steps to Write a Case Study

1. Identifying the Subject or Case

Choose a subject that aligns with your objectives and offers valuable insights. Ensure the subject has a clear narrative and relevance to your audience. The subject should illustrate key points and provide substantial learning opportunities. Common subjects include successful projects, client stories, or significant business challenges.

2. Conducting Thorough Research and Data Collection

Gather comprehensive data from multiple sources. Conduct interviews with key stakeholders, such as clients, team members, or industry experts. Use surveys to collect quantitative data. Review documents, reports, and any relevant records. Ensure the information is accurate, relevant, and up-to-date. This thorough research forms the foundation for how to write case studies that are credible and informative.

3. Structuring the Case Study

Organize your case study into these sections:

• Introduction: Introduce the subject and its significance. Provide an overview of what will be covered.
• Background: Provide context and background information. Describe the subject’s history, environment, and any relevant details.
• Case Presentation: Detail the case, including the problem or challenge faced. Discuss the actions taken to address the issue.
• Analysis: Analyze the data and discuss the findings. Highlight key insights, patterns, and outcomes.
• Conclusion: Summarize the outcomes and key takeaways. Reflect on the broader implications and lessons learned.

4. Writing a Compelling Introduction

The introduction should grab the reader’s attention. Start with a hook, such as an interesting fact, quote, or question. Provide a brief overview of the subject and its importance. Explain why this case is relevant and worth studying. An engaging introduction sets the stage for how to create a case study that keeps readers interested.

5. Providing Background Information and Context

Give readers the necessary background to understand the case. Include details about the subject’s history, environment, and any relevant circumstances. Explain the context in which the case exists, such as the industry, market conditions, or organizational culture. Providing a solid foundation helps readers grasp the significance of the case and enhances the credibility of your study.

Understanding how to write a case study involves meticulous research and a clear structure. Utilizing case study examples and templates can guide you through the process, ensuring you present your findings effectively. These steps are essential for writing informative, engaging, and impactful case studies. 

How to Write Case Study Analysis

1. Analyzing the Data Collected

Examine the data to identify patterns, trends, and key findings. Use qualitative and quantitative methods to ensure a comprehensive analysis. Validate the data’s accuracy and relevance to the subject. Look for correlations and causations that can provide deeper insights.

2. Identifying Key Issues and Problems

Pinpoint the main issues or challenges faced by the subject. Determine the root causes of these problems. Use tools like SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) to get a clear picture. Prioritize the issues based on their impact and urgency.

3. Discussing Possible Solutions and Their Implementation

Explore various solutions that address the identified issues. Compare the potential effectiveness of each solution. Discuss the steps taken to implement the chosen solutions. Highlight the decision-making process and the rationale behind it. Include any obstacles faced during implementation and how they were overcome.

4. Evaluating the Results and Outcomes

Assess the outcomes of the implemented solutions. Use metrics and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to measure success. Compare the results with the initial objectives and expectations. Discuss any deviations and their reasons. Provide evidence to support your evaluation, such as before-and-after data or testimonials.

5. Providing Insights and Lessons Learned

Reflect on the insights gained from the case study. Discuss what worked well and what didn’t. Highlight lessons that can be applied to similar situations. Provide actionable recommendations for future projects. This section should offer valuable takeaways for the readers, helping them understand how to create a case study that is insightful and practical.

Mastering how to write case studies involves understanding each part of the analysis. Use case study examples to see how these elements are applied. Case study templates can help you structure your work. Knowing how to make a case study analysis will make your findings clear and actionable.

Case Study Examples and Templates

1. Showcasing Successful Case Studies

Georgia tech athletics increase season ticket sales by 80%.

Georgia Tech Athletics aimed to enhance their season ticket sales and engagement with fans. Their initial strategy involved multiple outbound phone calls without targeting. They partnered with Salesloft to improve their sales process with a more structured inbound approach. This allowed sales reps to target communications effectively. As a result, Georgia Tech saw an 80% increase in season ticket sales, with improved employee engagement and fan relationships​.

WeightWatchers Revamps Enterprise Sales Process with HubSpot

WeightWatchers sought to improve their sales efficiency. Their previous system lacked automation, requiring extensive manual effort. By adopting HubSpot’s CRM, WeightWatchers streamlined their sales process. The automation capabilities of HubSpot allowed them to manage customer interactions more effectively. This transition significantly enhanced their operational efficiency and sales performance​.

2. Breakdown of What Makes These Examples Effective

These case study examples are effective due to their clear structure and compelling storytelling. They:

• Identify the problem: Each case study begins by outlining the challenges faced by the client.
• Detail the solution: They explain the specific solutions implemented to address these challenges.
• Showcase the results: Quantifiable results and improvements are highlighted, demonstrating the effectiveness of the solutions.
• Use visuals and quotes: Incorporating images, charts, and client testimonials enhances engagement and credibility.

3. Providing Case Study Templates

To assist in creating your own case studies, here are some recommended case study templates:

1. General Case Study Template

• Suitable for various industries and applications.
• Includes sections for background, problem, solution, and results.
• Helps provide a structured narrative for any case study.

2. Data-Driven Case Study Template

• Focuses on presenting metrics and data.
• Ideal for showcasing quantitative achievements.
• Structured to highlight significant performance improvements and achievements.

3. Product-Specific Case Study Template

• Emphasizes customer experiences and satisfaction with a specific product.
• Highlights benefits and features of the product rather than the process.

4. Tips for Customizing Templates to Fit Your Needs

When using case study templates, tailor them to match the specific context of your study. Consider the following tips:

• Adapt the language and tone: Ensure it aligns with your brand voice and audience.
• Include relevant visuals: Add charts, graphs, and images to support your narrative.
• Personalize the content: Use specific details about the subject to make the case study unique and relatable.

Utilizing these examples and templates will guide you in how to write case studies effectively. They provide a clear framework for how to create a case study that is engaging and informative. Learning how to make a case study becomes more manageable with these resources and examples​.

Tips for Creating Compelling Case Studies

1. Using Storytelling Techniques to Engage Readers

Incorporate storytelling techniques to make your case study engaging. A compelling narrative holds the reader’s attention.

2. Including Quotes and Testimonials from Participants

Add quotes and testimonials to add credibility. Participant feedback enhances the authenticity of your study.

3. Visual Aids: Charts, Graphs, and Images to Support Your Case

Use charts, graphs, and images to illustrate key points. Visual aids help in better understanding and retention.

4. Ensuring Clarity and Conciseness in Writing

Write clearly and concisely to maintain reader interest. Avoid jargon and ensure your writing is easy to follow.

5. Highlighting the Impact and Benefits

Emphasize the positive outcomes and benefits. Show how the subject has improved or achieved success.

Understanding how to write case studies involves using effective storytelling and visuals. Case study examples show how to engage readers, and case study templates help organize your content. Learning how to make a case study ensures that it is clear and impactful.

Benefits of Using Case Studies

1. Establishing Authority and Credibility

How to write case studies can effectively establish your authority. Showcasing success stories builds credibility in your field.

2. Demonstrating Practical Applications of Your Product or Service

Case study examples demonstrate how your product or service solves real-world problems. This practical evidence is convincing for potential clients.

3. Enhancing Marketing and Sales Efforts

Use case studies to support your marketing and sales strategies. They highlight your successes and attract new customers.

4. Providing Valuable Insights for Future Projects

Case studies offer insights that can guide future projects. Learning how to create a case study helps in applying these lessons effectively.

5. Engaging and Educating Your Audience

Case studies are engaging and educational. They provide detailed examples and valuable lessons. Using case study templates can make this process easier and more effective. Understanding how to make a case study ensures you can communicate these benefits clearly.

Writing effective case studies involves thorough research, clear structure, and engaging content. By following these steps, you’ll learn how to write case studies that showcase your success stories and problem-solving skills. Use the case study examples and case study templates provided to get started. Well-crafted case studies are valuable tools for marketing, research, and education. Start learning how to make a case study today and share your success stories with the world.

What is the purpose of a case study?

A case study provides detailed insights into a subject, illustrating successes and solutions. It helps in understanding complex issues.

How do I choose a subject for my case study?

Select a subject that aligns with your objectives and offers valuable insights. Ensure it has a clear narrative.

