project development case study

Top 20 Project Management Case Studies [With Examples]

Project management case study analyses showcase and compare real-life project management processes and systems scenarios. These studies shed light on the common challenges that project managers encounter on a daily basis. This helps project managers develop effective strategies, overcome obstacles, and achieve successful results. 

By leveraging project management case studies , organisations can optimise their operations by providing insights into the most effective approaches. With effective implementation of these case studies, strategies, and methodologies, ensuring successful project completion is achievable.

Criteria for Selection of Top 20 Case Studies

The top 20 case studies are selected based on significance, impact, challenges, project management strategies, and overall success. They provide diverse insights and lessons for project managers and organisations.

1. The Sydney Opera House Project

The Sydney Opera House Project is an iconic example of project management case studies as it faced multiple challenges during its construction phase. Despite facing leadership changes, budget overruns, and design failures, the project persevered and was completed in 1973, a decade later than planned. The Opera House stands as a symbol of perseverance and successful project management in the face of humankind.

2. The Airbus A380 Project

The Airbus A380 Project is a project management case study showcasing the challenges encountered during developing and producing the world’s largest commercial aircraft. The project experienced massive delays and impacted costs of more than $6 billion, with several issues arising from the manufacturing and delivery process, outsourcing, and project coordination. 

However, the Airbus A380 was successfully launched through carefully planned project management strategies, delivering a world-class aircraft that met customer expectations.

3. The Panama Canal Expansion Project 

The Panama Canal Expansion Project serves as a compelling case study, illustrating the management’s encounters in expanding the capacity of the Panama Canal. The project included multiple stakeholders, technological innovations, environmental concerns, and safety challenges. 

4. The Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project

The Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project serves as a project management case study of a large-scale underground tunnel construction project. It successfully addressed traffic congestion and was completed in 2007. The project was completed in 2007, with numerous hurdles delaying progress like complexity, technology failure, ballooning budgets, media scrutiny, etc.

5. The London 2012 Olympics Project

The London 2012 Olympics Project stands as a successful project management case study, showcasing the management of a large-scale international sporting event. This project involved the construction of a new sports infrastructure, event logistics and security concerns. The project was successfully accomplished, delivering a world-class event that captivated the audience.

6. The Hoover Dam Bypass Project

The Hoover Dam Bypass Project was a construction project in the United States of America that intended to alleviate traffic from the Hoover Dam by building a new bridge. Completed in 2010, the bridge spans across the Colorado River, connecting Arizona and Nevada and offers a safer and more efficient route for motorists.

7. The Golden Gate Bridge Seismic Retrofit Project

The Golden Gate Bridge Seismic Retrofit Project is a case study example constructed in San Francisco, California. Its objective was to enhance the bridge’s resilience against earthquakes and aftershocks. Completed in 2012, the project included the installation of shock absorbers and other seismic upgrades to ensure the bridge’s safety and functionality in the event of a major earthquake.

8. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Project

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Project is a massive case study that intends to connect Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau with a bridge-tunnel system of 55 kilometres. Completed in 2018, the project required massive funds, investments and innovative engineering solutions, providing a new transport link and boosting regional connectivity.

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9. The Panama Papers Investigation Project

The Panama Papers Investigation Project is a global case study of journalistic investigations into offshore tax havens. It involved leaked documents from Mossack Fonseca, a Panamanian law firm. Coordinated by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, the project resulted in major political and financial repercussions worldwide, garnering widespread media attention.

10. The Apple iPhone Development Project

The Apple iPhone Development Project started in 2004, aiming to create a groundbreaking mobile device. In 2007, the iPhone transformed the industry with its innovative touchscreen interface, sleek design, and advanced features. This project involved significant research, development, marketing, and supply chain management investments.

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11. The Ford Pinto Design and Launch Project

The Ford Pinto Design and Launch Project was a developmental project intended to create an affordable, fuel-efficient subcompact car. Launched in 1971, because of its fuel tank design, it became infamous for safety issues. The project was rigged for ethical and safety concerns, lawsuits, and recalls.

12. The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response Project

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response Project was a response to the largest oil spill in US history, caused by an offshore drilling rig explosion in 2010. This crisis response project utilised a waterfall project management approach, where the project team followed a pattern of planning, executing, monitoring, and closing phases. 

13. The NASA Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster Project

  The NASA Challenger Disaster Project was a tragic space exploration mission in 1986, resulting in the loss of all seven crew members. Extensive investigations revealed design and safety flaws as the cause. This disaster prompted NASA to address decision-making processes and improve safety cultures.

14. The Three Gorges Dam Project

  The Three Gorges Dam Project was a large-scale infrastructure project developed in China that aimed to build the world’s largest hydroelectric dam on the Yangtze River. Completed in 2012, it encountered environmental, social, and engineering challenges. The dam currently offers power generation, flood control, and improved navigation, but it has also resulted in ecological and cultural consequences.

15. The Big Dig Project in Boston

The Big Dig Project was a transportation infrastructure project in Boston, Massachusetts, intended to replace an old elevated highway with a newer tunnel system. Completed in 2007, it serves as one of the most complex and costly construction endeavours in US history. Despite facing many delays, cost overruns and engineering challenges, the project successfully improved traffic flow and urban aesthetics but also resulted in accidents, lawsuits, and financial burdens.

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16. The Uber Disruptive Business Model Project

  The Uber Disruptive Business Model Project was a startup that introduced a new ride business model that disrupted the taxi-cab industry by connecting riders with drivers via a mobile app. Launched in 2010, this project required innovative technology, marketing and regulatory strategies and faced legal actions and ethical challenges related to labour, safety, and competition. Uber has since then dominated the market with its ride-sharing business plan.

17. The Netflix Original Content Development Project

The Netflix Original Content Development Project was an initiative created to launch its original content for its platform. This launch by the online streaming giant in 2012 was a huge success for the company. The project required huge investments in content creation, distribution and marketing and resulted in award-winning shows and films that redefined the entire entertainment industry’s business model.

18. The Tesla Electric Car Project

The Tesla Electric Car Project was a revolutionary project that aimed to compete for its electric vehicles with gasoline-powered vehicles. The project required a strong project management plan that incorporated innovation, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement, resulting in the successful launch of the Tesla Roadster in 2008 and subsequent models. Tesla has one-handedly revolutionised the entire automobile industry on its own. 

19. The Johnson & Johnson Tylenol Crisis Management Project:

The Johnson & Johnson Tylenol Crisis Management Project was a case study in crisis management in 1982. The project required quick and effective decision-making skills, stakeholder communication, and ethical leadership in response to the tampering of Tylenol capsules that led to deaths. 

20. The Airbnb Online Marketplace Platform Project  

The Airbnb Online Marketplace Platform Project was a startup that created an online platform which connected travellers with hosts offering short-term rental accommodations in flights. The project required innovative technology, user experience design and stakeholder management. Airbnb’s success has led to the disruption of the hospitality industry and inspired many other project case study examples of sharing economy platforms.

