Case study
What is a case study?
A case study is where a real-life situation is summarised in the form of a story so that participants can identify the causes of problems in it and suggest appropriate courses of action.
How to use a case study
There are three phases:
- preparation
- briefing
- discussion
Preparation
Identify the training need which you want a case study to meet, for example analysing a problem, evaluating a range of alternative courses of action, and selecting the best option; or highlighting the problems of introducing changes in an organisation and achieving acceptance
Decide what you want the case study to achieve. For example:
- To look at a practical case as a prelude to relevant theory
- To exercise the understanding of newly-learned theory
- To stimulate research into an aspect
- To provide a vehicle for useful information
- To give experience of a stress situation in a game context so that they can cope better in real life
- To improve the skills of problem analysis and communication/listening skills
- To cause the group to appraise their own attitudes.
Select the best and most relevant case study you can find
Briefing
- Introduce the story
- Clarify aspects of the story and any common assumptions which it would be helpful to make
- Focus their attention to particular aspects of the story for special consideration
- Send them away to study the background material
Discussion
Be flexible with the timing and sequence of the discussion phases.
- Reconvene the meeting
- Identify the problems
- Identify the causes
- Identify how the problems could have been avoided
- Identify possible solutions
When to use a case study
- Introduce the case study towards the end of an afternoon and ask the group to read the material and prepare themselves, if possible that evening
- Conduct the case study during the morning of the following day
Why use a case study
- To gain experience in analytical methods of diagnosis and decision making
- To develop knowledge, insight and understanding
- To examine the problems of failure in any aspect of management
Timing
- Allow 20 minutes the previous day for briefing, and 75 minutes for the main session
Source: Adapted from the International Course on Training of Trainers in Labour-Based Road Construction and Maintenance, compiled by David J Mason