What are the key components of a case study analysis?

A case study analysis includes data collection, identifying key issues, discussing solutions, evaluating outcomes, and providing insights.

Where can I find case study templates?

You can find downloadable case study templates online. They simplify the process of creating a case study.

How can case studies benefit my business?

Case studies establish credibility, demonstrate practical applications, enhance marketing efforts, and provide insights for future projects. Learning how to create a case study can significantly benefit your business.

I am currently pursuing my Masters in Communication and Journalism from University of Mumbai. I am the author of four self published books. I am interested inv writing for films and TV. I run a blog where I write about film reviews.

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• Learn How to Write a Case Study: 8 Steps for Writing a Case Study

How to Write a Case Study: 8 Steps for Writing a Case Study

What is a case study?

Case studies contain accounts from your customers that showcase how your products or services solved their problems. These studies are like stories — you have a protagonist (the client), a problem, and a solution. Your case study analysis (or story) can vary in length.

As you create your case study, you should structure it, so your audience can see themselves as the customer. You want them to get in the client’s shoes. You must tell a compelling story that gets your audience invested in your case study.

Think of a case study as an in-depth review of your business. You use a client’s experience to show why your business is the best fit for someone’s needs.

Why should I create a case study?

As you learn more about case studies, you may wonder why they’re so valuable.

Let’s look at three reasons case studies matter to your company:

1. Case studies are effective

The biggest reason to use case studies is they’re effective. When people read case studies, they understand your business better. It effectively works to build your audience’s perception of your company.

When you create case studies, you help people understand your business better. From understanding what you do to how you operate, you provide your audience with valuable insight.

Considering  66% of business-to-business (B2B) marketers  find case studies to be effective, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to engage and delight your audience with them.

2. Case studies provide social proof

If someone hasn’t worked with your business or purchased your products, they need validation that you’re the right choice. They turn to information, like reviews and case studies, to see how others felt about working with your company.

With case studies, you provide social proof of the excellent work you do.

You share an authentic experience from someone who worked with your company. People see firsthand what it was like to work with you or to use your products. It makes them feel confident in contacting or choosing your business.

3. Case studies build trust

Case studies build trust with your audience.

When prospective leads see others validating the work you do or endorsing your products, it increases their confidence in your business. Your audience will see others having a positive experience and trust that you’ll provide them with the same experience.

When you build trust with your audience, they’re more likely to choose your company.

Table of Contents

• What is a Case Study?
• Why Should I Create a Case Study?
• 1. Case Studies Are Effective
• 2. Case Studies Provide Social Proof
• 3. Case Studies Build Trust

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today, how to write a case study.

Are you ready to start creating your case study?

Check out these eight steps on how to write a business case study!

1. Determine your case study’s purpose

Before you dive into the nitty-gritty of creating a case study, determine your case study’s purpose. Don’t create a study without one. If there’s no direction with your case study, you’ll leave your audience feeling confused as to why you composed this case study in the first place.

Be realistic about the purpose of your case study. Your case study isn’t going to perform as well as an informative blog post on an industry topic. It’s a piece of content that appeals to people close to converting.

Your case study may not garner as much engagement, but that’s okay!

If you have a real purpose for your case study, you won’t feel disappointed with the results. You can set simple objectives, like generating leads, to help you create real results with your case study.

2. Choose the right clients to use in your case study analysis

If you want to know how to write a case study successfully, start by choosing the right clients to showcase in your case study. You must find the right candidate to appeal to your audience. Focus on finding a client enthusiastic about your products or services.

You want the client to show how much they love your products or services. Without some enthusiasm or passion from your customer, you won’t know how to write a business case study that engages your audience and gets them to keep reading.

When choosing a client for your case study analysis, make sure they meet the following requirements:

• Enthusiastic about your products or service
• Understands your products or operation of your services well enough to discuss them
• Gives permission to share data, like revenue increases, with readers
• Got results that significantly and positively impacted their company

Additionally, focus on well-known clients, if possible. While this isn’t a requirement, it’s helpful if you’re trying to build engagement and increase trust. If someone sees a brand they know, they’re more likely to read the case study.

Important note:  Before creating a case study analysis,  always  get permission from your client first! You’re going to share their results and their story, so you must ensure your client is comfortable with you disclosing that information.

3. Choose the right medium to present your case study

When you create your case study, you must choose the right medium for showcasing your information. The way you share the information can influence how your audience engages with your content.

There are three case study formats:

• Written: These case studies are the most widely used option when presenting a client’s story. They typically come in the format of an eBook, where users can download the information into a PDF to read more.
• Video:  As video continues to grow in popularity, video case studies are becoming increasingly popular. You can shoot an interview with a client to capture their experience with your business.
• Infographic:  This case study format is great if you’re looking to present a lot of data. Infographics help readers digest information easier, so they can take away the most important points from your case study.

Before writing your case study, choose a format that works best for you and your client. For each case study, you can use a different format. It’s up to you to decide how you want to present the information from your clients to your audience!

4. Ask the right questions

As you’re gearing up to interview your client, make sure you’re asking the right questions.

You want to use questions that allow you to construct a quality narrative.

Don’t ask yes or no questions. Yes or no questions don’t require explanation or expansion, which will leave you struggling for information. Stick to open-ended questions that encourage your clients to talk more.

Here are some example questions you can ask when interviewing for a case study analysis:

• What challenges did you face before finding our products/services?
• What were your goals for your company, and how did we help you achieve those goals?
• What made our company stand out from the competition?
• How has your business benefitted from using our products/services?

These questions provide information that you can use in the case study. It will also help you get direct quotes from your clients.

By asking the right questions, you’ll create a more informative and engaging case study.

5. Let your clients tell the story

To know how to create a case study that engages your audience, you must know how to present your client’s story. The biggest mistake companies make is morphing the client’s story to be about their company, rather than the client’s experience.

Future leads don’t want to hear a sales pitch about how great your company is and how you’ll work great for them. They want to see someone else’s experience and understand how they perceive your business, products, or services.

Your audience wants to see authentic experiences that reflect your company and the work you do. If you want to know how to write a business case study that works, start by letting your clients tell their story.

Give your clients a voice when you compose your case study. You want the information to come directly from them. Include direct quotes and integrate them into your text to increase validation and credibility for your business.

When you use direct quotes, don’t repeat the same information in the text after it.

It’s best to let the quote speak for itself.

For example, let’s say a client says: “Company A’s software helped my team increase their efficiency, which allowed us to spend more time getting to know our customers and what they needed from us.”

Right after inserting that quote, you wouldn’t want to say: “As you can see, Company A was able to increase their efficiency through using our software, which helped them spend more time with their clients.”

That would be a repeat of what the client said. Instead, let the quotes speak for themselves. They’ll have a larger impact if you leave them as they are without overexplaining what the quotes mean.

By letting your clients tell the story, you’ll see more success with your case studies.

6. Make sure your case study works for everyone

If you want to know how to write a case study successfully, start by creating a case study that works for everyone.

You’re going to have prospects interested in your business for different reasons. You must compose your case study in a way that, even if it isn’t relevant to their situation, they can get something out of it.

Create compelling angles for your case studies, but don’t exclude parts of your audience in the process.

Essentially, make your case studies universal to people who read them. Even if they wouldn’t use your company for the same reasons, they can see how your company would help them with their specific problems.

Let’s say you offer software that allows companies to organize and prioritize team tasks.

You create a case study analysis that looks at how a wedding planning company used your tool to help clients stay organized on their wedding day and prevent fewer things from going wrong on the wedding day.

While using the organization tool for wedding planning doesn’t apply to everyone who visits your site, they can still see the value in it. They understand that your software helps people miss fewer tasks and manage big projects, which benefits their company.

If you want to know how to write a business case study, make it easy for everyone to see the value of hiring your company or purchasing your products or services.

7. Show your audience rather than tell

As you’re composing your case study, make sure you’re showing your audience success rather than telling them. A lot of companies make the mistake of droning on about them making clients successful.

Your audience doesn’t want to hear it — they want to see it.

If you want to know how to write a case study that makes an impact on your audience, use data and facts. Show your audience how much money your clients saved or how many new customers they earned.

When you show your audience the results, it will resonate with them more and help them see the potential of working with your company.