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Future developments in project management.

Future developments in project management include all the insights on the increased use of artificial intelligence, agile methodologies, hybrid project management approaches, and emphasis on sustainability and social responsibility, along with many more developing ideas that will address the evolving market innovations. 

Key Takeaways from the Case Studies

The project management case study examples illustrate real-life examples and the importance of project management in achieving project success. The cases show the use of innovative technologies, tools, techniques, stakeholder engagement, crisis management, and agile methodologies. 

Project Management also highlights the role of ethical leadership and social responsibility in project management. To learn more and more about case studies, upGrad, India’s leading education platform, has offered an Advanced General Management Program from IMT Ghaziabad that will equip you with in-demand management skills to keep up with the changing trends!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Project Management is extensive planning, executing, monitoring and closing of a project before its deadline. Project management ensures accuracy and efficiency across all organs of a project, right from its inception to its completion.

Project Management case studies are real-life examples of projects to put an insight into all the tools, techniques and methodologies it provides.

The role of a project manager is to ensure that all day-to-day responsibilities are being met by the resources deployed in a certain project. They have the authority to manage as well as lead the functioning members as well.

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Top 10 Project Management Case Studies with Examples!

Real cases are the concrete material for those who want to go into professions. The ten real-world project management case studies with examples look into successful project management strategies and emphasize the need for proper planning, communication, and problem solutions. They show us different sectors of the economy, from technology, construction, health, and many others. The case studies will help you develop a deeper knowledge of how project management tools are implemented in different situations. It doesn’t matter whether you are a project manager or aim to get certified as a PMP ; the case studies will be instrumental in that. Through this analysis, high project management significance is demonstrated and the strategies as well as means of achieving project success become clearer.

Brief Overview of Project Management

Process management involves scheduling, execution, and completion of tasks in a planned and interconnected way to achieve desired goals in a timely. Practical application: utilizing knowledge, resources, and processes to achieve project objectives efficiently. Moreover, project management aims to deliver customized outcomes within specified constraints like scope, time, cost, quality, and risk.

Lastly, the matter fact that effective project management needs good leadership skills, excellent communication, risk management, and the ability to change according to the circumstances becomes vital. Therefore, various project management methodologies , such as Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall, provide frameworks for guiding through their project life cycles.

Top 10 Project Management Case Studies and Examples

The following are the summaries of ten project management case studies and examples that highlight various aspects of successful project execution and lessons learned:

Case Study 1: The Sydney Opera House

The renowned Sydney Opera House is one of the world’s iconic symbols for architecture. This particular place is situated in Sydney, Australia. The project took off in the middle of the 1950s to produce a world-class entertainment facility towering the city skyline. The competition for the structure design was won by the Danish architect, Jørn Utzon with him becoming the lead of the building team, and the construction commenced immediately the following year.

Also, the design of the Opera House returns its shell-like constructions that are quite problematic both esthetic and engineering. It intended to produce a space that would be home to a diverse range of performing arts activities and become a symbol of Sydney, achieving this goal through a combination of its function and transformative design.

Subsequently, the Sydney Opera House case study is regarded as an important source of experience for project managers and they continue to underline the necessity of developing a holistic approach that involves leading practicians, highly efficient teamwork, and powerful project governance to be able to manage this kind of project successfully.

Case Study 2: NASA’s Mars Rover Mission

NASA farms the Mars Rover mission to discover and gain insight into the surface of the planet. Within these tracked roving vehicles are two-wheeled Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity alongside the most recent one Perseverance. All rovers had these instruments on board for Martian surface analysis, looking for traces of space biology, and studying the core history of the planets.

In addition, the program involves all-encompassing planning, impeccable calculations, and sophisticated technology to deliver impeccable results. For the discovery of the Moon’s geological dynamics, each rover was a testament to space exploration as well as robotics in scientific investigations.

Astronauts aboard Mars Rover involve the use of effective project management , risk identification, and adaptability, which are the keys to space exploration. This is another example of how such missions provide a learning and also development opportunity for future space exploration endeavors.

Case Study 3: The London Olympics 2012

Its aim was an uncomplicated worship of the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games which accepted athletes and spectators from the whole world as the participants. These world-changing constructions revolutionized and greatly influenced the everyday life of Londoners, shaping their way of life significantly.

Nevertheless, the London Olympics set a legacy beyond the lasting success of the event. Furthermore, authorities converted and repurposed the infrastructure surrounding Olympic Park for public use, stimulating urban regeneration efforts. The project management best practices for event planning are centered around environmental conservation measures, economic impact, and community intervention.

Case Study 4: Apple’s iPhone Development

Apple inc.; making the iPhone is the epitome of complex product development. There was no such thing as the iPhone in 2007, just a phone that was much more than that magical device that incorporated a phone, iPod, and internet communication appliance into a single thing. 

Designing a quality product involves integrating high-tech hardware, software, intuitive user interfaces, and various technologies seamlessly.

Apple’s iPhone exemplifies agile innovation, quality-speed balance, and lasting market impact, driving unparalleled business success.

Case Study 5: The Panama Canal Expansion

The 2016 announcement of the Panama Canal Extension addressed the need for accommodating larger vessels amid global seaborne trade growth. The first canal built, finished in 1914, could not have been a passageway for the size and capacity of these days’ ships. Additionally, the extension project targeted these inadequacies and intended to uplift the channel’s performance in terms of time-saving and upgrading the global shipping sector.

To conclude, the Panama Canal is an excellent example of how much infrastructure developments are needed as the world is rapidly changing. The project that stands behind the success of global collaboration and project risk management became the vehicle of a plan that influenced the way of doing international trade, and the Panamanian economy.

Case Study 6: The London Crossrail Project

The Crossrail London project, also called the Elizabeth Line, improves transportation connections in London through extensive rail network construction. The main goal is to design a straight east-west railway, spanning key city districts and neighboring territories.

Moreover, the London Crossrail line confronting the delays and overflows of funds, at last, created a disruptive shift in London public transport. In that respect, the positive results and public benefits show the role of major projects that focus on green transit infrastructure in creating urban connectivity and driving ecological and social development.

Case Study 7: The Big Dig – Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project

The Big Dig, of the Boston, Massachusetts, Central Artery/Tunnel Project was this outstanding public works effort. The project aimed to enhance urban transportation by replacing the Central Artery with tunnels, bridges, and interchanges to expedite traffic.

The project required innovative engineering to tackle tunnel construction, soil conditions, and water management challenges. Moreover, effective public and political expectations management was critical, necessitating extensive public engagement, transparent communication, and collaboration across government entities.

Despite facing delays and cost overruns, completing the Big Dig in 2007 marked a transformative moment for Boston. The project achieved its goals of improving traffic, revitalizing urban areas, and driving economic growth through new developments. Therefore, the success of the Big Dig serves as a case study in adaptive project management, overcoming technical complexities, and achieving positive urban and economic outcomes in large-scale infrastructure projects.

