This document provides suggestions for organizing and formatting case study reports or research projects. It recommends including sections for an executive summary, introduction, main body, conclusion, and references. The main body should analyze key issues, decision criteria, assumptions, data analysis, preferred alternatives and justifications. Quantitative data and calculations should be included to support recommendations. Sources should be cited using APA or modified APA style. All charts, financials and other materials can be included in an appendix with references made in the main report.

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Modifiedfromthisoriginal source: http://www.westfield.ma.edu/uploads/writing-
liaisoncommittee/Template_Case_Study_Report_ECON_318_S13.pdf
Thisdocumentprovidessuggestionsonhow toorganizeand formatyourreportson case studiesor
research projects,shouldyouneed additionalguidance.
For those doingthe Global BusinessPlan(GBP),pleasenote thatitfollows itsownformat;there are 17
documentsor17 modules, whichtranslatesmostreadilyintoaprojectusing 17 headingsandthus17
sectionstoit; thatis probablya betterformatfororganizingthatprojectthanwhat I provide below. Add
any additional subheadingtothese youdeemhelpful totellingyourstory.
What I am presentingbelowisamore genericstructure foralmostany researchproject otherthanthe
GBP:
So,if you are doinga makeup casereport,or writingupa research project,below isabasicformat you
mightfinduseful tofollow (butdecide foryourself if it’sbetterthanmysimple format recommendedon
top of the previouspage).
Header
(Include Case StudyTitle,StudentName,Date of Submission)
 Use the headerinsteadof aseparate coverpage,please.
Executive Summary (optional)
(If appropriate – thissectionshouldbe written last,withafocuson identifyinginbrief yourkey
points/findings.)
Introduction
• CurrentSituation Analysis (SWOT,if appropriate) and
• pertinentBackground Information,includingasynopsis of (whatyoubelieve tobe) the relevant
informationfromthe case study or fromyour researchof yoursources,secondarydata
obtainedwiththe assistance of the reference librarian,etc.
Main Body of Text/Report
Key Issues/Goals/ChallengesFaced
DecisionCriteria
• Assumptions
• DataAnalysis (if warranted, place the actual analysisinyourappendix andthe summaryinfoin
the mainbody of report)
• Preferred Alternative,includingyourrationale.
• Justification/Predicted Outcome orRecommendations:
It isimportantthat all guesstimatesorcreative ideasbe foundeduponsome economic,
strategic,financial orotherbusinessrationale,wheneverfeasible.
If quantitative dataisprovidedinthe case,referenceitormake some calculations(i.e.,number
crunching) inthe service of resolvingyourguessworkintoactual quantitativeanalysis (i.e.,
explainingwhatthe numbersmean,inpractical termsforthe focal companyor decisionmaker
inthe case study).

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Conclusion
Optional;if notreadilyapparent fromwhatyou’ve alreadywrittenabove,especiallyinyourExecutive
Summary,thenbrieflypresentithere.
References
(Forreportsrelatedtocase studydiscussionsinclass,thissectionisusually notnecessary).
For research projects,itis recommendedthatyousource businessjournals,periodicals,andtextual
referencesaswell asanyonline research. BusinessSourcesCompleteisanexcellentelectronicdatabase
to start your researchonmost businesstopics.Asyoudelveintoyour topicfurther,feel free toconsulta
reference librarian for additional suggestions.Alsonote if the reference librarianshave alreadycreateda
research webpageforhowto do researchprojectsonvarioustopicsforthiscourse.
For yourcase reportor researchproject:
• Make sure yousupportyour ideaswith factsandfigures.
• Please tryto useyourown wordsand ideas basedon yourresearch(i.e.,quote and/or
paraphrase,andreframe yourargumentationwhenfeasible) ratherthan copying and pasting
other’swordsfromthe case itself,orfromthe internet.
• You shoulduse APA style (oramodifiedAPA style;see the Note below) forin-linecitations,
footnotesorendnotes,image source citations,andanalphabeticalCITATION LISTinyour
Referencessection.
• Alternatively,choose apeer-reviewedjournal inyourbusinessdiscipline anduse theirstyle
guide forauthorssubmittingpapersforreview inthatjournal.Forthe businessdisciplines,these
are generallyvariationsonthe APA format (“modifiedAPA”).
Appendices
All charts,financials,visuals,andotherrelateditemscanbe placedhere andreferencedinthe report,as
needed.
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Note: For detailsonAPA style,see https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/
Format preferred: Font:Arial,10pt.;Margins: 1 inchall around;Page Numbers:oneverypage