8. Promote your case study

The last step in how to write a case study is simple — promote your case study. People won’t always find your case study on their own, so you must share and promote it on relevant platforms.

With any case study you create, you can link to it within the content on your site.

Whether it’s a pricing page or blog post, if it’s relevant, you can link to it and drive people to your case study.

Additionally, you can share your case studies through social media. Whether it’s a video or a link to your case study, you can help your social media followers see what it’s like to work with your company.

If you want to see success with your case study, you must publish it where your audience will find it. It will help you garner more engagement and get more people interested in working with your business.

• How to Write a Case Study
• 1. Determine Your Case Study’s Purpose
• 2. Choose the Right Clients to Use in Your Case Study Analysis
• 3. Choose the Right Medium to Present Your Case Study
• 4. Ask the Right Questions
• 5. Let Your Clients Tell the Story
• 6. Make Sure Your Case Study Works for Everyone
• 7. Show Your Audience Rather Than Tell
• 8. Promote Your Case Study

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4 tips for creating a successful case study.

Now that you know how to create a case study, it’s time to start writing it!

As you compose your study, keep these four tips for success in mind:

1. Tell the story from start to finish

A big part of writing a case study is learning how to write a business case study that tells a story. You want to tell a story that highlights your customer’s journey from start to finish.

When writing a case study, begin with the basics. Establish who the client is and what they do. You’ll also want to highlight their goals and what they aim to achieve with their products or services.

Next, talk about their problem. Discuss how the client ended up on a journey to look for your business. You’ll want to ask how they found your company.

Once you explain their problems, move into how they found you and how you helped solve their problem. This part is a great place to pull direct quotes from your client that highlight how you helped their business.

Finally, wrap up by discussing where that client and their business is now and how they’ve improved.

It’s essential to be thorough and not skip on the details. With all your case studies, you’ll want to tell your client’s story from start to finish to help your audience visualize themselves in those clients’ shoes.

2. Make information easy to read and understand

If you want to know how to write a case study successfully, focus on creating a case study that’s easy for your audience to understand. Your case study should be easy for your readers to read, skim, or watch.

For written case studies, focus on breaking information into smaller paragraphs.

Your paragraphs should be no more than three sentences. If you have paragraphs with six or seven sentences, you’re going to overwhelm your audience and deter them from reading your case study.

With video case studies, speak clearly and ensure that, if it’s an interview, your client speaks clearly as well. You can also  add your subtitles  and closed captions to ensure that people can follow the conversation if they can’t keep up with what people say in the video.

If you’re using an infographic, make sure it flows in the order of how you want people to see the information. You can use objects, like arrows, to guide people. Additionally, you’ll want to choose colors that make your infographic easy to look at and make text difficult to read.

When you create your business case study, focus on making it easy for your audience to digest. It will help your case study see more success.

3. Try different formats to see what engages your audience

A common misconception about case studies is that they must be written. While many people tend to write their case studies, you aren’t limited to that format. Videos and infographics are both great options for presenting case studies.

If you want to know how to write a successful case study, try different formats. Some formats will work better for your audience than others. Additionally, some case studies will fit better with certain formats than others.

Let’s go back to the example of being a company that sells software for organizing team tasks.

Your wedding planner client happily agrees to do a case study and share their experience.

The wedding planner is enthusiastic and loves your product. With someone who has a personality like that, it may be best to use video for your case study. That way, you can capture her enthusiasm and excitement.

Additionally, weddings are visual events. You can use clips of people setting up for a wedding to help capture the essence of the client’s work.

Remember, you don’t need to stay in one format! Choose your format based on your client, their business, and the type of content your audience engages with the most.

4. Prepare questions before your interview

Questions are a critical component in creating a case study. You want to ensure that you’re asking the right questions to allow clients to elaborate and provide you with enough information about your project.

If you want to build a solid case study structure, prepare questions before your interview. You don’t want to go into a case study interview without knowing what you want to ask. It will make you appear unprepared and won’t help you get valuable information.

Before interviewing your client, prepare at least four to five questions and one follow-up question for each.

Let’s use the wedding planner client as an example.

Here is a sample of the questions and follow-up questions to ask the client:

• What does your business do? What are some of the challenges of running your business?
• What problems led you to find a software like ours? How did those problems impact your company’s ability to operate?
• How did you find our business? How did we stand out from the competition?
• How did our software help solve your problem? What improvements did you notice with your team and business?

As you can see, these questions are thorough and allow the client to expand on their answers. The follow-up questions let you get more useful information, too, so you have plenty to work with for your case study.

By writing questions ahead of time, you’ll help create a case study structure that has tons of information for your audience and helps guide them through the client’s journey.

Start publishing compelling case studies today

If you don’t have the time to create compelling case studies, WebFX is here to help. We have a team of over 500 experts that will help you compose case studies that engage your audience and get them interested in your business. From video marketing  to  copywriting  to  infographic design services , we have everything you need to compose your perfect case study.

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How to Write a Case Study in 7 Easy Steps (AI Included)

Table of contents

Meredith Sell

One of the most valuable weapons in a content marketer’s arsenal is the case study. 

While a blog draws customers to your site and web pages explain your products or services, a case study shows your products or services in action. It makes their impact tangible and relatable, and proves the claims made by your other content. 

What’s most important to understand here? Your case studies are for people who are close to making a purchase decision. They might have buying power, they might have influence over those who do. But they are far enough in the scouting process to be weighing different options against each other and seeing how others fared with this or that solution.

Write more in less time with Wortune > Write more in less time with Wortune >

Case studies are helpful because they flesh out your solution for your prospective customers. They show how it worked to solve another customer’s problem. Case studies serve as evidence for the promises you make all over your website.

Simply put, a case study’s purpose is to demonstrate your solution’s practical impact on real customers for prospective customers .

This is not a journal entry for a company achievements scrapbook. This is an outward-facing marketing and sales tool that speaks directly to your prospects in direct, practical terms, showing how another customer in a similar situation found your solution to be exactly what they needed.

The Basic Elements of B2B and B2C Case Studies

Case studies can come in all shapes and sizes—longform reports, condensed one-pagers, blurb-filled infographics, or even videos—but they all involve the same basic elements.

Boiled down, a case study can be described in two words: problem, solution. How you flesh out the problem and solution will depend on your strategy, your audience, and the particular story you’re telling.

Here’s what you’ll want to include:

1. A Descriptive Headline

A quick glance at your case study’s headline should give your audience a clear idea of the takeaway—and whether or not it relates to their situation. This may be the last part of your case study that you write, but it’s the first thing your audience sees and may be the only part that they actually read, so it’s worth spending extra time crafting your headline.

What makes a good case study headline? Specificity.

The headline should sum up your case study’s core takeaway. This could be the specific outcomes your solution led to, the particular action your customer took with your solution, or the unique problem that was solved. Maybe it’s all three. Make sure you mention your customer — either by name or with a concise description of who or what they are.

A simple subject-verb statement starring your customer could suffice:

Elderly residents keep sidewalks clear amid record-breaking blizzard with SnowForce.

Award-winning interior designer saves nonprofit $500K on office redesign.

Channel your inner newscaster as you draft headlines. What’s the most direct, concise way to describe this case?

2. TLDR Section

Too long, didn’t read. You can see those four words as the bane of your existence — or as an opportunity to flex your writing muscles.

For case studies, a TLDR section enables people to grasp the main points without reading every word — and it may entice some to read further.

The concept is simple: In one to three sentences, summarize the main points of the case study. You’ll want to include the problem, the solution, and the outcomes (i.e., beginning, middle, and end). 

Housebound adults may face fines if they don’t shovel their sidewalks within the city’s required timeframe, but these elderly adults found the timely help they needed through SnowForce, a snow removal program.

3. Customer Problem

Depending on the length of your case study and the complexity of your customer’s problem, this section could be anywhere from a paragraph to several pages long. It describes the problem your customer was dealing with when they sought out your solution. 

Along with the what of the problem, you’ll also want to make clear:

• Why this problem was important and difficult to solve
• How it impacted the customer and/or their business functions

4. Previous Failed Solutions (If Applicable)

Before they came to you, did your customer try multiple solutions, all of which failed? Your case study should mention that. 

