Developing Case Stories: Questions, Storyline, Action Triggers, and Case Plans

Critical Choices in Case Story Development

Questions aimed at developing a story from the decision-oriented questions:  What was the decision?  How much time was available to make the decision?  Who was the decision maker?  Why did the decision arise?  What was considered?  When (date, time of day) and where did the decision take place?  What alternatives were considered?  What happened? Develop Case Story Line, Action Triggers, and Case Plan Case writers need to make critical choices to focus on what case to write. Three choices are necessary. One choice regards the best place to cut the story line. What is the story line for the case: chronological sequence, who what, where, etc.  A second choice pertains to the appropriate decision frame cut.  What do you want the reader to do: identify the issues, gather information, analyze information, make a decision, implement the decision, or evaluate the decision (see directions above)? The third choice regards the action trigger. What event is forcing the person to make a decision? Is this in response to a request, a crisis, a change in laws/ legislation/etc., an opportunity, a complaint or what? Answers to these questions lead to your case plan. Develop a Case Plan Opening paragraph Brief statement of teaching objectives Proposed organization or outline of the finished case by subtitles Data requirements – by subtitle, identify available data and additional data to be gathered The opening paragraph is the lens to the case. It should contain the right kinds of information so that the case reader will recognize whose role to assume, what the nature of the decision or problem is, when the case takes place, where, and in what type of organization. This allows the reader to read the rest of the case with a focused perspective and point of view. The opening paragraph takes on a special significance as part of the Case Plan. It provides a focal point for discussion between the case writer and others. After you have completed the case plan then begin constructing a story within the subtitled sections. The plan is then used to ensure that the story is consistent with your teaching objectives and makes the best use of the available data. Opening Paragraph Checklist Is the decision maker identified by name and position? Is the time of the case clear? Is the location of the organization identified? Is the decision/problem clear? Is the decision/problem appropriate and sufficiently interesting for use in class? Is the story line cut appropriate with respect to the actual situation? Would moving it forward or backward result in a better case? Is the decision frame cut appropriate? Would moving it forward or backward result in a better