What is a finance case study and how do I write one?

by admin April 20, 2022

Finance is a subject in which you must study and learn about key concepts that are central to the field. To write a proper finance case study, you must apply all of the concepts you’ve learned and apply them to the analysis of various financial policies and strategies.

Unfortunately, several students struggle to properly write their finance case studies and make numerous errors.

This is why, following an interview with Bruce, one of the UK’s top finance tutors, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide. Bruce is an actuary and asset consultant who spent 20 years advising trustee boards on investment portfolio structures and specialist fund managers with global investment consulting firms. He now enjoys mentoring young actuaries and consultants through University finance tutoring, both online and in person. He is extremely interested in demography, population trends, and global health issues.

What is a finance case study?

A case study is a thorough examination or investigation of a subject that frequently compares it to other subjects in the same field. As a result, you’ll need to understand a few key concepts in order to properly write your finance case study. The majority of finance case studies attempt to examine capital decisions related to the financial market. Different investors’ expectations play a role here as well.

You’ll also be working with real-world examples of how brands and businesses fared when faced with critical financial decisions. The majority of your finance case studies will receive significant marks, which will be added to your semester’s overall grade.

While writing your finance case study, you will be graded on a variety of factors, including:

Your writing style
Your researching skills
Your punctuation and grammar
Your content formatting
Effective use of logical analysis
Strategic reasoning

As a result, in order to write an excellent finance case, you must include the following in your responses. However, the following are some helpful hints for writing a finance case study.

What is a Case Study Analysis?

What is a case study analysis, you might wonder? You take a real-life scenario from a particular field, such as business or education. Your goal is to come up with a solution, analyse the situation’s outcomes, or assess it.

Case Study Definition

Case study research does not focus on a single theory or body of knowledge. For research and analysis, it necessitates the universal application of several theories and methods. As a result, it can be beneficial to a variety of disciplines at the same time. If you need some inspiration, look through our essay database.

Depending on the type of case study, you’ll need to take a few steps to complete a successful analysis. The following are the most important universal points:
Examine the issue from a variety of angles.

You must apply the theories and methods that you have learned in class.
Make a list of possible solutions or outcomes.
You must evaluate their benefits and drawbacks.
Provide the best solution based on your research.
You must provide solid justifications for your suggestion.
In your case study analysis, show that you’ve done your homework.
You should not make claims without supporting evidence.
Any theory you mention in your analysis should have credible references.
You don’t want your work to be thrown out because it was plagiarised.

Case study analysis is critical for your education if you want to take your business to the next level. It gives you a taste of what your future career will entail.

Are you scared because this is the first time you’ve written something like this? Don’t be concerned! You will have a better understanding of what is expected of you after reading the guidelines in this article. It will no longer be frightening.

Case Study Analysis: Format

We will introduce you to various types of case studies in this section. The distinction between multiple and single case study analysis will be the focus of this discussion. We’ll also show you how to put all of your thoughts into a case study analysis outline. As a result, your work will be clear and complete.

Types of Case Studies

There are several types of case studies, each with its own set of characteristics. The type of case study you use depends on the needs of your investigation. Illustrative, Exploratory, Cumulative, and Critical Instances are the types we’ll be looking at. Let’s take a look at each one separately.

Illustrative Case Studies

The most common type is illustrative case studies. They are very descriptive, with the primary goal of assisting you in comprehending the situation. Typically, you will be given one or two instances of an event. Two questions are addressed by illustrative case studies: What’s going on? What is causing this? The location, key players, roles, influence, and involvement of the case study are all described in great detail. Illustrative case studies are designed to keep the reader’s attention. As a result, the language should be understandable without being oversimplified. It is not recommended to use more than two examples in a case study because the case study will become too complicated.

Exploratory Case Studies

In the social sciences, exploratory case studies are commonly used. They tend to concentrate on situations in real-life settings. They are used prior to a large-scale investigation to aid in the development of a case for more advanced research methods. Exploratory case studies are designed to help you learn everything there is to know about a specific topic. You must identify questions that can be answered later as part of a more thorough investigation. Your preliminary research may turn up some very compelling details. It’s important to remember, though, that concluding before a thorough investigation is counterproductive.

