Skip to content
Skip to main content

About this free course

Download this course

Share this free course

Business communication: writing a SWOT analysis
Business communication: writing a SWOT analysis

Start this free course now. Just create an account and sign in. Enrol and complete the course for a free statement of participation or digital badge if available.

2 What is a case study?

Described image
Figure 1 What is a case study?

Case studies are widely used in the study of business and management and you will learn more about them in the following activity.

Activity 1

Read the following sentences which describe what a case study is. Which of them are true and which are false? Write True or False in the box next to each sentence.

True or False
Case studies are used in business and management to help you learn and think about a particular aspect of business and management.
To use this interactive functionality a free OU account is required. Sign in or register.
A case study can be presented in a range of different formats including written text, video or audio. Case studies can include interviews, TV programmes, academic papers and newspaper articles.
To use this interactive functionality a free OU account is required. Sign in or register.
A case study is a representation of a real-life or lifelike situation facing a business or business sector.
To use this interactive functionality a free OU account is required. Sign in or register.
A case study may describe a simple situation or a highly complex one.
To use this interactive functionality a free OU account is required. Sign in or register.
A case study can be based on fact or it can be fictional, i.e. completely invented.
To use this interactive functionality a free OU account is required. Sign in or register.
Words: 0
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).

Answer

All the comments are true. Case studies are designed to teach you something about business and they include a wide range of formats. They can be based on real business situations or invented.

Case studies are used in business and management to help you learn and think about a particular aspect of business and management. True
A case study can be presented in a range of different formats including written text, video or audio. Case studies can include interviews, TV programmes, academic papers and newspaper articles. True
A case study is a representation of a real-life or lifelike situation facing a business or business sector. True
A case study may describe a simple situation or a highly complex one. True
A case study can be based on fact or it can be fictional, i.e. completely invented). True