CASE WRITING RESOURCES

HOW TO WRITE A BUSINESS CASE STUDY


Business case studies serve as valuable teaching resources for educators. Well-written case studies engage students, stimulate critical thinking, and facilitate discussions on complex issues, making academic concepts more tangible and relatable.


Participating in the case method allows organizations to contribute to improving business education by sharing their successes, challenges, and lessons learned. This enhances the organization's reputation, raises brand awareness among students, and can provide strategic insights through discussions with faculty.

 

CASE WRITING ESSENTIALS


Before you begin writing, it’s important to understand the foundational elements we expect in a case submission—from authorship requirements and writing conventions to ethical considerations and supporting materials. For full details, see our Submission Requirements.


•     A case presents a real dilemma faced by an individual or group within an organization.

•     Cases are written in the past tense.

•     At least one author must be a faculty member or PhD candidate currently teaching at a business school.

•     Each submission must include a teaching note to support instructors. Our Teaching Note Layout provides a

       detailed outline of what to include.

•     Exhibits are often included to support and enrich analysis. Tables, figures, and images should be referred to as

       exhibits and numbered consecutively. Each exhibit should clearly indicate its source with a properly formatted

       citation. For more information, see our Citation Guidelines.

•     Field cases must be accompanied by a signed Release Form from the subject organization, confirming its approval for

       the case to be published and distributed. Identities may be disguised upon request.

•     Once the case is finalized, copyright is owned by Ivey Business School Foundation.

 

CASE OUTLINE OVERVIEW


A great case follows a clear, structured outline that helps students analyze the situation, understand the organization, and engage with the decision point. Here's an overview of the key components to include.

 

  OPENING


Clearly present the decision point. Introduce the protagonist(s) and their context to immerse students in the dilemma.

 

  ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND


Describe the organization’s industry, offerings, structure, stakeholders, and competitors.

 

  AREA OF INTEREST


Introduce the business discipline or focus of the case to guide discussion and analysis.

 

CASE DECISION


Explore the dilemma facing the protagonist. Consider the following:


•     What is the decision point? 

•     Who is responsible for the decision?

•     When must the decision be made?

•     Why does the decision matter?

•     What options are available?

  ALTERNATIVES


Present options available to the protagonist(s). The complexity of the case often depends on the viability of these alternatives.

  CONCLUSION


Reinforce the decision point and summarize any key deadlines or considerations.

CREATING EFFECTIVE TEACHING NOTES AND EXHIBITS


To ensure your case is classroom ready, it’s important to support it with a strong teaching note and relevant exhibits. These components help instructors teach the case effectively and provide students with the context and data they need for meaningful analysis. Use the following guidelines to develop high-quality supporting materials:

  TEACHING NOTES


Include the following in your teaching note:


•     A case synopsis

•     Learning objectives

•     A description of the intended audience and course level

•     Relevant readings

•     Assignment questions

•     A teaching plan

•     Thorough analysis supported by case data


Provide the following in your analysis:


•     Suggested answers with evidence from the case

•     Anticipated student responses and how to address them

•     Teaching tips and strategies, including for online delivery


See our Teaching Note Layout for full details.

  EXHIBITS


When thoughtfully prepared, exhibits help bring the case to life by highlighting key data and supporting student analysis. To ensure your exhibits are effective in the classroom and ready for publication, follow these guidelines:


•     Place exhibits at the end of your document, numbered in the order

       they appear.

•     Ensure exhibits are accessible in both colour and

       black-and-white formats (e.g., by using distinct patterns).

•     Insert spreadsheets and tables as editable objects.

•     Label all graph axes.

•     Indicate whether exhibits are original or derived from another

       source (e.g., “Created by the author using…”).

•     Cite each source clearly and accurately.



For complete details, see our Citation Guidelines.

GETTING STARTED WITH CASE WRITING


Case experts share how they begin the case writing journey:

 

Ivey faculty share how to get started with case writing: define a clear decision point, uncover strong case ideas through real-world connections, and craft an engaging narrative that drives discussion and meets learning objectives.

Ivey professor Gal Raz shares how to start case writing with a strong, forward-looking decision point—one that presents a real dilemma, connects to learning objectives, and sets the stage for classroom discussion.

PERMISSIONS


To use third-party copyrighted content, such as artwork, images, figures, or large quotations, authors must do the following:


•     Obtain written permission from the copyright holder prior to submission.

•     Provide a statement or licence confirming consent from the copyright holder.

•     Include proper acknowledgement in a credit or copyright line.


Inclusion of third-party materials without permission may significantly delay publication.

 

AI AND LEARNING MATERIALS

Ivey Publishing embraces the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) while upholding the principles of academic integrity, data privacy, copyright protection, and transparency.


We are committed to safeguarding Ivey Publishing’s learning materials and intellectual property. Except where expressly permitted in writing by Ivey Publishing, users may not upload, input, submit, or otherwise use Ivey Publishing learning materials, in whole or in part, in connection with any AI tool, LLM, machine learning system, or similar technology. This prohibition includes, without limitation, using such materials to train, fine-tune, ground, prompt, test, or otherwise develop or improve any AI or automated system.


Requests for permission to use Ivey Publishing learning materials in connection with AI or LLM tools must be submitted to Ivey Publishing in advance and in writing. Permission, if granted, will be at Ivey Publishing’s sole discretion and may be subject to specific terms and conditions, including limitations on scope, duration, purpose, access, attribution, security, retention, and deletion. To request permission, please email cases@ivey.ca.


In the development of learning materials, AI and LLMs may serve as tools for refinement and enhancement. We believe these tools should serve as a supplement to—not a replacement for—human creativity, academic expertise, originality, and editorial oversight.


Authors must disclose any use of AI and LLMs in materials submitted for publication to Ivey Publishing. For additional conditions and disclosure requirements related to the use of AI and LLMs, please refer to our AI Disclosure Form.


We will continue to update our policies as learning materials and industry practices evolve.

OUR LEARNING MATERIALS


 CASES


Narrative-based teaching tools that present real-world decisions faced by individuals or groups within organizations. Cases are designed to spark discussion, encourage analysis, and deepen students’ understanding of key business concepts.


  TEACHING NOTES


Supplemental material that accompanies a case and supports instructors in teaching it effectively. 


  NOTES


Background material that provides additional context to support teaching and learning. Notes help students better understand core concepts, tools, or frameworks that may be applied in the case discussion.


  EXERCISES


Structured learning activities that develop skills and apply concepts through specific tasks with clear solutions.


  ROLE-PLAYS


Interactive classroom tools that allow students to simulate real-world business scenarios by taking on assigned roles.


  ARTICLES


Reprints of published thought leadership pieces from established business sources, including Ivey Business Journal, Harvard Business Review, and MIT Sloan Management Review. Articles offer additional insights that complement cases and support classroom discussion.


MULTIMEDIA


Audio, video, and interactive digital content that enhance case learning by bringing real business challenges to life. Multimedia materials support diverse learning styles and increase student engagement.

 

EXPLORE OUR DISCIPLINES

We offer learning materials designed to support teaching and learning across every business discipline.

WRITING CASES: LEARN MORE

WEBINAR SERIES: CRAFTING SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS CASES