Case Study 8: The Hoover Dam

Planners began the Hoover Dam project in 1936, aiming to meet water and electricity needs in the southwestern USA. Additionally, technologically innovative, the dam featured an arch-gravity design and introduced advanced concrete construction methods. Engineers overcame desert conditions using continuous pouring and refrigeration to counter high temperatures during construction.

Moreover, the Hoover Dam’s enduring impact includes water supply management by creating Lake Mead, one of the largest U.S. reservoirs. The power plant at Hoover Dam generates electricity for the regional grid, serving as a reliable and ongoing energy source. The dam has gained significance beyond its strict utilitarian role. The dam symbolizes America’s resilience and cleverness, drawing millions of visitors to appreciate its cultural, historical, and engineering significance.

Case Study 9: The Airbus A380 Project

The Airbus A380 holds this exceptional record and thereby symbolizes a development breakthrough in the aviation industry in 2007 respectively. The designers created the twin-deck, wide-body aircraft for maximum capacity and comfort, making it ideal for long-distance travel.

Also, it serves the global collaboration in aerospace engineering evidenced by the contributions of different countries as the project was taken as a whole.  Moreover, the Airbus A380 project portrays the complexities of global collaboration, overcoming technical difficulties, and embedding oneself in the competition of the aerospace industry as well. The A380’s impact on aviation underscores lessons in adaptation and environmental consciousness for shaping tomorrow’s airline transportation.

Case Study 10: The Hubble Space Telescope Repair Mission

The HST Mission repaired the telescope’s optical issues, unleashing its full astronomical potential and overcoming initial obstacles. Starting in 1990, Hubble had a manufacturing problem in one of the primary mirrors, which caused blurred images. As a consequence of that day, NASA carried out the first mission of servicing (STS-61) in 1993. Astronauts conducted a complex EVA to install WFPC-2 optics on Space Shuttle Endeavour, addressing Hubble’s optical issues.

However, this repair mission showcased the collaborative efforts of NASA and astronauts, emphasizing meticulous training, communication, and problem-solving skills. The success of the mission marked a turning point for Hubble, transforming it into a premier astronomical observatory. Subsequent servicing missions further upgraded instruments, extending Hubble’s lifespan and contributing to groundbreaking scientific discoveries. 

These top 10 project management scenarios showcase real-world industry challenges in action. Thus, from the dissertation of the given cases, you can be more capable of leading your projects appropriately. Would you like to elevate your expertise? Join our project management course package now, which covers everything from detailed instructions to hands-on experience.

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Case Studies

This page provides an overview of the various case studies available from Scrum.org. These case studies demonstrate successful transforming organizations, uses of Scrum, Nexus, Evidence-Based Management and more. Read them to understand where people and teams have struggled and how they have overcome their struggles.

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Case Study: Schedule Development - 5 Steps to Success

• 19 August 2019
• Automotive & Transportation , PMO & Project Delivery

The railway industry has been growing over the past few years.  With increasing investments in new rail lines supporting increased tourism and manufacturing, along with upgrades to existing lines supporting enhanced mobility, the future for rail is rather optimistic . And with a focus on new rail lines, there is a renewed focus on schedule development.

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The future is looking quite optimistic for our client as well – a mid-sized company making a big impact.  After delivering several local projects successfully, our client had grown by 400%, expanding in reach to become a global manufacturer of rail systems

In recognition of their quality and commitment to delivery, they have seen record levels of orders.  Over 80% of orders are with repeat customers; 40% are due to extensions on existing orders.

Getting Organized

In the face of mounting orders, it was time to get organized.  Or in Project Management terms, any increase in the level of delivery, requires an equal increase in the level of project management maturity.

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So, our client made the decision a few years ago to move to a project-based organization.  A project-based organization is typical for organizations that have long-range, large-scale complex projects, like building new trains.  Dedicated teams of the right resources are put together to work on projects.  By realigning the organization against the delivery of products, our client could focus on ensuring they had a standard, repeatable way of doing business that scaled along with the growth of their business.

Success, if not handled properly, can lead to the demise of a project.

Was this really necessary?

Yes – by keeping the organizational teams focused on delivering their commitments 100% of the time, and in turn keeping their customers happy, they now have an engine primed for continued growth.

What could go wrong?  Well luckily in our client’s case, nothing.  They had the right team and the right management processes in place.  However, another program was not so lucky. 

In early 2019, a  California high speed rail program went off the rails  – with current projections putting the program 13 years behind schedule, with costs at twice the original estimate.  While we cannot go into all the details that led to the demise of the California high speed rail program, we can go into one specific detail:  The importance of a quality schedule.

The planning that goes into large complex projects is just that – large and complex.  It requires a great deal of effort from the team to break down the list of activities and estimate the size of effort.  However, no one wants to take the time to develop a detailed schedule anymore.  That is, until the parts are missing and by then it’s too late.  Your project is off the rails.

But,  creating a detailed schedule  doesn’t have to be difficult, or even that time consuming.  The steps are quite intuitive, can be applied regardless of the type of project and have not changed over time.  Here are 5 simple steps for successful schedule development.

What are the steps for project schedule development?

1. define your project goals and outcomes.

Everyone on the team needs to know where you are going if you are going to get there.  In cases where you have a signed contract, this will list out key requirements, delivery dates and quantities.  Use this information to formulate the backbone of your project plan.

As Eric Singleton explains in his article on  Effective Program Planning , a good plan tells a story of where the project is going.  This keeps the team and management focused on specific, measurable, and communicable outcomes which will then drive the overall scope of the program, its component projects and work packages.

2. Define the Activities

This step involves detailing the scope of the program / project / components / work packages so that you can clearly estimate the effort and resources involved in securing your desired outcomes.

With the advent of agile planning – a common question asked is whether a ‘WBS’ or Work Breakdown Structure is still relevant. 

Cliff notes version, it is.

A WBS is a method of taking a large piece of work and breaking it down into smaller, more manageable chunks, that can be more effectively and reasonably estimated and resourced.  While tied to more traditional project management methods, this exercise is equally applied cross functionally with epics, features and stories.

Interested in our PMO & Project Delivery services?

3. sequence the activities.

Once you have detailed out the work to be done, the next step is to sequence the activities, paying careful attention to other related tasks, or interdependencies.  Basically, what order does the work need to be done in?

In development, many times you will not know the work to be done in follow-on phases of work, as it is dependent upon successful completion of a previous phase.  One should not go into production until you have finished testing; just as one cannot board the train until it arrives.

In the 2018  PMI Pulse of the Profession Report , the leading causes of project failure are due to a change in an organization’s priorities or objectives.  To mitigate this risk, the project management organization needs to be more flexible in the way that they plan, otherwise all effort invested upfront in fully detailing the project schedule could be wasted.  The key is finding the right balance.

