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Instructions for Group Case Writing Assignment
Learning Objectives:
• Improve your skills in collaborative writing.
• Improve your knowledge of communication challenges and opportunities in an
Overview:
For this class, you will be working in a group to identify an intercultural issue, challenge,
problem, or opportunity faced by an individual, manager, executive, or organization and to
then research and prepare a case study and accompanying teaching note.
Read this handout, “Case Study Writing,” for specific instructions on researching, analyzing,
and writing the case study and teaching note.
• The case study itself should be at least six pages in length and the teaching note
should be about three pages (single spaced, double spaced between paragraphs,
with pages numbered).
Remember, in the case you PRESENT the background, details and facts, but you do not
solve the problem within the case. Your discussion questions should prompt the reader
to analyze and think through the implications in order to reach a possible solution.
If you have question, please ask!
Writing a Case Study
Adapted from Prof. Robyn Walker, Marshall School of Business, USC
In this discussion, you will find a definition of a case study as well as instructions for
writing a case study and accompanying teaching note.
What Is a Case Study?
A business case study is a description of an opportunity or problem faced by an individual,
Steps in Writing a Case Study
There are three basic steps in case writing: research, analysis of the information you have
gathered, and the actual writing.
Research
Researching the case study involves the following steps:
2) Begin by researching at the library and on the internet in order to hone in on a
specific problem.
3) If you have a personal contact, then conduct an interview. Talk to individuals at your
case site about the issue. Ask what they have tried to do to solve the problem, their
feelings about the situation, and what they might do differently.
Analyze
You will need to take the information you gathered in your research along with your “case”
information if you conduct an interview and determine which items pertain most to the
problem. Organize all of your information in the same place. The analysis involves the
following steps before beginning the writing process.
1) Brainstorm several possible problems. Case writers must ask, “What is this case
study about?” Each problem (topic meant for discussion) should be written in the
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2) Outline the possible solutions to the problems (answers to the questions). (For
example: communicating through email alone does not ensure effective
3) The next step is to select or create situations that give readers a clear idea of the
problems and point the way to a discussion about possible solutions. The most
effective way to depict a problem is to write situations or scenes that have conflict in
Write
The case study should have the following sections:
• Introduction to the problem: this is from your research and describes the problem
in a greater sense.
• Background on the case: information about your case study site, where or who it is,
what makes it a good sample of the larger group, what makes it special?
• The next several sections should be about the problem as it pertains to the case.
• The concluding paragraph should wrap it up with possible solutions, but without
solving the case per se. It must be left open to the reader to come up with her/his
own conclusions.
Writing Tips
• Keep your audience in mind: remember that you are writing for students or
discussants that may not be familiar with the background, details, and terminology
of the situation. Keep jargon to a minimum and provide definitions of terms if
appropriate.
• Present situations and scenes without any attempt at analysis. Scenes must follow a
logical order and should illustrate a point, concept, or issue that relates to the
problems that the writer wants to have analyzed. Do not give any signals that one
solution might be preferred.
• End by leaving the reader with a clear picture of the major problems—either ask or
imply “What is to be done now?”
Write the Teaching Note
The teaching note builds on the analysis stage of writing the case study. It explains what
the case is about, identifies the problems or opportunities on which it is focused, provides
an analysis of the problems or opportunities, and suggests preferred solutions.
A well-written teaching note would include the following information:
1) The purpose of the case study.
3) A rank-ordering of the critical issues in the case and a brief explanation of why each
issue is important.
5) A country analysis/background that briefly outlines key demographics and any
historical/political issues that might pertain to the situation.
7) A list of possible solutions that might lead to that outcome.
9) A series of questions aimed at aiding the instructor in leading a discussion aimed at