Case Study Assignment Format Explained Step-by-Step

Your title page is the cover of your case study. Markers notice when it's wrong — messy or incomplete title pages signal carelessness before they've read a word. It should include:

• The full title of your case study assignment
• Your full name and student ID number
• Course name, unit code, and tutorial group (if applicable)
• Lecturer or tutor name
• University name and submission date
• Word count (excluding references and appendices)

The executive summary (common in business and management) or abstract (common in health, science, and humanities) gives your reader a complete picture of your case study in under 200 words. Write it last, even though it appears first. It must cover:

• What the case is about and what organisation/situation is analysed
• The central problem or challenge identified
• The main theoretical framework(s) applied
• The key recommendation(s) made

Your introduction provides context and orients the reader. Move from broad background to narrow focus. A strong introduction covers:

• Background on the subject of the case (company, person, event, issue)
• Why this case is relevant or significant to study
• A clear thesis or central argument — what will your analysis show?
• A brief roadmap of the sections that follow

This is the most diagnostic section of your case study, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Your problem statement must identify the root cause of the situation — not its symptoms. A well-written problem statement:

• Names the core problem in one or two precise sentences
• Distinguishes between symptoms (what we observe) and root causes (why they occur)
• Uses specific, measurable language where possible
• Sets up the rest of your analysis logically

This section bridges academic theory and the case. It demonstrates that you understand the scholarly landscape relevant to your case, and it sets up the analytical tools you'll apply in the next section. Include:

• 2–4 key theories, models, or frameworks relevant to your case
• A brief explanation of each theory (what it is and how it works)
• A one-sentence rationale for why it applies to this case specifically
• Proper in-text citations from peer-reviewed sources

Popular frameworks by discipline:

• Business: Porter's Five Forces, SWOT, PESTEL, McKinsey 7S, Lewin's Change Model
• Nursing/Health: Maslow's Hierarchy, Gibbs Reflective Cycle, the Biopsychosocial Model
• Psychology: Cognitive Behavioural Theory, Erikson's Stages, Attachment Theory
• Social Work: Ecological Systems Theory, Strengths-Based Practice
• Law: Doctrine of Precedent, Statutory Interpretation Frameworks

This is the core of your case study — where you actually do the analytical work. It's also where the most marks are allocated and most marks are lost. Your analysis should:

• Be divided into logical sub-sections using headings (e.g., "Leadership Culture," "Staff Retention," "Organisational Values")
• Apply each theory from your literature review directly to specific evidence from the case
• Use the Claim → Evidence → Link structure in every paragraph
• Explore multiple dimensions: internal/external, short-term/long-term, stakeholder perspectives
• Maintain a formal, objective, third-person academic tone throughout

Every paragraph should do three things: make a clear analytical claim, support it with specific evidence from the case, and link it back to the theory or framework you're applying. If a paragraph doesn't do all three, revise it.

Your recommendations must follow logically from your analysis. They should directly address the root cause you identified in your problem statement. Weak recommendations are vague wishful thinking. Strong recommendations are specific, implementable, and justified. For each recommendation:

• State clearly what should be done and who should do it
• Link it to your analysis — why does your evidence support this action?
• Mention implementation considerations: timeline, resources, key stakeholders
• Address potential risks or barriers if relevant

Weak: "The company should improve communication."
Strong: "The HR Director should implement bi-monthly structured feedback sessions between operational staff and senior leadership within 90 days, using the two-way communication model outlined by Jones (2021), to close the information gap identified in this analysis."

Your conclusion synthesises — it doesn't just summarise. By the time a marker reaches your conclusion, they want a sense of intellectual closure, not a rehash. A strong conclusion:

• Restates the core problem in fresh language (don't copy from earlier)
• Briefly reflects on how your analysis addressed it
• Reinforces your primary recommendation and the outcome it would produce
• Ends with a forward-looking statement: broader implications, gaps for future research, or a call to action

Every source you cite in the text must appear in your reference list, and every entry in your reference list must be cited in the text. No exceptions. Follow your required citation style consistently throughout. Appendices may include:

• Raw data, financial statements, or statistical outputs
• Diagrams, maps, or organisational charts referenced in the text
• Interview notes or observation transcripts
• Additional exhibits that support but don't belong in the main argument