One planning concept picking up steam is ‘rolling wave’ planning.  Rolling wave planning, while not new, is the process of detailing out the more immediate phases of work, while leaving later phases for when you have more information at hand.  This is very similar in planning for increments or sprints.

In another engagement, this time for an Oil and Gas major, our team revised the existing practice of fully scheduling a 256-line project template at the start of the program, to a  progressive elaboration process .  This required changing their milestone acceptance process for Program Approval to include a lean schedule as a deliverable.  By having the project team detail the schedule as they came to each phase, the team saved time, simplifying the upfront planning while simultaneously driving improved Resource and Schedule Management capability.

4. Estimate Resources & Durations

In our previous example, as the team had delivered those types of projects before, the schedule was created from a template, along with resource estimates and durations based on their historical performance.  This was a huge benefit in estimating future program resources and durations, as well as a great way to share knowledge with new employees.

With our rail client, although 80% of the orders were repeat customers, the teams had not scheduled at that level of detail before.  Our project managers worked with the teams and suppliers to break down the work into more detail, and then defined estimates to support the added or decreased complexity.  This 5-step process works whether you are creating a schedule from scratch or creating a schedule from a template. 

By populating the information into templates, the client has a solid footprint to estimate and plan new work going forward, improving the speed at which they can respond to tenders.  In addition, schedule templates serve as useful information for onboarding new team members as they continue to grow.

5. Integrate the Schedule

The last step is to integrate your schedule – moving from a high-level plan to a detailed one.   While you can pull together a project schedule in Excel, it is much easier to link it all together in a tool built for schedule development and management like Primavera or Microsoft Project. 

With the right toolset, you can easily see whether you’re able to fit your delivery windows and if you’re within your resource capacity.  Essentially, it answers the question: “does your schedule make sense?”

If the answer is no, well then, it’s better that you know that ahead of time, before your delivery is put at risk, knowing this means you can start the hard work of mitigating it.  The art of crashing a schedule is best served for another article.

As specialists in project and program management, we have scheduled many large-scale programs like High Speed Rail and the Olympics.  We understand that you while cannot anticipate every hurdle that your schedule will need to overcome, regardless of the project management methodology being used by the organization, successful delivery requires successful planning.

In conclusion, with a Project Management Office in place, our client has a team of project managers as the focal point for proper planning and control, ensuring that no project goes off the rails.

Additional Reading: What is PMO? A Complete Guide.

You might also like:

Security Compliance PMO

Types of PMO

PMO Setup: Your How To Guide

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Project Management

Project development strategies: step-by-step guide.

October 30, 2023

We all know that project management is the art and science of running a project smoothly. But what about project development? While it’s not as talked about, this approach plays a crucial role in helping project managers deliver their best work.

In this guide, we’ll reflect on what project development is, the role it plays, and how the process looks. We’ll also give you an insight into how ClickUp helps real companies build more effective project teams and processes, and which templates you can use to kickstart your project development habit. ⚒️

Let’s take a deep dive into project development.

What Is Project Development?

Why is project development important, step 1: project initiation, step 2: project planning, step 3: project execution, step 4: project control and monitoring, step 5: project closure, how clickup helps teams with project development, what are the 5 stages of the project life cycle, what is the role of a project development manager, what makes a good project developer, what should be included in a project development plan.

Project development is a catch-all term given to the process of making sure you have everything ready for your project to succeed. It involves planning project timelines , investing in resources, and organizing your team members’ time.

Project development also helps you reflect on your goals and big-picture ambitions, so you can plan a way to reach them.

You can manage projects without project development, but the process becomes much harder. Investing in project development means you’re organized, ready, and planned for success—instead of leaving resource management and budget planning until the last minute.

Project development is a useful process for any type of project. Software development projects, construction projects, transportation projects, and change management projects all benefit from the structure, guidance, and strategy that this approach provides. 🚚

Like project management, project development happens throughout a project—not just at the start. Smart project managers will check in regularly to make sure that their resources, time, and budgets are being used effectively.

Some teams skip the project development stage, but it’s an essential part of any successful project management process. This pre-project prep allows you to plan more strategically, ensure you have the right resources, and guide your team toward success.

According to a study by the Project Management Institute , organizations that invest in project development and proven project management practices waste 28 times less money due to poor project performance. This shows the critical value and effectiveness of project development in ensuring a project’s success.

Investing your time in project development can also help you:

• Take your scope of work and tackle it in a strategic way
• Feel prepared and brief your project team accordingly
• Set a realistic budget and oversee spending priorities
• Build a project schedule that reflects your overall project objectives and goals
• Determine the right project management methodology (like agile project management or waterfall) and stick with it throughout the entire project
• Consider quality assurance and risk management right from the start
• Speed up decision-making, thanks to predetermined plans and timelines
• Build workflows and processes that help you achieve your overall goal
• Promote better teamwork and team management through effective communication from the beginning

Teams that invest in project development know how to deliver on time, on budget, and according to their goals. Having a smart, strategic approach to project and resource planning can help your project team deliver their best work. 🤩

5 Steps to Build a Strong Project Development Process

Project development isn’t a one-step process. It’s something that happens throughout the project life cycle. Let’s take a closer look at every development phase in the process, so you can work toward a more successful project approach.

The first step in the process is (helpfully) called initiation. This is where you get clear on your project goals and objectives, so you can decide how to reach them in the most effective way.

Gather all the relevant plans and documents you already have—like your business case, feasibility study, project scope of work , project deliverables, and a preliminary project budget. Review what you know, and use this to help inform you on the way forward.

Put together an initial project plan or outline based on your goals and the research you have available. This might change as you move into the next stage of the process, but having an outline here helps you develop a project plan in a more strategic way.

At this stage of the process, it’s a great idea to create a place dedicated to your project.

Create a new Space in ClickUp and set up your project goal so it’s always front and center. Creating a digital home will help you stay organized throughout the project development process. ✅

Once you have an idea of your project goals and scope, it’s time to get more detailed. In the next phase, take your high-level strategy and turn it into a practical and achievable plan of action.

In the planning phase, the focus is on making sure you have the right resources available at the right time. Resources can cover anything from in-house team members and contractors to physical materials and digital tools.

It also includes your project budget, which may get released in stages as the project hits certain milestones.

ClickUp’s project management features help you manage the planning process like a pro. Add milestones and assign tasks or monetary values to match your project goals.

Get a visual reminder of your team’s workload so you can assign resources based on project prioritization . Create a project timeline based on your outline and plan, and easily make changes or re-assign tasks as and when you need to.

Managing all these resources can feel like a juggling act, which is why project managers spend so much time in this stage of the process. Building a project development plan takes time, but tools like ClickUp help you streamline the process and get to your destination faster. ✨

With your project development plan ready to go, it’s time to start working on your project. The project execution stage is all about moving through the tasks and stages of your plan until the project is complete.

If you’re using ClickUp for your project management needs, your team members will have everything they need to be set up for success. Organize your docs, create a project wiki, and build a digital home for your project.

