Writing a Case

Presentation Outline What is a case? Why do we need case? What skills and competency does it develop? How do we write a case?

How do you know what is your size?

How do you decide which 36 size fits you or someone else? Are all 36 size same? How do you decide which 36 size fits you or someone else? We need research to generate evidence for taking appropriate decision. A simple look may not be sufficient. So what the case study would do to improve our analytical skills and refrain from making guesstimate decision.

What is a case? The case is used in many situations to contribute to our knowledge of individuals, group, organizational, social, political and related phenomenon. Case is a common tool to explain a situation and provide evidence. Case studies allow to understand complex social phenomenon. Robert K. Yin, 2009, Case Study Research: Design and Methods, SAGE, London.

What is a case? The case study method allows investigators to retain the holistic and meaningful characteristics of real- life events such as individual life cycles, organizational and managerial process among others.

What is a case? The central tendency among all types of case study is that it tries to illuminate a decision or a set of decisions: why they were taken, how they were implemented and with what result. http://the-growth-engine.com/index.php/execution-services/asset-development/case-studies

Why case study? Distinguish pertinent from peripheral information, Identify the problem(s) at hand and define its context and parameters, Identify a set of possible solutions, Formulate strategies and recommendations for actions, Make decision, and Confront obstacles to implementation.

Skills and competency Analytical Critical Thinking Context Issue Problem Solutions etc Critical Thinking Why it happened? How it happened? Would it have been different? Could it happen in different way?

Skills and competency Data Management Writing What Where to get Quality Sufficiency Writing Logical flow Presenting idea Use of evidence Communicating

Writing a case study Step 1: Propose issue/problem and context Explain the context in which the problem/issue emerged. It may be a situation in which, service receiver, provider, or any other persons/organization encountered a problem in service processes

Example Manju, Executive Officer of Malangawa Municipality, had a file on her table for a few days. She seemed little worried whether she could make an appropriate decision. Her decision would, on the one hand, protect public property while on the other hand would displease public. For avoiding any complication further, she was taking time to make an appropriate decision but could not prolong further.

Writing… Step 2: Problem Statement State the problem the person/organization faced in service processes. Also, mention why the problem needs to be resolved

Example… Around 100 families had occupied land of Malangawa Municipality Ward No 7 and 8. The families were living there since last 40 years. Initially, there were only about 20 families which increased by more than five folds and expected to increase further. It had negative impact on public life and property. Meanwhile, the Municipality initiated road expansion which would require to displace all those families. Manju was required to take such a decision so that she could save public property and also would not get public dissatisfaction.

Writing… Step 3: Case analysis Detail analysis of the problem: case history, cause and effects (use evidences to support your analysis)

Example In 2030 BS, local land lord, Harish, called few landless family to work for him and allowed to occupy that land. At that time local administration did not care this issue. The number then started to increase, as of now more than 100 families have occupied the public land. Different political groups have used these families for their interest with a promise to provide land ownership. But none could fulfill the promise. The issue is being aggravated because of play between political parties, social organization and other different groups. They have a claim that either they were supposed to provide landownership of the occupied land or to provide viable alternative.

Writing… Step 4: Initiatives to resolve the problem Analyze the initiatives taken or the possible alternatives (with evidences) to solve the problem

Examples… For resolving this issue, some initiations were taken in different time periods but none of them produced results. For example, previous Executive Officer Govinda made a sincere effort to resolve the issue in 2065. Everything was going good but because of some political issues, the priority of the government shifted, he could not resolve it as expected. Manju reviewed previous initiatives taken by Officers and made following list: In 2057, a team was formed led by the Executive Officer of the Municipality to analyze the issue and recommend with viable solution …

Summarize the case including your observation Writing… Step 5: Conclusion Summarize the case including your observation

Example… Encroachment of public land is serious issue. If this is not solved at earliest, it may be complicated to address. Resolving such issue would require sincere effort from the office bearer. In many issues we do not want to take initiations thinking that it will put us on risk. It will instead solving the problem, further complicate. Manju could have avoided to take the risk like others. But she chose to take risk and therefore, was able to produce result.

Exercise Read the provided case in group. Review the case in the provided structure. Rewrite the case in given structure.

Thank you