Cumulative Case Studies

In the social sciences, exploratory case studies are frequently used. They are more likely to concentrate on situations in real-life contexts. They are used prior to a large-scale investigation to aid in the development of the case for more advanced research methods. Exploratory case studies are designed to help you learn more about a specific topic by researching it thoroughly. You should look for questions that can be answered later as part of a more thorough investigation. Your preliminary research could turn up some very compelling information. It’s important to remember, however, that concluding before a thorough investigation is counterproductive.

Critical Instance Case Studies

Critical instance case studies are similar to cumulative case studies, but they work in the opposite direction. It tries to understand a specific case based on generalised research rather than defining a general phenomenon based on limited research. Case studies of critical incidents can help answer questions about cause and effect. The most important aspect of your analysis is the proper specification of your evaluation question.
Let’s take it a step further!

Single vs. Multiple Case Study

Your case study can either include a single case or multiple cases. In this section, we will discuss the benefits of both:

Single Case Study

Single case studies are less expensive and take less time than multiple case studies. When you’re looking at a single case, it’s easier to focus all of your attention on it and gain a better understanding of the subject. You can look at one thing through many different lenses because the study is more thorough. The case is usually more critical and unique in a single case study, and it is possible to focus on a more longitudinal case.

Multiple Case Study

You can understand the critical similarities and differences among cases by studying several of them. It will be more robust and reliable if you base your research on a large number of cases. You can form broader research questions by analysing multiple case studies. As a result, you’ll be able to come up with a more convincing theory.

Let’s move on to the most exciting part: outlines!

Case Study Outline

You should have an outline of what you’re going to write before you start writing any paper. It not only makes your job easier, but it also improves your paper’s organisation. You should write down all of your thoughts and try to figure out which order and format will work best for your analysis.

We’ve tried to make things easier for you by putting together a sample outline for your case study analysis. It will assist you in determining what should be included in your paper.

Introduction

To begin, introduce your reader to the case and assume they are unfamiliar with it. Describe all of the difficulties and make a point of mentioning the most important details.

Answers to the Questions

There will almost certainly be some inquiries about your case. It would be best if you responded to all of them in a logical order. Make sure you don’t give away that you’re answering the questions. Answer them in a way that makes it appear as if they are part of your analysis.

Challenges

Although you mention the challenges briefly in your introduction, it is critical to go into greater detail in the main paragraphs to ensure that your readers fully comprehend them. It will make it easier for them to understand your solutions.

Solutions

Introduce each of the solutions you’ve come up with. Examine them through the perspectives of various theories and mechanisms. All of your propositions need to be solid and well designed. Your case study evaluation should be knowledgeable and engaging.

Final Statement

According to your broader analysis, you should state which solution best fits the case in this section of your paper. You should evaluate it against the competition and explain why you chose it.

Conclusion

The last thing you need to write is the conclusion. There isn’t anything specific that needs to be added. Make sure your paper has a logical conclusion. Finish with a couple of sentences.

References

Of course, in order for your analysis to be solid and well-grounded, you must reference all of the theories and practises mentioned in your paper. Your reference style will be determined by the format your instructor has assigned.

A typical case study analysis should be structured in this manner. This format was mentioned so you could imagine the standard thought process that goes into creating outlines. To create an exciting and compelling paper, first organise your research and divide it into sections. It also matters what kind of case study analysis you’re doing.

Here’s how to get started on a proper Finance Case Study:

How to Write Case Study Analysis: Step-by-Step Guide

You’ll find everything you need to get started writing your case study in this section. First, I’ll go over the items you’ll need to get ready before you begin. Then I’ll show you how to conduct proper research. Then there are some Case Study FAQs.
Finally, I’ll provide you with a case study checklist to help you keep track of your tasks as you work through your analysis.

Before You Start

It is critical to choose an appropriate case study topic before you begin. It should be interesting and pertinent to your field of study. After you’ve decided on a topic, you’ll need to find a case study that fits your needs. In your search for a case study, you should keep the following criteria in mind:

The case study should complement your topic of research

For instance, if your chosen topic is marketing, it would be strange if your case study was about banking. A case study on how a well-known company handles its marketing, on the other hand, would be very acceptable.

The case study should apply to the phenomena that you have chosen to research

Check to see if the marketing strategy used by the company can be applied to other businesses. It must be re-usable by everyone.

