To write a case study analysis, you describe a real or realistic situation briefly, analyze it with a relevant framework and recommend actions that follow from your analysis. Most of the marks sit in the analysis.
Case studies appear in business, nursing, law, education and the social sciences. This page gives a structure, a method for choosing a framework, steps, an example paragraph and a checklist.
The Three Moves of a Case Study
- Frame: set the scene and state the central problem in a few sentences.
- Analyze: apply a framework or theory to explain why the problem exists.
- Recommend: propose specific actions, each justified by a point in your analysis.
Types of Case Study Assignment
Before you start, work out which kind of case study your brief wants. The same case can be set for quite different tasks.
- Problem-solving case: diagnose what went wrong and recommend a fix. Common in business and management.
- Clinical or patient case: assess a patient, plan care and justify decisions with guidelines. Common in nursing and medicine.
- Legal problem question: identify the issues, state the law and apply it to the facts.
- Research case study: examine one organization, group or event in depth using collected data, often with a methods section.
If the brief is unclear, look at the questions it asks. "What should the manager do?" calls for recommendations; "Why did this happen?" calls mainly for analysis.
Case Study Structure
| Section | What it contains | Share of length |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Purpose of the report and the central problem | About 10 percent |
| Background | Only the case facts the reader needs | About 10 to 15 percent |
| Analysis | Framework applied to the facts, with evidence | About 45 to 50 percent |
| Options and recommendations | Alternatives weighed, chosen actions justified | About 20 percent |
| Conclusion | Key findings and next steps | About 5 to 10 percent |
Some briefs ask for an executive summary at the start or an implementation plan at the end. Follow the headings your brief gives; the analytical logic stays the same.
Choose a Framework
A framework turns a story into structured analysis and shows you can apply course concepts. Choose one your module has taught and that fits the problem.
| Field | Common frameworks | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Business | SWOT, PESTLE, Porter's Five Forces | Strategy, market position, external pressures |
| Nursing and health | Nursing process, clinical guidelines, a reflective model | Patient care decisions and practice issues |
| Management | Change models, leadership theories | Organizational problems and change |
| Law | Issue, rule, application, conclusion | Problem questions on legal facts |
| Education | Learning theories, inclusion frameworks | Classroom or policy cases |
How to Write a Case Study Step by Step
- Read the case twice. First for the story, then to mark facts, figures, people and problems.
- Identify the central problem. Separate symptoms (falling sales) from causes (a pricing mismatch).
- Select a framework and map the case facts onto it.
- Add evidence from course readings and scholarly sources to support each point.
- Generate two or three options and weigh their pros, cons and risks.
- Recommend the strongest option, with specific actions, owners and timescales where relevant.
- Write the introduction last, once you know your conclusion.
Example Analysis Paragraph
The café's falling revenue is a symptom of a positioning problem rather than poor service. A Porter's Five Forces analysis shows that the threat of substitutes is high: two chains opened within 200 meters in the past year, both offering cheaper coffee and loyalty schemes. Because the café competes mainly on price without a distinctive offer, customers have little reason to stay. The analysis therefore points away from cost-cutting, which would intensify a price war it cannot win, and towards differentiation through its locally roasted beans and event space.
The paragraph separates symptom from cause, applies a named framework to specific case facts and draws a conclusion that sets up the recommendation.
Writing Recommendations
Recommendations should follow directly from your analysis. Any recommendation that appears from nowhere loses marks.
- Make each one specific and actionable: what, who, when.
- Link each back to a point in your analysis.
- Acknowledge trade-offs, costs and risks.
- Prioritize: say which action matters most and why.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Retelling the case instead of analyzing it.
- No framework, so the analysis lacks structure.
- Confusing symptoms with causes.
- Recommendations not grounded in the evidence.
- Ignoring alternative explanations or options.
- Inventing facts that are not in the case.
Case Study Checklist
- The central problem is stated clearly early on.
- Background includes only the facts the reader needs.
- A named framework is applied to specific case facts.
- Points are supported with course readings or scholarly sources.
- Options are compared before a recommendation is made.
- Every recommendation links back to the analysis.
- Headings and citations follow your brief and style guide.
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Use it as a reference for structure and reasoning, then write your own. Revisions within the scope of your original request are free.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the brief, from a couple of pages to a full report. Keep description short and give most of the words to analysis.
Almost always. A framework such as SWOT, a theory or clinical guidelines turns description into structured analysis.
Usually not, unless the brief asks for reflection. Most case study reports use a formal, third-person style.
Yes. Case studies are usually written as reports with headings for each section. Use the ones your brief specifies.
Usually yes. Course readings and scholarly sources support your analysis and show you can link theory to practice.
Describe the case facts in the past tense and your analysis and recommendations in the present or future tense.
No. Work with the facts given. If information is missing, state your assumption clearly.