Case study example

Atlanta public schools case study

In 2011, an external investigation of the performance evaluation strategies of the Atlanta Public Schools System revealed that schools had been cheating to obtain high results. For this example case analysis, the student has identified the problems faced by the organisation, outlined factors that contributed to the problem, and proposed solutions and recommendations.

The following case analysis is annotated with tips and explanations in each section. Click the icons to display the annotations. Note that for your actual assignment you may not be required to include all sections in the example case analysis here – check your assignment instructions carefully.

Note

This sample is provided to give suggestions about what you might include in your assessment and how it could be structured. This sample is also not perfect. Always follow the assessments instructions provided in your unit's assessment information to ensure you are addressing the assessment criteria.

Summary

This resource has demonstrated the main steps in producing a case study assignment.

These steps will help you to identify what has happened in a case situation, why it happened, and apply relevant theory. Remember that some case studies require you to evaluate and recommend solutions.

You will need to:

  • identify the problems in a case, and
  • analyse the problems.

You may also need to:

  • develop and evaluate alternative solutions, and
  • make recommendations for action.

Remember to check your assignment instructions carefully to determine the type of case study you are required to write. Some units may require you to follow a particular style or structure. Check unit information for templates or guides to ensure that you meet these expectations.

References

Kimberley, N. (2016). StudentQ Manual (6th ed.). Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University.

Van Weelden, S. J. & Busuttil, L. (2018). Student guide to the case method. Ivey Publishing.

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