Assign team members and collaborators to specific tasks and promote autonomy and ownership. Collaborate with whiteboards, comments, and real-time chat. Flag urgent or important tasks, update custom statuses, and check off tasks as they’re completed.

Visualize your project in a way that works for you—whether that’s a table, Gantt chart, Kanban board, or calendar. See your dependencies, task progress, and roadblocks before they become an issue. Use ClickUp to help you stay organized and confident throughout the entire project process. 🌻

The project control step is a crucial part of the project development process. In this stage, you’ll run a quality assurance check on your progress so far. It’s an opportunity to evaluate what is and isn’t working, and make changes to aid your project’s success.

When you go through project monitoring and controlling , consider how your progress has been to date. Review any missed deadlines, scheduling conflicts, budget issues, and resource management challenges. Identify why they happened, and what you can do to prevent them from happening again in the future.

Quality assurance always happens after the project ends, but it can also happen at set milestones as the project progresses. Building these monitoring moments into your timeline can help you stay on track with your budget, resources, and delivery, and spot challenges before they become a major issue.

Use ClickUp Milestones to view your progress so far against your goals and objectives. Keep track of your project and monitor changes through your ClickUp Dashboard , where you can see and manage resources, budgets, time, and progress.

Together, ClickUp’s project management features allow you to get a clear view of what’s happening—both when you want to schedule a quality assurance check and throughout the lifecycle of the project. 👀

After your project is complete and your product or improvement has launched, it’s time to sit down and evaluate what happened. The project closing stage is an essential part of the project as it gives your team an opportunity to reflect on the entire process, what went well, and where you can improve next time.

Consider whether or not you met your objectives or project management KPIs , or if you had to change direction completely. Reflect on roadblocks or resource constraints , and how you overcame them.

Discuss the budget and resources, and whether you were able to manage them both effectively. Consider what helped make the project a success, and how you can make an even bigger impact with future projects.

Once you’ve met and discussed the project, prepare a project completion report to share with team members and key stakeholders. Outline the project’s goals, strategy, progress, and end results.

Share useful facts and figures, and use the Project Report template by ClickUp to help you translate your technical know-how into a report that’s visual, engaging, and easy for anyone to understand. ✨

ClickUp is your ultimate productivity hub. Our platform is packed with features designed to help project managers and their teams plan and run projects in a more productive way. That is certainly true for the project team at Lulu , who have used ClickUp to further their mission to empower creators.

Lulu’s team previously used a mix of clunky tools and processes that worked but led to a number of inefficiencies across the team. They turned to ClickUp in search of a better way to streamline processes for product releases and marketing materials and create a source of truth for the entire organization.

Now, Lulu’s software development and marketing teams can ideate, collaborate, and work on tasks that help them reach their goals—all in one place. Their product innovation and release process has been streamlined, leading to greater efficiency and productivity. ⚒️

“ClickUp helps us organize our product and feature roadmap so we can easily introduce new features and functionality to customers, and continually check to see how we’re progressing toward our goals,” says Nick Foster, Director of Product Management at Lulu. “At the end of the day, our number one goal is to make better products for our customers, and ClickUp helps us do that.”

Investing in ClickUp’s project management software meant that Lulu could eliminate time-intensive tasks and save their team members’ valuable energy for bigger and better projects. It puts everyone on the same page, united in their goal to help creators do what they do best. 🤩

Project Development: Your Questions Answered

Whether you’ve been a project manager for years or you’re new to the role, there’s always something new to learn. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about project development.

The five stages of the project life cycle coincide with those of the project development process. The Project Management Institute (PMI) proposes that the project life cycle is made up of five stages—initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure.

A project development manager’s role differs from that of a project manager. Instead of being tasked with overseeing the technical progress of a project, a project development manager’s main role is to plan and coordinate resources and project activities based on the goals and objectives.

Good project developers are naturally curious, and great problem solvers. They’re adept at spotting potential challenges and figuring out a way forward. Project developers are also great with numbers—it’s a skill that’s essential when you’re balancing and managing budgets, resources, and deadlines.

Your project development plan should cover all the details that help your project team plan for and execute against your goal. This includes your project’s goals and objectives, key dates and milestones, project scope, collaborators, key stakeholders, project timeline, risks, budget, and resources. The plan should be a comprehensive guide that acts as a source of truth for your entire project team.

Plan Your Way to Success With Project Management Software

The best project teams don’t rely on their project management skills to get them through. They invest in project development and continue to monitor progress through the project timeline.

Use these project development strategies and steps to build your own workflows and processes to help you meet your project goals.

If you’re ready to swap your cobbled-together project management tools for an all-in-one collaborative platform designed to help you stay productive and effective, try ClickUp for free . Our platform has every feature a leading project team needs, with the ultimate flexibility to customize every template, project, and process the way you want it.

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Case studies of sustained and successful development cooperation - Supporting Transformational Change Booklet

October 30, 2015.

UNDP has been engaged in development cooperation for more than 50 years. While the modalities of its projects and programmes have evolved, the ultimate purpose of its work has remained the same: to assist UN Member States to improve the living standards and life opportunities of their citizens (empow¬ered lives) by supporting the development of national capacity so that member states can manage their own development programmes (resilient nations). UNDP has not been the only development agency which has worked towards this objective, and indeed it has always worked as an integral part of the wider UN System in each country, as well as alongside many other multilateral, bilateral and non-governmental practitioners. Nonetheless, UNDP is one of those with the longest engagement, the broadest mandate, the most partner countries and the most extensive country representation.

The value of development cooperation is under renewed challenge and UNDP is embarking on a process of institutional renewal. The time is ripe, therefore, for UNDP to identify and document examples of successful and sustained development cooperation that have contributed to transformational change at the country or subregional level. These examples — presented here — help to identify generic lessons for successful development cooperation that can be applied in future programme design and implementation.

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PRINCE2® Implementation: Achieving Excellence Through Employee Development

• Project management
• Project planning
• Project progress

May 31, 2018  |

  15  min read

All of our White Papers and Case Studies are subject to the following Terms of Use .

This project was initiated to enhance the project management capability of the City of Edinburgh's Housing department. The PRINCE2 methodology was adopted with training for personnel and development of an appropriate governance structure for implementation. It has enhanced effectiveness and understanding of the practicalities of project design, management and delivery, and provided professional development opportunities to its staff. The improved procedures have already seen success in the delivery of projects within time and budget.

Introduction

This project was initiated to enhance the project management capability of the City of Edinburgh’s Housing department. The PRINCE2 methodology was adopted with training for personnel and development of an appropriate governance structure for implementation. It has enhanced effectiveness and understanding of the practicalities of project design, management and delivery, and provided professional development opportunities to its staff. The improved procedures have already seen success in the delivery of projects within time and budget.

