There are three stages to case study analysis: the historical, methodological and personal/environmental. Each of these stages builds on the other.
The historical stage is when you examine what the case was and why it came about. You will need to keep in mind that the facts should be researched, not discovered. Sometimes people think they know something when they don’t know anything. People also make the assumption that people with an agenda will tell them the truth if they want to hear it.
In case study analysis, it is critical to keep the facts straight, and evidence should be documented. Your research and your case study should fit into the context of the case itself, but when you get too specific, you run the risk of telling only part of the story.
The methodological stage is used to check the methods of the case study and the statistics. Often there will be an accepted version of the data and it will be important to understand what data are actually relevant and what data are not.
The personal/environmental stage is used to look at the culture, beliefs, history and social environment of the case study. It’s also used to look at the problems of the people who are involved.
There are four formats for case study analysis. These formats were devised by two different cases study analysis experts, and the format that is most often used today is the Harvard Case Study Solution.
The Harvard APA Format is what most people are familiar with. This format was developed by Harvard University faculty, who were looking for a way to make the case study more interesting and engaging. Because it was originally designed for academic purposes, it has evolved over time to meet the needs of the case study analysis.
The standard APA Format gives more space for the people involved to say their own thoughts and feelings, while not making them sound like someone who is afraid to be direct. The Harvard APA Format is designed to be much more like the case study in terms of reading and understanding.
The corporate case analysis format is a design which is much like the Harvard APA Format, but this one is designed for use by corporations that are more complex and require more documentation. The corporate case analysis format is intended to be both easier to read and more informative.
The corporate case analysis format is often used by larger corporations as a way to turn the case study into a more internal sales presentation. The format is structured in a manner that makes it easier for the audience to understand what is being presented.
The APA Matrix format is designed to be like the Harvard APA Format, but the focus is less on the point of view of the speaker and more on the reader. This format makes it easier for people to engage and participate in the case study.
