Writing a Business Case Study in 3 Easy Steps

This post isn’t about formal business case study writing. There are plenty of articles on how to write an academic case study, here’s one Harvard Business School Case Method in Practice. What this post is about is keeping it simple and to the point. Simple to outline, simple to understand, and simple to write.

Writing a Business Case Study in 3 Easy StepsFinding topics

Does your business solve problems? Do you have customers that exemplify the problems you solve? If so, you have the makings of a case study. To identify a topic, consider what problems you solve and what solutions you want to share. What product or service do you want to market?

Where it starts

What’s important in a business case study is getting the message to potential customers in a way that will attract and hold their attention. It begins with the title. The key to an attractive case study title is to make it as clear as possible the problems you solve and the benefit to your customer.

As easy as one, two, three

The 3 parts to this case study formula are based on what will appeal to clients. Most consumers want to know what your product does for them not how it does it. Most people want to know what time it is, not how the clock was built.

1. The Challenge

State the challenge in simple terms. It should be straightforward and to the point. Anyone searching for an answer to the problem should be able to find it in the case study. For example, if your business offers 24 hour service, a case study about a client you helped late at night could be attractive such as, How we got the heat back on at 3AM.

2. The Solution

Make this as uncomplicated as possible. Share the solutions in clear terms..

3. The Outcome

Tell it like it is. Share what happened but most importantly share the benefits the customer received.

Give me 3 steps

If you solve problems, if you have solutions that work, and if you have customers with positive outcomes, then you have a case study. Short, sweet, and effective. What problems do you solve, what’s your solution, and who have you shared it with?

How Can I Help You?

I like to help people and organizations, but I consider three criteria before taking an assignment: I believe in what the organization stands for, I know I can help, and it looks like fun. If you have any questions, contact me. 

Does your business have a management training plan? Many organizations, large and small, use my book, The New Manager’s Workbook a crash course in effective management, as the basis for their leadership development program. Check it out.

If you like this post, you might also appreciate 5 Things Top Consultants Do.

 

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