The Housing Service at the City of Edinburgh Council employs 1,300 staff across a diverse range of divisions. As such, it can have a significant number of on-going projects within its remit. Internal and external factors forced the City Council to recognize that it needed to enhance its project management capability. The training budget for the financial year 2004-2005 set aside an initial budget of £50k for this purpose. Following a feasibility study, the PRINCE2 methodology is being implemented across the Housing Department. The training programme has since been integrated into the council wide Leadership and Management development strategy, which will ultimately increase consistency and delivery of services across the whole council.

Drivers for change

Change was driven by internal and external factors. A number of radical changes were on the horizon for the Housing Department relating to proposed housing stock transfer, the delivery of the city’s housing strategy, and the wider Council review of services. The Housing Service Plan acknowledged that “the systems, processes and the way that we do business must change to create an organization capable of delivering Excellence”. The Head of Private Housing Services (PHS) within the City of Edinburgh Council Housing Department approached Employee Development (ED) to find out about project management training (and subsequently became the project sponsor). At this time, Housing Senior Management also acknowledged the need to enhance project management capability in other areas of the department. This was largely due to external drivers, notably an increasing pressure to meet the requirements of the Government’s ‘Modernisation Agenda’ and, particularly, the introduction of the ‘Best Value Framework’. The project is framed within the statutory framework provided by the 2003 ‘Local Government in Scotland Act’, which exists to secure continuous improvement in the performance of public service organizations.

Aims and objectives

The Housing Service undertook this programme to expand their project management capability and to ensure that projects are managed efficiently, provide best value for customers, and are completed on time and within budget.

Following initial setbacks (see below), the scope of the project changed quite considerably to include the whole of Housing Services. Revised plans were formulated and the objectives of the PRINCE2 Implementation Project were identified as follows:

• To develop a framework that supports the decision of the Housing Senior Management Team (HSMT) to adopt PRINCE2 as the project management standard for Housing Services;
• To provide the support mechanisms to implement and embed the method within the organization.

Methodology

Use of tools and project structure.

PRINCE2 was identified as the preferred approach and a pilot project to enable its implementation was initiated in June 2004. Given the size of Housing Services, a staged implementation process was required.

The initial budget of £50k was aimed at enabling the delivery of the initial training programme for key personnel involved with the pilot programme. The programme included accredited PRINCE2 training to Practitioner level, Board level and Project Support level. Additionally, it was agreed that consideration should be given to the capacity and infrastructure requirements for implementation. The initial budget, therefore, also funded continued consultancy support to complete a feasibility study, which gathered information relating to management resources, systems, processes and tools to support future roll-out. This recommended PR-02 and a pilot programme of five projects to inform the capacity and infrastructure required for future and wider implementation.

Much of the initial work required to plan the PRINCE2 Implementation Project (P2IP) was identified as part of the feasibility study. An additional budget of £50k was secured to:

• Expand the existing training programme;
• Develop a project management specific intranet website;
• Design protocol to align projects to PRINCE2 and assess learning requirements
• Design evaluation controls;
• Carry out a feasibility study for a centralized project support function and a plan to roll-out training to support the Project Management Approach (PMA – bespoke IT supported training programme based on PRINCE2 methodology aimed at providing project managers with a step-by-step guide to the successful management of projects across Housing Services).

In addition to this, PHS had secured funding of £24k to develop the PMA tool and customize training. This was managed as a separate project within PHS and integrated into the wider agenda through roll-out of the training as a key product of the P2IP.

Implementing a centralized project/programme support function will be the final phase of embedding PRINCE2 within Housing Services. The benefits realized to date have strengthened the business case for establishing a dedicated support function within Housing Services.

Development of a Central support function will:

• Maintain an integrated governance framework;
• Provide continued training, advice and guidance relating to the application of PRINCE2;
• Maintain and provide standards, methods and tools;
• Monitor and measure benefit realization;
• Provide key management information.

June 2004 Initiation of pilot project to implement PRINCE2 Jan 2005 Initiation of PRINCE2 implementation project Jan 2006 Completion of implementation project

Use of tools

The Housing Department was initially unfamiliar with the concept of PRINCE2 or any other structured approach to project management. A staff training programme was implemented to address this issue.

Organizational issues

At the 3-month evaluation stage, the pilot programme was not progressing as well as planned, due to other high-profile issues being given priority over implementation of the PRINCE2 project (particularly the Housing Stock Transfer). However:

• Following the initiation of the Housing Stock Transfer, the project was revised to address organizational priorities.
• At this point, the scope of the project changed quite considerably to include the whole of Housing Services.
• A new project initiation document was prepared, which captured activities to date and set plans for the future.
• Given the success of the ED unit in delivering the training programme, a new project manager from ED was appointed to drive through the changes required for successful delivery.

Undertaking an initial feasibility study

Much of the initial work required to plan the PRINCE2 Implementation Project (P2IP) was identified as part of the original feasibility study.

Use of PRINCE2 as a methodology to frame the programme

• Evidence of the application of PRINCE2 across a wide range of businesses and its relationship with the ‘Modernising Government Agenda’ helped secure Senior Management commitment to adopting this methodology.
• The use of standardized PRINCE2 tools to capture shared information has been instrumental in supporting the communication process with other organizations, involving relevant key stakeholders and achieving the commitment required to drive projects forward for the benefit of customers;
• The PRINCE2 method offers practical tools and methods for effective management of a complex mission critical project initiated through the ongoing council review. It constitutes an excellent method to ensure that key stakeholders are clear about their roles and responsibilities and how they can contribute to successful project delivery.

Application of new project management procedures

• New services are being created through the application of PRINCE2 across the department. These range from localized initiatives that link to service improvement, to brand new pioneering services such as those aimed at supporting potential customers in the private sector. This has not traditionally been within the scope of Housing Services, and can only be achieved through stakeholder involvement and effective project management. PRINCE2 provides a practical, logical solution to enable service improvement and development.
• One of the most significant organizational initiatives applying PRINCE2 is the ‘Services for Communities’. The Housing department is merging with other community services and will change from being 1,300 to 3,500 strong, thus encompassing additional diverse divisions. This is a huge challenge for all stakeholders and a significant change management programme initiated by the ongoing Council review.

Achievements and benefits

Internal processes.

• The uptake of the training programme across the whole Council has increased consistency in project management, and enhanced working relationships across divisions;
• Improvement in communication between individuals, teams and departments;
• Users have a clearer overview of the time required to deliver projects, and of the costs and resources required. The need to identify potential risks from the outset is also appreciated;
• Less time is spent in non-productive meetings;
• There is increased alignment of projects with strategic objectives;
• The culture has changed towards being accountable and focused on outcomes rather than measuring activity.

Staff development

• The accredited training programme supports continuous professional development opportunities in project management;
• Other training opportunities enable the development of potential project management personnel, and the flexibility to develop personal development plans designed for personal achievement in line with business objectives;
• Employees are benefiting through support to work in a more organized way, which improves planning, organizational and communication skills.