Your business can decide whether or not to name the failed solutions, but showing that your solution worked where others failed will help your solution stand out. Be sure to get specific on what those other solutions lacked, whether quality customer service, software integrations, understanding of the customer’s industry, or something else relevant to your target audience.

You can write this as its own section or weave it into the “problem” section.

5. Customer Concerns and Limitations in Addressing Their Problem

Did your customer have a tight budget or privacy concerns or a brief time window to work within? These sorts of concerns and limitations are relevant to your target audience, who may have similar restrictions. You can put these details in their own section (if there’s a lot to cover) or make them part of the “problem” or “solution” sections.

6. Company Solution

How did your company solve the customer’s problem, while respecting their concerns and limitations? What steps did you take with the customer to solve their problem? How did this compare to the previous solutions they tried? Did you exceed their expectations? Finish well within their timeframe?

The solution section should answer these questions, leading with the most significant and compelling information. 

Be as specific as possible about how you solved their problem — but keep the customer the main character. One trick for doing this? Instead of adopting a first person narrator that refers to your company as “we”, use third person perspective (like a newspaper reporter) and make your customer the acting subject of as many sentences as possible.

What were the outcomes of your company’s solution? Are there any statistics or measurable benefits you can detail here? 

The results section is also a great place to include customer quotes describing their happiness with your solution, how effective your solution was, and what they can now do because their problem has been solved. 

Just make sure to favor quotes with more concrete information. A few breathless “SnowForce is a godsend”-type quotes are fine, but quotes describing tangible outcomes carry more weight.

8. Conclusion

Sometimes, the results section is enough, but longer case studies are served well by a conclusion that:

• Sums up major takeaways
• Integrates a final customer quote
• Includes a relevant call to action (CTA), if applicable

If you’re writing a one-pager, though, skip the conclusion. The TLDR section covers this and the results section will end your case study in a strong spot. You can always add a quick CTA.

💫 Just like you can use Wordtune's Summarizer tool to pull out key points for the TLDR section, you can also use it to identify major takeaways to cover in the conclusion.

7 Tips for Writing Effective Case Studies

1. choose customer case studies based on your target audience..

Your content marketing department has limited resources — maybe you’re the only resource! So don’t waste your time writing a case study about every happy customer your company has helped. Instead, decide who to write about by focusing on your marketing and sales goals. 

Is there a certain corner of the market, a certain “persona” or audience, that your marketing or sales teams are targeting?

If so, what is that audience’s key pain point? Has your company addressed that same issue for another customer already? Were they pleased with the results?

If so, that’s the customer you should write a case study about.

2. Treat your case study like a story.

The main character is your past customer. The audience is your prospective customer. The plot is your past customer’s journey from problem to solution. Your business and solution are mere supporting characters . 

Use your storytelling skills to bring the case study to life and entice your target audience. Craft a killer headline and an attention-grabbing hook . Focus on the most compelling details. Show and tell. Answer the why as well as the who , what , when , where , and how . 

Even if your case study is only five paragraphs long, your reader should reach the end and feel like they went on a journey.

3. Be as specific as possible.

A vague sentence helps no one. Your prospects have specific problems that need specific solutions. They’ve already waded through too many company websites that make bold, vague claims but never really explain what they do or how they do it. One reason case studies are useful is because they’re not vague — so prioritize specificity.

This means you’ll need to gather specific details in the research stage, ask specific questions when you’re interviewing your customer. Do the hard work up front and the writing process will be much smoother.

4. Focus on your customer’s (and prospective customer’s) perspectives.

The customer is the hero , not you, so make sure the case study keeps the spotlight on them. Your solution is just a way to help them achieve their ultimate goals. When you revise your case study, pay attention to who is doing most of the action—and make sure it’s your customer as much as possible.

5. Stick to the point.

This is typical writing advice, but: only take as much space as you need to tell the story. If it helps, write long and edit down ( Wordtune comes in handy for that editing process!). Don’t waste readers’ time.

6. Break your case study up into scannable sections.

These sections will generally correspond to the basic elements we described earlier, but instead of using generic “problem”, “solution”, and “results” headings, write descriptive headings that are specific to the case study. Match them to the style of your headline — or play around with themes and puns — but make sure they’re understandable at a glance.

💫 Wordtune can help you write headings by summarizing your sections refining them! 

7. Make the takeaway crystal clear.

The takeaway is mentioned in the headline, TLDR, and conclusion — and it should be clear in each of those places. If you’re muddy on what the takeaway is, focus on the problem and solution sections. Work on summing up the takeaway in a simple, declarative sentence, and then riff on that sentence in those three places.

‍ A case study is a great tool for showing your prospective customers that your solution works — and it’s right for them. Take the time to craft a vivid, well-structured case study and your sales teams will thank you. Your solution won’t be vague and hypothetical to customers anymore.

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How to Write a Case Study | Examples & Methods

What is a case study?

A case study is a research approach that provides an in-depth examination of a particular phenomenon, event, organization, or individual. It involves analyzing and interpreting data to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject under investigation. 

Case studies can be used in various disciplines, including business, social sciences, medicine ( clinical case report ), engineering, and education. The aim of a case study is to provide an in-depth exploration of a specific subject, often with the goal of generating new insights into the phenomena being studied.

When to write a case study

Case studies are often written to present the findings of an empirical investigation or to illustrate a particular point or theory. They are useful when researchers want to gain an in-depth understanding of a specific phenomenon or when they are interested in exploring new areas of inquiry. 

Case studies are also useful when the subject of the research is rare or when the research question is complex and requires an in-depth examination. A case study can be a good fit for a thesis or dissertation as well.

Case study examples

Below are some examples of case studies with their research questions:

These examples demonstrate the diversity of research questions and case studies that can be explored. From studying small businesses in Ghana to the ethical issues in supply chains, case studies can be used to explore a wide range of phenomena.

Outlying cases vs. representative cases

An outlying case stud y refers to a case that is unusual or deviates significantly from the norm. An example of an outlying case study could be a small, family-run bed and breakfast that was able to survive and even thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic, while other larger hotels struggled to stay afloat.

On the other hand, a representative case study refers to a case that is typical of the phenomenon being studied. An example of a representative case study could be a hotel chain that operates in multiple locations that faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as reduced demand for hotel rooms, increased safety and health protocols, and supply chain disruptions. The hotel chain case could be representative of the broader hospitality industry during the pandemic, and thus provides an insight into the typical challenges that businesses in the industry faced.

Steps for Writing a Case Study

As with any academic paper, writing a case study requires careful preparation and research before a single word of the document is ever written. Follow these basic steps to ensure that you don’t miss any crucial details when composing your case study.

Step 1: Select a case to analyze

After you have developed your statement of the problem and research question , the first step in writing a case study is to select a case that is representative of the phenomenon being investigated or that provides an outlier. For example, if a researcher wants to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry, they could select a representative case, such as a hotel chain that operates in multiple locations, or an outlying case, such as a small bed and breakfast that was able to pivot their business model to survive during the pandemic. Selecting the appropriate case is critical in ensuring the research question is adequately explored.

Step 2: Create a theoretical framework

Theoretical frameworks are used to guide the analysis and interpretation of data in a case study. The framework should provide a clear explanation of the key concepts, variables, and relationships that are relevant to the research question. The theoretical framework can be drawn from existing literature, or the researcher can develop their own framework based on the data collected. The theoretical framework should be developed early in the research process to guide the data collection and analysis.

To give your case analysis a strong theoretical grounding, be sure to include a literature review of references and sources relating to your topic and develop a clear theoretical framework. Your case study does not simply stand on its own but interacts with other studies related to your topic. Your case study can do one of the following: 

• Demonstrate a theory by showing how it explains the case being investigated
• Broaden a theory by identifying additional concepts and ideas that can be incorporated to strengthen it
• Confront a theory via an outlier case that does not conform to established conclusions or assumptions

Step 3: Collect data for your case study

Data collection can involve a variety of research methods , including interviews, surveys, observations, and document analyses, and it can include both primary and secondary sources . It is essential to ensure that the data collected is relevant to the research question and that it is collected in a systematic and ethical manner. Data collection methods should be chosen based on the research question and the availability of data. It is essential to plan data collection carefully to ensure that the data collected is of high quality

Step 4: Describe the case and analyze the details

The final step is to describe the case in detail and analyze the data collected. This involves identifying patterns and themes that emerge from the data and drawing conclusions that are relevant to the research question. It is essential to ensure that the analysis is supported by the data and that any limitations or alternative explanations are acknowledged.