The case study cannot be outdated

You must be confident that the results of your research can be applied in today’s world. Everything must be considered in the context of today.

Define whether you need a single or multiple case study

You can go over the comparison again if you want. Try to figure out which one best fits your topic.

Do you already have the topic? Let’s get your researching skills up to date!

Key Criteria of a  Good Case Study.

Case Study Analysis

When conducting case study research, simply googling something yields a slew of information-rich results. However, the majority of those sources are unreliable, particularly when writing an academic paper. The most important part of such papers are the references.

If they’re bad, your essay won’t stand up to scrutiny. As a result, official sources, such as university websites or scholarly articles, are required. Keep in mind that Wikipedia is not a reliable source!

Keep your research question in mind throughout the process. It’s easy to become engrossed in the topic and read every interesting article available. Nonetheless, it is preferable to have a specific goal in mind to ensure that your research is useful and not a waste of time.

Finally, stay current with your research! Keep in mind that you’re looking for information that’s relevant to today’s world and its problems. You must seek out modern solutions to the problem at hand.

We’re nearly there! Let’s make sure you know the answers to these questions!

Finance Case Study FAQs

What is the difference between case study and case analysis?

Both a case study and a case analysis give you a topic and necessitate extensive research. A case study, on the other hand, must be based on actual events. For example, a student might examine Coca-financial Cola’s results and come up with brilliant conclusions that could have a significant impact on the company. You might even be rewarded if you send this type of case study analysis to the company. Case studies can include general research and evaluation, whereas case analyses focus more on problems and solutions.

What are the parts of a case study?

There are four main parts of a case study:

analyzing the case,
identifying its challenges,
devising a set of possible solutions or outcomes,
evaluating those outcomes.
To ensure the success of your analysis, you should equally uphold all of these parts.

What is the purpose of a case study?

The goal of a case study analysis is to describe a case in great detail and pinpoint the major issues. Following that, you must analyse these issues using appropriate theories from the discipline that you learned about in class. Finally, you must suggest a set of actions that should be taken in that situation.

Here are some qualities of a good case study:

It’s written in a formal, academic style with good grammar and well-structured paragraphs.
All of the claims made in the case study are reasonable and verifiable.

The Case Study does not provide unnecessary information to its readers. It’s concise and to-the-point.

The reader receives the information in a well-organized manner. It has a good flow to it, and it’s easy to keep up with all of the academic research.

This is it – almost the end – here is your checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything key!

Checklist for a Finance Case Study Analysis

Check off the items on this list. This will assist you in staying on track with your case study research and writing.

Chose the topic.
Decide whether you are going to do single or multiple case study.
Identify the type of your case study.
Select a case study or studies appropriate for your topic.
They are relevant to the topic.
Their outcome can be generalized to fit other cases within the same area of research.
They are not outdated.
Define a clear case study research question.
Make sure that the sources of your research are credible and up to date.
Identify the theories and methodologies you are going to use to analyze the case.
Use more than one lens to examine the case, and look at it from different perspectives.
Have a clear outline of what you are going to include in your paper.
Write and proofread your paper.”

Have you checked off all of the items on this list? Then, once again, congratulations! Your case study analysis is complete.

Now, just some of top advice to make sure you nail it!

My Final Tips for writing a finance case study

1. Craft your title carefully

The title of your case study should correspond to the topic that has been assigned to you. As a result, you should choose your case study’s title carefully and make sure it’s relevant to the content you’re writing in the body.

2. Analyze related strategies

Various financial strategies employed by various companies are frequently encountered. Analyze them and choose the best option from the two. This will help to give your case study more depth and value.

3. Use appropriate references

If you don’t use references in your case study, you’re likely to lose points. As a result, you should make an effort to include references in your content whenever possible.

4. Create case interviews

Case interviews, in which you interview people and record their responses, can be beneficial to your studies. In addition, professional writers providing specialized assignment help like response essay help or even dissertation help include at least one case interview or statement from real individuals in their answers.

A Finance Tutor’s Conclusion

If you’ve made it this far through the article, you’ve mastered the art of case study analysis. Do you have any motivation? Take advantage of it! Start working on your project as soon as possible to ensure that you have enough time to complete it. Return to this article if you get stuck; it will walk you through the process.