How to analyse a case study, not retell it

Your marker has read the case. The marks are for what you do with it: diagnosing what is really going on, using theory to explain it, and deciding what should happen next.

Find the real problem, not the symptom

Read the case twice. Separate symptoms (falling sales, staff leaving) from underlying problems (a pricing model that no longer fits, poor management practices). Rank the problems by how much they matter.

Apply theory to the facts of the case

Use the models and concepts from your course to explain why the problems exist, pointing to specific facts in the case as evidence. One or two theories applied in depth usually beat six mentioned in passing.

Weigh alternatives before recommending

Set out two or three realistic options, and evaluate each against the case: cost, feasibility, risks, and how well it tackles the problem you identified. Then choose and justify.

Keep the case summary short

A brief summary of the relevant facts can help, but every paragraph that only retells the case is a paragraph not earning analysis marks.

Checklist before you submit

Problems identified and prioritised, not just symptoms listed
Theory applied to specific facts from the case
Two or three realistic alternatives evaluated
A clear recommendation, justified against the alternatives
Case summary kept short
Structure and length as the brief requires

Common mistakes

Retelling the case in your own words for half the word count.
Explaining theory in general without linking it to the case.
Recommending the first option that comes to mind without comparing others.
Treating symptoms as the problem.

Check your own draft against your rubric

Paste the brief and your draft: the assignment helper flags paragraphs that retell instead of analyse, theory that is not tied to the case, and recommendations without alternatives weighed.

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Frequently asked questions

How much of the case should I summarise?

Only what the reader needs to follow your analysis — often a short paragraph. Your marker knows the case.

How many theories should I use?

Whatever the brief asks for. When it is open, a few applied in depth normally score better than many mentioned briefly.