The manner in which you report your findings depends on the type of research you are doing. Some case studies are structured like a standard academic paper, with separate sections or chapters for the methods section , results section , and discussion section , while others are structured more like a standalone literature review.

Regardless of the topic you choose to pursue, writing a case study requires a systematic and rigorous approach to data collection and analysis. By following the steps outlined above and using examples from existing literature, researchers can create a comprehensive and insightful case study that contributes to the understanding of a particular phenomenon.

Preparing Your Case Study for Publication

After completing the draft of your case study, be sure to revise and edit your work for any mistakes, including grammatical errors , punctuation errors , spelling mistakes, and awkward sentence structure . Ensure that your case study is well-structured and that your arguments are well-supported with language that follows the conventions of academic writing .  To ensure your work is polished for style and free of errors, get English editing services from Wordvice, including our paper editing services and manuscript editing services . Let our academic subject experts enhance the style and flow of your academic work so you can submit your case study with confidence.

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How to write a case study: The ultimate guide + examples and templates

It would be great if we could wave a magic wand to convince prospects to buy your product or service… But we can’t. So, a case study is your next best option. 

They’re a powerful sales and marketing tool for those prospects that are sitting on the fence. The problem is, they’re often dry, bland, and anything but magical. Never fear, though, as we’ve done some in-depth case study analysis.

We’re here to show you how to write a case study that will convince customers to choose you over your competitors. To create something so compelling they’ll have no doubt about your ability to deliver results.

Whether this is your first or 100th stab at it, we’ve got you covered with tips and best practices, real-world examples, and ideas for how to format a case study.  

In this post, we’ll look at:

• What a case study is and why you need one
• What makes a good case study

What should a case study include?

Essential prep for creating a case study.

• How to write a good case study in 5 steps
• 8 further case study best practices
• 7 real-life case study examples
• 8 case study templates to get you started

🔍 Are you looking for some case study examples? This compilation of case study data and leadership input from just a few RingCentral SMB customers will show you exactly how they have modernized their business communication processes.  

What is a case study and why should you create one?

A case study is basically a document— or it can be a video—that outlines how a customer used your product to overcome a problem. It’s real-world proof that your product works and gets results.

If your product or service has helped customers get great results, a case study will help you showcase those results to your future customers. They’re an excellent way to attract more business, and can mean the difference between a lost opportunity and a really good end-of-quarter.

Why are case studies important?

Case studies present a living, breathing witness to how effective your product or service is. In other words, they represent the ultimate in social proof. While customer reviews can also be valuable in influencing a potential client’s decision to buy from your company, they don’t pack the punch that case studies do.

That’s because with case studies, you can curate a story that highlights how well your product or service solved a real-life problem, and back it up with solid data. It demonstrates the value of your offering, while showing off your hard work in achieving success for a customer.

Case studies are relatable

Because you’re using real-world examples, rather than abstract concepts of what your product or service represents, case studies are fully relatable to potential new customers. 

They can put themselves in the shoes of the subject and empathize with their pain points—and realize that there’s a way to get similar results for themselves.

They’re unbiased

Whereas a landing page or product page can be purely self-promotional, a case study comes across as more authentic and unbiased. Instead of you saying how awesome your product is, the subject is saying it, and that counts for a lot. 

If they’ve switched to you from a competitor, that’s even better as it positions your product as superior without you having to spell it out.

They increase your authority

Case studies also demonstrate your ability to solve problems for your customers, positioning you as experts in your industry and building trust. The more case studies you have, the more established you’ll look. As in: “Wow, they have so many happy clients—they must be doing something right!”

They inspire readers

A narrative that’s engaging to read will get people interested in your company and inspire them to take a look around your website. And case studies give readers variety alongside other content formats such as product pages and blogs. They’re also an extra opportunity to add a CTA and nudge readers toward taking an action.

They have many uses

Case studies are versatile. You can publish and promote them in various places alongside your website—give a taster in social media posts with a link to the full article, add the video to your YouTube channel, share the stories in sales presentations. You can also extract elements like quotes from featured customers and repurpose them in other content, such as infographics.

In most cases it’s best to have case studies easily available on your website, not as downloadable gated content, but you do have this option for lead generation. You could write a blog post with a short version of the story, and offer the full version to readers in return for giving you their contact details.

They encourage loyalty

When you ask an existing customer to be the subject of a case study, it not only makes them feel special but it also reminds them of the benefits of your solution—which helps to reaffirm their loyalty. Plus, they’re getting extra brand exposure and a backlink to their own website, which boosts both their traffic and their authority online.  

In fact, there’s nothing to stop you reaching out to former customers who achieved good results with you before moving on (it happens). You never know, a reminder of you might even bring them back!

What makes a good case study? 

First, it’s helpful to highlight what makes a lot of case studies bad: most are painfully boring. What they have is research and detail, but what they lack is a cohesive, consumable story. 

They list numbers and contain data, but the reader isn’t sure what it all means or why it’s relevant to their problem. They end up existing as technical documents that do little to persuade or excite anyone. That’s unfortunate because they have the potential to be a powerful sales tool that can help you close big deals in the decision-making phase. 

So how do you write a case study that’s actually effective, then? Here are three characteristics every good case study should have:

It’s digestible

There’s no hard and fast rule on how long a case study should be. But it’s always a good idea to ask “how short can we make it?” 

A good case study avoids the unnecessary minutiae, knows what it’s trying to say, and communicates it quickly and without ambiguity. With a few exceptions, effective case studies are concise and clear. 

It’s thorough

On the other side of the length equation, being thorough is also important. Case study writing is all about making impressive claims about how a product helped someone achieve a certain result. However, it also needs to explain how it happened. 

Good case studies include key details that show how the customer got from A to B using the product—something you don’t get with customer reviews . Don’t make your reader work too hard to visualize the story. If you can use images and videos, use them.

It’s a story

Yes, case studies are sales tools. But the ones really worth reading tell a compelling story with a beginning, middle, and end. They beg to be read all the way through. Often, they present a problem that creates tension and demands a solution. And remember, in this story, the customer is the hero—not you.

Caveat: There is no one-size-fits-all approach for what to include in a case study. But, in general, there is a recognized case study format with certain sections you should feature to make it clearer and more impactful.  This format typically includes:

• Title: This should be concise and engaging. Naming your document “A Case Study of RingCentral” sounds dry. A headline like “Navigating Communications in a Remote World: A RingCentral Case Study” has more impact and explains what theme you’re exploring.
• Executive summary: Consider this like an abstract. Provide a brief overview of the case study, including the key purpose, approaches, findings, and solutions, without giving too much away.
• Introduction: Provide essential details about the customer in context.
• Challenges: Here’s where you highlight where your customer was before using your product or service and where they wanted to be. Present raw data where applicable and discuss any other background information that shows their struggles.
• Solution: Here’s where you get to show off. Explain how and why the customer chose your company, and how a specific product or service helped them achieve their objectives.
• Results: Time to get tangible. Dive into how the customer used your product, the results they saw, and long-lasting benefits. Incorporate any testimonials and statistics that showcase these results.
• Conclusion: Case studies are just as much about the future as the present. Use this closing section to highlight where your case study customer is going next thanks to your solution. Consider including a call-to-action here to encourage your prospect to take the next step.

How long should a case study be?

There isn’t a definitive answer to this question, as the length of a case study can vary depending on factors such as the size of the project you’re talking about. It also depends on the type of case study—for example, if it’s in the form of a video then a couple of minutes is enough. (We’ll explore the different types a little later on in this post.)

Balance is the key here. You’ll need to to include enough information to convey the story properly and hook the reader in, but not so much that they get overwhelmed or the message of the story gets lost amid the detail. The last thing you want them to think is “TL;DR”.

It’s about being concise, and not allowing yourself to get carried away with the story. Only include what needs to be included, so that readers can clearly understand the subject’s pain point, the reason your solution was a good fit, and the success it achieved.

