A business case is a value proposition intended to educate a decision maker and influence them to take some kind of action. Business case studies document a real-life situation or imagined scenario, and are used as tools in business schools and organizations. Students or employees are required to analyze the prescribed cases and present interpretations or solutions, supported by research, reasoning, assumptions and analysis.

Complex issues, addressed in a business case, are presented in a carefully constructed document that provides the reader with information about the risks and rewards involved in taking action. A well-crafted business case explores a variety of feasible approaches to a given problem so that responsible parties can select which option serves the organization best. Increasingly, business cases are a major component of the decision making process.

Business cases include, but are not limited to, components such as:

• Executive Summary
• Problem Statement
• Analysis
• Options
• Timeline
• Cost-benefit Discussion
• Recommendations & Deliverables

Whether for a school assignment, part of a job interview or a business project creating a thorough business case is an essential skill.

The Bronfman Business Library is showcasing its collection on Business Case Analysis and Writing in our latest book display. Some of the books highlighted in the display include:

• Rethinking case study research: A comparative approach by Lesley Bartlett and Frances Vavrus, published in 2017
  • Description from Publisher's Website: "Comparative case studies are an effective qualitative tool for researching the impact of policy and practice in various fields of social research, including education. Developed in response to the inadequacy of traditional case study approaches, comparative case studies are highly effective because of their ability to synthesize information across time and space. In Rethinking Case Study Research: A Comparative Approach, the authors describe, explain, and illustrate the horizontal, vertical, and transversal axes of comparative case studies in order to help readers develop their own comparative case study research designs. In six concise chapters, two experts employ geographically distinct case studies—from Tanzania to Guatemala to the U.S.—to show how this innovative approach applies to the operation of policy and practice across multiple social fields. With examples and activities from anthropology, development studies, and policy studies, this volume is written for researchers, especially graduate students, in the fields of education and the interpretive social sciences."
• HBR guide to building your business case by Raymond Sheen with Amy Gallo, published in 2015
  • Excerpt from ProtoView's Book Review: "The first step to increasing revenue and boosting productivity is to come up with a new idea, but the second step is to sell that idea to stakeholders in such a way that it can be implemented successfully and timely. This helpful guide walks readers through the steps to build a powerful business case. Readers will be shown how to find the business need for their idea, align it with strategic goals, and build the right team to implement the idea. Also included is information about calculating the return on investment, analyzing risks and, most importantly, presenting your information to stakeholders. Checklists and notes pages are provided."
• Case study research : Design and methods by Robert K. Yin, published in 2014
  • Excerpt from Reference & Research Book Review: "Yin, who is associated with an applied research and social science firm and American U.'s School of International Service, demonstrates case study research to researchers and students. He explains whether and when to use the case study method, identifying the case and establishing the logic of the study, preparing to collect evidence, collecting six sources of evidence (documentation, archival records, interviews, direct observations, participant-observation, and physical artifacts), analyzing it, and creating written and oral reports. Examples from different academic and professional fields illustrate the methods."
• Case study research for business by Jillian Dawes Farquhar, published in 2012
  • Excerpt from Reference & Research Book Review: "This online guide explains how to conduct case study research and how to write a dissertation or thesis following case study research methods. After an overview of case study research, the book addresses philosophical assumptions of case study research, outlines how to develop a case study research strategy, and discusses issues of access and ethics. Later chapters cover data collection, management, and analysis, quality issues, and writing and presenting the research."

Check out the complete list of resources in this display! And make sure to stop by the library before all of the books get checked out. Our resources on case analyzing and writing tend to get borrowed quickly.