Service provided

• Increased consistency between departments provides an improved service for customers;
• PRINCE2 is helping local and central government to deliver on key initiatives and ultimately ensure that services for customers continue to improve and provide value for money;
• The systems and processes that are being implemented through the P2IP are slowly ‘changing the way that we do business’ thus realizing the vision set out in the Housing Service plan.

Lessons learned

• Senior Management commitment/buy in to a more structured approach to project management is essential for successful project delivery at a strategic and operational level;
• Often senior level managers are not exposed to the level of training aimed at project managers and other project management personnel. It is essential that they develop an understanding of the crucial role that they can take in relation to successful project delivery;
• A common perception of PRINCE2 to those not familiar with its business benefits is that it is bureaucratic and time consuming. The project manger has to assume the role of a salesperson to promote PRINCE2 application to management. This can be achieved by demonstrating its strategic benefits such as its effectiveness as a robust change management and performance improvement tool and its capability to achieve Charter Mark and Best Value requirements;
• Develop and deliver Senior Management learning programmes specific to your organization to help secure commitment and support at this level;
• Providing a centralized project support office (PSO) function could be implemented to achieve a ‘top down’ integrated governance approach as well as providing support and facilitation to achieve project management best practice.
• Appropriate IT solutions are essential to provide an effective project support function.
• If you don’t have the expertise required to implement an effective project management framework, ensure that you engage with an accredited consultancy that has considerable ‘hands on’ experience to support you in realizing your vision. Housing Services would not have been able to develop key implementation projects with as much success without expert support.
• Demonstrate the more practical elements of PRINCE2 application at every opportunity. ‘Show’ don’t lecture!
• PRINCE2 is most effective when the method is scaled appropriately and applied to achieve planned objectives. This demonstrates the flexibility of using PRINCE2 to achieve structure and control of a project, while still achieving a fit with existing culture.
• The key tools for success are planning and managing risks. More time spent at the initiation stage of a project to identify ‘deliverables’ is more likely to achieve a successful outcome.
• Using a structured method of project management improves communication, particularly in large programmes.
• In addition to PRINCE2 application a programme management approach is required for more complex projects. The development of a programme management framework will be able to monitor strategic outcomes across a range of work being carried out within Housing Services, thus enabling the organization to fully maximize scarce resources and ensure that projects align with business strategy.
• Ensuring that a project or programme has adequate resources to support the delivery of projects is critical to successful delivery.
• Outcomes need to be monitored to achieve benefit realization for the organization.
• Developing project management skills as part of an existing Leadership and Management programme is essential. A long-term approach to skills and knowledge development should be adopted and managed as an investment, not a cost. This will ensure that staff are able to use PRINCE2 and other tools successfully to deliver key business projects, thus realizing benefits for the organization relating to quality, cost, efficiency and effectiveness. This will also enable the organization to manage knowledge and talent more effectively.
• Learning programmes need to be flexible to support the various project management roles and different learning styles of individuals. One size does not fit all. A range of accredited, specialized training, coaching and workshops are essential to develop motivated skilled project management capability within the organization.
• Achieve a fit with existing culture and existing best value performance management arrangements
• Provide training, support, advice, project assurance and guidance.
• Monitor key project outcomes and support the provision of an appropriate platform for the development of programme management.

Wider implications

Replicability.

PRINCE2 was applied within the Housing service to manage the implementation project thus making it easier to replicate and useful to demonstrate it’s potential to decision makers. Other public sector organizations may find our initial approach useful, i.e. to use the method to engage in a pilot programme that applies PRINCE2 methodology to ensure that future roll-out plans are more likely to meet key business objectives.

The achievements in Housing Services are influencing project management initiatives in the council as a whole:

• Initial sharing of best practice through discussions with corporate employee development services has resulted in the accredited training programme being provided as part of the council wide Leadership and Management development strategy (and employing the same consultancy and training provider employed within Housing)

Other stakeholders to whom the project may be relevant / useful

• Since embarking on this project, the proposed Housing Stock Transfer was rejected in a ballot of existing council tenants. In addition, there is an ongoing council review which has meant major changes to the department, including the merger of local community services (which incorporates Housing). As a result, staffing levels have more than doubled. Many of the additional staff have received accredited training through the corporate programme but up until now have not had access to other bespoke methods of training and support, our Intranet site, access to internal or external consultancy which has supported this project.
• Organizations that have a project management process in place but who want to identify and share best practice with other organizations to improve their performance.
• More recently we are providing support to partnership projects where the stakeholders are internal and external to the council and include private sector organizations. In many cases we are driving and supporting significant projects through the experience and expertise gained through this project

Development of practical tools or methodologies that could have a wider applicability

• Links have been established with Enterprise Risk Management Development to achieve consistency of approach. The organization is starting to realize the benefits of effective risk management as opposed to listing risks and then forgetting about them! This approach is being applied Council wide.
• As part of this project a bespoke training programme was developed and supported by an IT tool which is based on Prince2. This tool is accessible through our Intranet and/or a stand-alone tool on a CD-ROM to support the successful delivery of partnership projects.
• We have also developed a combination of accredited training solutions and bespoke methods to work with individual project teams. The training is aimed at developing a high performing team in terms of skills, knowledge and behaviours required for successful project management delivery. This approach is successfully addressing some of the people issues which can often cause projects to fail.

Future developments

As identified in the ‘Lessons Learned’, it is critical at this stage that senior level commitment to a more structured method of project management is embedded within the organization to ensure that our investment in people, processes and tools is realized. In addition to PRINCE2 application, a Programme Management approach is required for more complex projects and to meet with the Best Value requirements in terms of governance at a strategic, financial and operational level. A proposal has been made to our senior management to gain the commitment to resource a dedicated project management office. This would ensure that project management is linked to our performance framework so that we can improve our service and meet the requirements of ‘Best Value’ for our customers. The business case is very strong for this and we are continuing to promote this at every opportunity.

It has been suggested that we recruit the PSO personnel internally and, therefore, more specific project roles and responsibilities are being developed to ensure that the right people with the right skills are recruited for these key roles. This is being achieved through benchmarking with other organizations that already have a PSO or equivalent framework in place. This work will also be useful for succession planning and talent management in relation to the continuous improvement of our project management capability within the organization.

Key facts and figures

CEC have invested £100k in developing people, processes and tools. We now have over 40 projects applying PRINCE2 or key elements of it. Those who apply the method are much more aware of what is required for successful project delivery and their planning skills have improved considerably. This has meant that demand for project support and information has increased significantly following the learning and development programme. Thus the implementation project has been driven from a people perspective. Strategic Governance is now required to fully realize the benefits of the significant commitment to building capability and capacity to improve project management performance.

Acknowledgements

Published by TSO on www.AXELOS.com

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Agile Case Studies: Examples Across Various Industires

Home Blog Agile Agile Case Studies: Examples Across Various Industires

Agile methodologies have gained significant popularity in project management and product development. Various industries have successfully applied Agile principles , showcasing experiences, challenges, and benefits. Case studies demonstrate Agile's versatility in software development, manufacturing, and service sectors. These real-world examples offer practical insights into Agile implementation, challenges faced, and strategies to overcome them. Agile case studies provide valuable inspiration for implementing these methodologies in any project, regardless of the organization's size or industry.