Remember that not every part of the case study has to be in narrative form. You can pull out stats and display them as graphics, highlight direct quotes or other key information, or add a photo of the subject. If your case study is on the longer side, break up the text with subheadings, bullet points, and white space.

Before you start actually writing, there’s a bit of prep work you’ll need to do to make sure your case study is amazing.

1. Choose your customer

You may have many customers who’ve seen great results using your product (let’s hope!). But you can’t just pick a name out of a hat and showcase their results. So, what’s the best way of selecting a client for a case study?

Steer clear of customers who may not be the right fit for your audience or whose results may not be typical.

For example, don’t feature an enterprise company when most of your customers are small businesses. Or a business achieving a 90% customer retention rate when most of them see 70% on average (still impressive, though).

When considering which customer to use, start by creating a list of customers that meet these criteria:

They’ve seen good results with your product or service

The numbers are what really matter. So choose customers that have seen strong results using your product (like Conair did with RingCentral). But be careful about showcasing exceptionally good results if they’re not likely to be repeated by most.

They have a respected and recognizable brand

Strong brands give your product instant social proof. They prove that you’re established and trustworthy. That alone can make you a front-runner in the decision-making process. After all, if Big Brand X trusts you, so can a prospect.

They’re a typical customer

Good results don’t carry as much weight when they’re achieved by companies in other industries or verticals. Identify current customers that are similar to your target audience. A client who has faced similar challenges and pain points will evoke empathy and stir up interest in the mind of your prospective clients.

So, if you sell enterprise software, choose enterprise customers. If you’re a consultant in the healthcare industry, choose a customer that works in healthcare.

With your list in hand, you can start reaching out. Picking up the phone can be a lot more effective than sending an email. It’s more personal, lets you build rapport, and is harder to ignore. 

Try to get in touch with customers who use or are very familiar with your product or service—someone who can speak to results. Tell them you’re interested in writing a case study and you’d love to hear more about the results they’ve achieved. Be clear about what the process involves on their part—whether it’s a list of questions in an email, a phone call, or if it involves a camera and crew.  

If you’ve provided value, your customer is more likely to see you as a partner rather than a vendor and, hopefully, will be happy to participate. Remember, you’re also shining a spotlight on their own success. So it’s a win-win.  

That said, you may hear “no” a few times, too. Don’t get discouraged. Some customers will decline for different reasons, regardless of the results they’ve achieved with your product.

RingCentral: W2O

2. Begin your research

Start collecting information about your customer. This is easier if you work as a team. From sales to content marketing to customer service, everyone who’s been in touch with customers will have insight about their experience.

They can help you understand what your customers do and sell, and what challenges they’re facing. Identify the stakeholders you need to speak with—anyone in the company who uses your product—from the CEO to the marketing intern. Collect stats, even ones you don’t think are relevant—they may be later.

3. Ask the right questions

Smart questions get insightful answers. Here are some examples of great questions to start with: 

• “What were some of the bigger challenges you faced before using our product?”
• “How does our product help you reach your individual goals?”
• “Which key metrics have improved most since using our product/service?”
• “Which parts of your business have been impacted most, and how?”
• “How long did it take to roll out our product?”

But don’t stop there. Use these questions to segue into deeper, more targeted questions that underscore the real-world benefits of your product. Let the conversation flow naturally—this is the magic of interviews. You can’t always plan for what interesting topics come up next.

4. Identify your target audience

Beyond your customer’s industry, consider who the target audience of the case study is. Who will see it? What group of people does it need to influence?

While it’s often high-level executives who make large purchase decisions, employees at all levels can act as a champion for your product or brand. Your case study may have to persuade an IT worker that your product or service is going to make their job easier. Meanwhile, it may also need to convince the CFO that they’ll see a real return on investment.

5. Identify the top three things you want to highlight

During the initial research phase, you’ve likely uncovered a lot of interesting information about your customer and their experiences with your product. 

While it might be tempting to use it all, when you write a case study, you should quickly and clearly communicate the value of your product. Go through this information and identify the three most important business results you want to feature, like we did in the Barx Parx example shown below.

Stats and key performance indicators (KPIs) to consider using in your case study:

• Ramp up time : How long did it take to get started with your product? Did it improve any other facet of their workflow? 
• Sales results : How did the product impact your customer’s bottom line?
• Total return on investment (ROI) : How long did it take to earn more than they spent on your product?
• Productivity increases : Which teams saw improvements in process and workflow? And by how much?

6. Choose your format

So, what does a case study look like visually? It doesn’t have to exist only as a PDF attachment in a late-stage deal email (although there’s nothing wrong with that). Consider the format. Think about who’s going to read it (or watch it). 

Do you want to turn this into fancy interactive content? Does your prospect have the time and interest to dig into the details? Or do they just want the facts? Choose the format that you think best engages the audience that you’re selling to. 

Here are some options:

Report format

This long-form document has been the gold standard for B2B case studies for many years. It’s effective when the subject matter is complex and demands detail.

Here’s how Zendesk presented their case study with IDC as a report .

Remember, a CTO who’s evaluating large-scale business communications platforms for a multi-year deal is going to want more information than a marketing manager who’s evaluating a new social media ad platform.

Keeping things short and sweet is often the best way to get your message heard. By focusing on the key points, you can highlight the biggest wins at just a glance. 

Most report format case studies can be easily condensed into a one-page document. This is ideal for prospects (and salespeople) who are short on time and prefer something they can quickly scan.

Few things can tell a story the way that video can, and case studies are no exception. They give you an unmatched level of creative freedom and storytelling using music, lighting, pacing, and voice that can evoke emotions and persuade someone using more than just numbers and facts. 

And at just a couple of minutes long, they can do a lot of heavy lifting in not a lot of time.

Dropbox: Expedia

Infographic

If you’re wondering how to make a case study more memorable, it’s worth noting that people love infographics. They’re an excellent way to convey important data in a simple, eye-pleasing way.

If your case study requires you to use a lot of data to prove a point—or if visualizing data can make the results more clear—building an infographic case study can be a great investment.

How to write a case study in 5 steps

Congrats. You’ve done the research. You’ve made the calls. You’ve pored over all the details. Now, all you have to do is write. 

Here are five simple steps that’ll help you better understand how to create a case study that champions your customer and clearly showcases the real-world value of your products or services. 

1. Introduce the customer

Set the stage for your case study with an introduction. Briefly explain who your customer is with a bit of background information that can include their industry, product, company size, and location. 

You don’t have to dig into the nuts and bolts of their business, but you do want the reader to understand who they are and what they do. The more color you can provide here, the more impactful it’ll be when you show the awesome results this customer saw because they chose you.

2. State the problem

Every product or service is a possible solution to a problem. Explain the problem (or problems) that you helped your customer overcome. Describe the larger impact of the issue. Maybe it was customers leaving. Perhaps it was bad leads—or good leads that were never followed up on.

Use this as an opportunity to clearly show what was at stake, and make sure you leave the jargon out of it. Frame the problem in simple terms that any reader can understand. 

3. Introduce your product

This is where you begin solving the problem. Briefly introduce your proposed solution and what it does.

Start on a general level, then apply it to the challenge the customer was experiencing. Talk about which teams or individuals used your product and how they used it. Be sure to make the connection between the customer’s problem and your solution crystal clear.

4. Show results

The big reveal. What kind of results was your customer able to achieve using your product or service? Speak to how they solved the problem descriptively, but also with cold, hard numbers. 

Not everything can be measured in numbers (sometimes, peace of mind is a powerful benefit all on its own), but whenever you can, back up your story with the stats. At the very least, this will make it easy for a CFO—or a prospective customer who wants to buy—to justify buying your product.

For example: 

The customer saw a 33% increase in web traffic, a large influx of social media activity, and a 10% boost in revenue over the duration of the campaign.

5. Prove it

Don’t forget to show your math. How you get the results is just as important as the results themselves. What specific steps were taken to get those results? Not only will this help validate your claims, it makes it easier to envision how the reader may be able to achieve them, too.

8 Further case study best practices

That’s how to write a case study in broad strokes, but you might be wondering how to write a business case study that stands out from the crowd? Here are some top tips:

1. Avoid jargon 

As a subject matter expert in your line of work, it can be tempting to go into as much jargony detail as possible. This is normal as it’s often the language we use at work every day. 

