text: Writing a Case Study \n\nThere are two types of case studies: factual ones depicting real organizations, people, and situations and fictional ones that, although usually based loosely on actual people and events, do not use real organization's or people's names. The advantages of factual case studies are that they can provide a wealth of detail, give credibility to situations and problems, and, most important, provide real outcomes. Actual results give those who analyze a case real-world solutions: How did the organization or manager solve the problems? Did the solutions work? \n\nFactual cases furnish concrete, not theoretical, solutions. When discussing factual cases, analysts tend to focus on the accuracy of the details rather than on the appropriateness of the solutions. Factual cases tend to become outdated as organizations, strategies, problems, and people change over time. Also, if a factual case portrays real organizations or people in a negative way, questions of taste, fairness, and even libel can arise. When writing a factual case stay with the facts, limit discussion to only those management topics that are constructive in the case.\n\nThe most effective use of factual cases are for describing current organizational problems, then analyzing and attempting to solve the problems using a consultative approach. Fictional cases have the drawback that students can never know if a solution worked or not. \n\nThere are several ways to present a case history. A case history may include: \n\nstate the problem, \nhistory/background of the facts, \nanalysis of the problem, and \nrecommendation \nconclusion - if needed\nSometimes one or more of these categories may be sub-divided. Consider the "analysis" section. A problem may be analyzed in terms of the "internal" or "external" environment. For example the local government may have a specific problem with safety issues. This issue could be the result of poor training, insufficient number of employees, or poor morale. Such problems would be considered internal problems. Therefore, an "external" problem may be an issue that is located outside of the locale.\n\nCase studies do not have to be restricted to problems and how-not-to situations; they can show solutions and how-to situations also. A case study can address several problems and show what was done right in solving them. Often the best teaching cases are those that contain both appropriate and inappropriate problem solutions. By using this technique, writers do not signal to readers that all the solutions are either right or wrong--case analysts have to figure it out for themselves. \n\nState the Problem - in two or three sentences. \n\nHistory/Background of Facts - Summarize the facts in the case.\n\nAnalysis of the Problem - Analysis often is the most difficult section of a case history to write. Sometimes there is a fine line between summary and analysis and/or analysis and recommendation. In your analysis you may discuss the causes of the problem as well as the impact of the problem. This section of your case history is important because you are evaluating the problem(s) so that you can make a recommendation or present a plan to correct the problems. Avoid words such as "must," "should," "need to." Do not make recommendations in this section.\n\nRefer to your summary and ask yourself some basic questions, for example. \n\nWhat were the conditions which allowed the problem to develop? In our case, the problem is…"what is the overall status of the management of environmental matters in urban governments?" \nWhy did the soil get in its present state - contaminated? \nWho was responsible for the dumping? \nWho was affected by the contaminated soil? \nWhat are the short and long range effects of the contaminated soil? \n \n\nRecommendations - In this section you provide direction. Based on the information you have gathered and your ana