Remember, though, that your customer probably doesn’t speak that language. When in doubt, try to put yourself in the shoes of someone who doesn’t live and breathe your product or industry.. 

2. Spend time on your title

It’s tempting to use the case study’s most interesting or impressive KPI as your title. But that also gives away the ending before the story begins, and skips details that are important for context in the process. Try writing a title that piques interest without being a spoiler.

3. Edit. Then edit again. 

Once you’ve got your first draft completed (and the jargon removed), edit the case study. When writing case studies, one proofread is never enough. A few best practices here:

• Look for and eliminate unnecessary adjectives—simple English is better.
• Speak in an active voice. 
• Look for details that get in the way of the story. 

And then do it all over again until you can’t edit it down anymore without losing the essence of the story.

4. Pay attention to the imagery

Well-designed charts, graphs, images, or infographics can do the heavy lifting of several pages of text in just seconds. 

They can also help break up large pieces of text, making the case study easier to read—and nicer to look at. After all, the end goal is to have these read all the way through.

Here’s an example of a graphic from a longer CPA Canada infographic (that includes a short case study embedded inside it): 

5. Pull quotes

Hard data and results are good. But a customer quote is a great piece of social proof and adds a human element to your case study. And that makes your results more believable. 

Here’s an example of what that looks like, from a RingCentral case study :

6. Make it scannable

Some people will take the time to read your case study front to back and absorb every detail. Some won’t give it more than a single glance. And sometimes, that person is the decision-maker. 

Make the most important results easy to spot, read, and retain at a glance. Write headings that are descriptive—if someone just scanned them, would they be able to get the gist of the story? Consider putting a summary at the very beginning of the study, or call out impressive results in a larger font size.

7. Record your interviews

Ditch the pen and paper. If you’re conducting one-on-one interviews over the phone, you can save yourself a lot of time and energy by recording the conversation (with your customer’s consent, of course). 

There are tools that can make this easier too—you might find one or two in your marketing stack. For example, you could use RingSense AI for automatic note taking, summarizing, and transcribing.

8. Don’t forget the call to action (CTA)

Your prospect is excited because your case study has done an excellent job of showing how your product or service can help drive results for customers. Now, how do they get in touch with you to learn more? 

Whether it’s a button that links to your website, an email address, or a phone number, make sure there’s an easy way of getting in touch with you in the case study.

7 Examples of great case studies from real-life companies

So, that’s the theory covered, but what do great case studies look like in practice? We’ve included a few elements from RingCentral customer stories as examples above, but let’s dig a little deeper into two more of our case studies:

RingCentral: How Ryder made significant savings with cloud communications

This case study is about Ryder Systems, a Fortune 500 transportation company who modernized their IT communications infrastructure with RingCentral.

We start off with a subheading that sums up the story, plus the key stats at a glance. There’s another stats panel farther down the page to help break up the wall of text. Pull quotes also achieve this, but that’s not the only reason why we like to use quotes.

When the quote comes directly from a senior manager at the company we’ve helped, they’re telling an important part of the story in their own words. In this case, there’s a reference to the amount of money Ryder has saved with RingCentral, and a mention of the platform’s all-in-one cloud capabilities.

The content introduces Ryder and makes it clear that they are a big name in transportation (the single largest truck supplier in the US) and a noteworthy firm in general, as evidenced by membership of the Fortune 500 and Forbes’ Most Admired Companies. 

If a big player like this is happy to trust RingCentral with their business, that says a lot about our credentials too.

We mentioned earlier that customers are attracted to testimonials from companies similar to themselves. But RingCentral caters to businesses of all sizes—so if SMBs are reading this case study, we think they’ll see our association with a large company as “social proof” and a sign of our trustworthiness across the board.

The story goes on to explore Ryder’s pain points and how RingCentral solved them, inspiring other companies with similar problems to take action (i.e. to replace legacy systems that are slow and expensive). For further encouragement, it details how Ryder were so happy with the initial success that they also went on to implement RingCentral’s contact center solution.

RingCentral: Helping Dispute Nation to change lives

Just to illustrate our point about RingCentral serving all sizes of business, here’s a case study for a much smaller company—consumer advocacy organization Dispute Nation, which has 10 employees.

Again, the story begins with stats and a pull quote from a company representative. In keeping with Dispute Nation’s values, it focuses less on the financial savings or efficiency brought by RingCentral tools but on how our solution helps this company to help others.

Drawing empathy from other startups and fast-growing small businesses, we mention how demand for the company’s services grew very quickly. This makes it obvious why they needed a unified communications system to reach all their clients by phone, SMS, and fax.

The case study highlights how digital fax in particular helps Dispute Nation to get client cases resolved sooner. Another pull quote mentions some of the other benefits of RingCentral, like automation and integrations with other tools. 

There are nods to mobility and flexibility, plus security and data privacy which will resonate with other highly-regulated industries.

The tale finishes strongly with the company founder’s assertion that “RingCentral is helping Dispute Nation improve more lives”. Readers who’ve been inspired to learn more can easily navigate from this page to explore products, resources, and get in touch.

RingCentral is far from the only company to have recognized the importance of this kind of content.

Here are some more real-life case studies from other businesses you might just recognize:

RingCentral iswe’re far from the only company to have recognized the importance of this kind of content.

Mailchimp: Make a connection in real life with postcards

What we like about it: The title doesn’t give everything away all at once, and the case study tells a story with a beginning, middle, and end. The sections are clearly titled and organized, and the results are easy to find. As a bonus: the video adds a believable human element.

LinkedIn: How Adobe achieves alignment and ABM success with LinkedIn

What we like about it: It’s detailed without being a novella. It understands and speaks to the enterprise customer. The key points are in bullet format and easy to read. The important wins are highlighted. And the video makes the content easy to engage with.

Hootsuite: How Meliá became one of the most influential hotel chains on social media

What we like about it: The title makes you want to read the whole customer story. They’ve embedded a well-produced video high on the page, so you can choose to watch it before you read on. The design and layout of the page makes the content and images easy to consume, and the results can’t be missed. Also, they weren’t shy about adding CTAs.

Slack: So yeah, we tried Slack

What we like about it: This case study follows the tried and true format of customer, problem, solution, and results. It uses humor and relatable characters throughout to support the story and keep your attention. And it’s only two minutes long so it gets the point across quickly.

Assetworks: South Carolina School Board Insurance Trust

What we like about it: This case study tackles the otherwise complex and technical topic, and simplifies it as an infographic using images to make the results clear. It’s concise and easy to follow because you can see the math without actually doing any math.

8 Case study templates to get you started

Starting from scratch can be time-consuming. To help you, we’ve drawn together a few templates:

The generic one

Generic doesn’t mean boring! Canva’s templates are great if you need something concise and simple that still looks professional . A free account will give you access to several well-designed templates, including this one :

The layout is provided for you, so it’s quick and easy to customize with your branding and content. Don’t be afraid to use this as a foundation, then add in visual elements like infographics and videos.

The data-driven one

If your key messages revolve around numbers, start with a template structure that lets you highlight these. HubSpot has a data-focused template where you can pack in graphs, charts, and other visuals to drive your message home:

The industry-specific one

Not every template suits every company. Visme offers different templates created for different industries, including real estate, financial services, and healthcare.

The problem-solution-impact one

This format takes a graphical rather than narrative approach, which helps readers to visualize the events and looks colorful and appealing on the page. The template is available as a free download from Smartsheet:

The idea of this is to present the story in a logical and sequential way. It starts with the challenge faced by the subject of the case study, looks at the solution your company provided, and shows what the outcome was.

Of course, you could choose to combine this with other elements like text content, stats, and quotes—making the “problem-solution-impact” graphic the main focus of the case study.

The product-specific one

You can choose to focus your case study on a particular product, highlighting key features and the  practical applications in the real world. 

It leans into the experience that the customer has had with the product—i.e., what it feels like to use it—and the specific benefits. This one is a good choice if the customer hasn’t been using the product for very long, and you haven’t yet gathered a lot of metrics.

HubSpot has a template for this purpose :

The in-depth report one

Using the style of an in-depth report can be useful when you’ve worked with the customer on a complex project and you need to include a lot of detail.  

This template —another free one from Smartsheet—includes elements like decision criteria, data analysis, and the implementation plan:

Just be careful with this one as you don’t want readers to be put off by a lot of text. Make sure the style is conversational and engaging, not dry and formal.

The employee story one

Okay, stick with us here—this one’s a little different. As well as asking customers to tell their stories, how about getting employees to share what it’s like to work for your company, or their experience of working on a particular project?

Employee stories or testimonials are often used for recruitment purposes, but they’re also a valuable form of marketing for potential customers. That’s because happy, engaged employees represent a company that cares about its people, which all helps you to build trust.

This example from Vanguard isn’t a template as such, but you can use it to inspire your own version. (It doesn’t have to be a video—you could still use a written narrative with direct quotes, photos, and stats on employee satisfaction.)

BONUS TEMPLATE: Form for customers participating in case studies

Earlier in this post, we briefly covered some of the questions you’ll need to ask your customers when putting together case studies. But it’s always helpful to have a visual guide, so we’re including this template from Vitally , which provides a framework for collaborating with customers and collecting the relevant data. 

You can adapt this to your own needs by adding further questions.

The final word on how to write a case study…

Sure, an ad or boosted social media post can make someone aware of your brand or that your product exists, and a landing page can tell them how your product can solve their problem. 

But there’s nothing quite as powerful as someone else singing your praises. 

And that’s exactly what a case study does. Spend the time to do it right and it has the potential to deliver huge ROI no matter how big or small your company is. And not just once—but over and over again.

Originally published Jun 15, 2024, updated Aug 15, 2024

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How to write a case study: step-by-step guide.

• By Matthew Jones

What is a Case Study?

Generally speaking, a case study involves the in-depth research of a subject over a specified period of time. Much like an analytical essay , a case study looks at a subject in order to validate the thesis. However, this definition is still pretty broad.

To better understand case studies, let’s say that a business wants to illustrate how one of its products can solve a specific problem for consumers. The business can simply tell people that the products works, but why should they believe them? Where is the evidence?

This is why a case study is extremely useful. The business can examine and record a situation in which a past customer had a problem and used the product to solve it. Then, the business can use this case study as evidence to promote their product in the future.

How to Write a Case Study: A Step-by-Step Guide

Every case study is unique to its subject matter. Case studies can cover a wide range of topics, and organizations can use different methods to research their subjects. That said, in order to write a clear, effective case study, you will need to follow a few simple steps.

Step 1: Identify the Problem and Solution

Most case studies are designed with the goal of promoting a specific solution to a specific problem. So, in order to write a case study, you will need to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is the problem?
• What is the solution?

The answers to these questions are extremely important, as they will form the basis of your entire case study. Once you have identified the problem and its solution, you can move on to more in-depth questions that will help you later on in the writing process:

• How does our product/service solve the problem?
• What are the key features of our product/service?
• How does our product/service differ from our competitors?

Step 2: Identify Your Subject

The term “subject” can mean many different things. In this case, we are not referring to the general topic of your case study, but rather the focus of your research. For example, let’s assume that you have already identified the following problem and solution:

• Problem : Businesses do not have in-house translators to translate documents into different languages.
• Solution : A service that provides expert linguists to quickly translate documents at a fraction of the cost of an in-house translator.

Based on this solution, we can assume that your organization specializes in translating documents for other businesses. As a result, you probably have a number of past clients for whom you have translated documents. So, how do you choose which client will be the subject of your case study?

This step will require you to research and analyze the experiences of your clients. You may find that you would like to write about more than one client, but this will require you to write more than one case study, as every case study should only have one subject.

To identify your subject, you can ask yourself the following questions:

• Which client(s) provided positive testimonials about their experience with your product/service?
• Which client(s) had a problem that most closely aligned with the problem you aim to solve?
• Do any of the clients continue to use your products/services? If so, for how long?
• Which client(s) have used your services recently?

Step 3: Research Your Subject

While Step 2 requires some research into your potential subjects, you will need to conduct more in-depth research once you have chosen the subject of your case study. If you have chosen a client that used your product/service more recently, this will likely be easier to do. You may remember specific details about the client’s needs, expectations, deadlines, etc.

In any case, you will likely need to contact the subject and request a testimonial of their experiences (as well as permission to publish a case study). While the specific information you need will depend on the nature of your product/service, you should generally ask the following questions of your client:

• How did you hear about our organization?
• What problem did you need our organization to solve?
• Had you previously tried to solve the problem on your own or with one of our competitors? If so, what happened?
• How would you describe our customer service?
• What positive impact did our service have on your business?
• How do you think we differ from our competitors?

In addition to the testimonial of your client, you will want to research other circumstances that could make this case study (or client) unique. Perhaps this was the first time the client had ever worked with your business to solve this problem, or maybe the client had an extremely tight deadline that your business was able to meet. Either way, look for details that will make your case study stand out and help market your product/service.

Finally, while you do not have to include statistics in your final draft, they do help give your case study a greater sense of legitimacy. For example, when you see an article with charts, graphs, or numerical statistics, you’ll probably think that it is well-researched and informative, right?

Needless to say, you shouldn’t include any facts or figures that would be in breach of your client’s privacy. However, with your client’s permission, you should consider using data related to your client’s budget, the final cost (especially if it is lower than your competitors), the timeline, and the steps that your organization took to solve the problem.

Step 4: Compile the Information and Write Your Case Study

Once you have identified the goal of your case study (including the problem and solution), chosen your subject, and researched the specific case, it’s time to put it all together! But you may still not know how to write a case study. Sure, you have completed all of the necessary research, but how do you give it structure?

Ultimately, every case study tells a story. Like any story, a case study needs to have a beginning, middle, and end. Naturally, you have freedom with how you choose to tell your story, but there are a few factors that you should consider to make your case study as effective as possible:

• Tone : Most case studies are professional in nature, and therefore have a tone that reflects the voice of the brand. You should always consider your brand’s voice when crafting a case study. That said, you don’t want your case study to be bland or uninteresting, so you need to write a story that you (and your target demographic) would be interested in reading.
• Structure : As previously stated, every story needs a beginning, middle, and end. Generally, you should start with an introduction of your client; talk about what they do and whom they serve. This is a great opportunity to really show off the best aspects of their business, because it is about their business as much as it is about yours. Then, discuss the problem they faced and how they tried to solve it before finding your organization (if applicable). Finally, talk about how your organization solved the problem, how it impacted your client going forward (increased profits, more conversions, etc), and how it improved your professional relationship with the client. While you the introduction is good for talking up your client, the end is where you can really show readers why your business is better than the competition!
• Length : The length of your case study will depend on a few factors, namely the complexity of the subject matter and details needed to effectively tell the story. That said, most marketing case studies are relatively short (500-2,000 words), as they are written to provide a concise example for potential clients in need of a solution to a specific problem.

Case Study Templates

Many times, you may know exactly what you want to write, but you don’t know how to format the information. Thankfully, there are a number of free case study templates available online. Keep in mind that you do not have to follow a specific structure, but the following case study templates can still serve as a good frame of reference:

• Demand Metric Templates – A basic case study template for a wide-variety of topics.
• Lightboard Templates – 4 templates for stat-heavy case studies.
• CV Partner Custom Templates – Multiple custom templates for brands, as well as preset case study templates for large organizations.

Case Study Examples

Finally, if you’d like some real-world examples to get your creative juices flowing, we’ve provided the following links to a number of high-quality case study examples:

• International Translating Company – HR Video Translations – A translation firm translates Human Resources videos at a fraction of the cost of their competitors.
• Microsoft – Global Steel Distribution – A steel company pioneers digitalization in an industry that requires modern solutions to internal and external communication issues.
• Wootric – In-Product NPS Surveys – In-product NPS surveys help an English teaching company track student feedback more efficiently.
• Dimensional Insight – New Balance Athletic Shoe – A data analysis tool helps a large shoe retailer submit and receive reports with greater speed and accuracy.
• UX Planet – Smart People Inc. – A new application based on data analysis helps English students have more fun on mobile devices.

We hope this guide was helpful! Learning how to write a case study may seem daunting. However, if you follow the steps above and look at some of the examples we’ve provided, you’ll be writing effective case studies in no time!

Matthew Jones

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Phone: +1 (510) 560-7571

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