Who Uses Agile Methodology?

Agile methodology is used by a wide variety of organizations, including:

• Software development companies use Agile to improve collaboration, increase flexibility, and deliver high-quality software incrementally.
• IT departments use agile to manage and execute projects efficiently, respond to changing requirements, and deliver value to stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Startups use agile to quickly adapt to market changes and iterate on product development based on customer feedback.
• Marketing and advertising agencies use agile to enhance campaign management, creative development, and customer engagement strategies.
• Product development teams use agile to iterate, test, and refine their designs and manufacturing processes.
• Project management teams use agile to enhance project execution , facilitate collaboration, and manage complex projects with changing requirements.
• Retail companies use agile to develop new marketing campaigns and improve their website and e-commerce platform.

Agile Case Study Examples

1. moving towards agile: managing loxon solutions.

Following is an Agile case study in banking :

Loxon Solutions, a Hungarian technology startup in the banking software industry, faced several challenges in its journey towards becoming an agile organization. As the company experienced rapid growth, it struggled with its hiring strategy, organizational development, and successful implementation of agile practices. 

How was it solved:

Loxon Solutions implemented a structured recruitment process with targeted job postings and rigorous interviews to attract skilled candidates. They restructured the company into cross-functional teams, promoting better collaboration. Agile management training and coaching were provided to all employees, with online courses playing a crucial role. Agile teams with trained Scrum Masters and Product Owners were established, and agile ceremonies like daily stand-ups were introduced to enhance collaboration and transparency.

2. Contributions of Entrepreneurial Orientation in the Use of Agile Methods in Project Management

This Agile project management case study aims to analyze the degree of contribution of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in the use of agile methods (AM) in project management. The study focuses on understanding how EO influences the adoption and effectiveness of agile methods within organizations. Through a detailed case study, we explore the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and Agile methods, shedding light on the impact of entrepreneurial behaviors on project management practices.

A technology consulting firm faced multiple challenges in project management efficiency and responsiveness to changing client requirements. This specific problem was identified because of the limited use of Agile methods in project management, which hindered the company's ability to adapt quickly and deliver optimal outcomes.

Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is a multidimensional construct that describes the extent to which an organization engages in entrepreneurial behaviors. The technology firm acknowledged the significance of entrepreneurial orientation in promoting agility and innovation in project management. 

The five dimensions of Entreprenurial orientation were applied across the organization.

• Cultivating Innovativeness: The technology consulting firm encouraged a culture of innovativeness and proactiveness, urging project teams to think creatively, identify opportunities, and take proactive measures. 
• Proactiveness: Employees were empowered to generate new ideas, challenge traditional approaches, and explore alternative solutions to project challenges. This helped them to stay ahead of the competition and to deliver the best possible results for their customers.
• Encouraging Risk-Taking: The organization promoted a supportive environment that encouraged calculated risk-taking and autonomy among project teams. Employees were given the freedom to make decisions and take ownership of their projects, fostering a sense of responsibility and accountability.
• Autonomy: Agile teams were given the autonomy to make decisions and take risks. This helped them to be more innovative and to deliver better results.
• Nurturing Competitive Aggressiveness: The technology firm instilled a competitive aggressiveness in project teams, motivating them to strive for excellence and deliver superior results.

3. Improving Team Performance and Engagement

How do you ensure your team performs efficiently without compromising on quality? Agile is a way of working that focuses on value to the customer and continuous improvement. Integrating Agile in your work will not only make the team efficient but will also ensure quality work. Below is a case study that finds how agile practices can help teams perform better.

The problem addressed in this case study is the need to understand the relationship between the Agile way of working and improving team performance and engagement. We see that teams often face challenges in their daily work. It could be a slow turnover due to bad time management, compromised quality due to lack of resources, or in general lack of collaboration. In the case study below, we will understand how adopting agile practices makes teams work collaboratively, improve quality and have a customer-focused approach to work.

How it was Solved:

A number of factors mediated the relationship between agile working and team performance and engagement. 

• Create a culture of trust and transparency. Agile teams need to be able to trust each other and share information openly. This will help to create a sense of collaboration and ownership. This in turn can lead to increased performance and engagement. 
• Foster communication and collaboration. Effective communication within the team and with stakeholders helps everyone be on the same page.
• Empower team members. Agile teams need to be empowered to make decisions and to take risks. 
• Provide regular feedback. Team members need to receive regular feedback on their performance. This helps them to identify areas where they need improvement. 
• Celebrate successes. By celebrating successes, both big and small, team members are motivated. This in turn creates a positive work environment. 
• Provide training and development opportunities. help the team to stay up to date on the latest trends and to improve their skills. 
• Encourage continuous improvement: Promoting a culture of continuous improvement helps the team to stay ahead of the competition and to deliver better results for their customers. 

It was concluded that agile ways of working can have a positive impact on employee engagement and team performance. Teams that used agile methods were more likely to report high levels of performance and engagement.

4. $65 Million Electric Utility Project Completed Ahead of Schedule and Under Budget

Xcel Energy faced a significant challenge in meeting the Reliability Need required by the Southwest Power Pool in New Mexico. The company had committed to constructing a new 34-mile, 345-kilovolt transmission line within a strict budget of $65 million and a specific timeline. Additionally, the project had to adhere to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) environmental requirements. These constraints posed a challenge to Xcel Energy in terms of project management and resource allocation.

A PM Solutions consultant with project management and utility industry experience was deployed to Xcel Energy.

The PM Solutions consultant deployed to Xcel adapted to the organization's structure and processes, integrating into the Project Management functional organization. He utilized years of project management and utility industry experience to provide valuable insights and guidance.

• Collaborative and social skills were used to address roadblocks and mitigate risks.
• Focused on identifying and addressing roadblocks and risks to ensure timely project delivery.
• Vendor, design, and construction meetings were organized to facilitate communication and collaboration.
• Monitored and expedited long-lead equipment deliveries to maintain project schedule.
• Design and Construction milestones and commitments were closely monitored through field visits.
• Actively tracked estimates, actual costs, and change orders to control project budget .
• Assisted functional areas in meeting their commitments and resolving challenges.

The project was completed eleven days ahead of schedule and approximately $4 million under budget. The management team recognized the project as a success since it went as planned, meeting all technical and quality requirements. 

5. Lean product development and agile project management in the construction industry

The construction industry, specifically during the design stage, has not widely embraced Lean Project Delivery (LPD) and Agile Project Management (APM) practices. This limited adoption delays the industry's progress in enhancing efficiency, productivity, and collaboration in design.

• Integrated project delivery and collaborative contracts: Collaborative contracts were implemented to incentivize teamwork and shared project goals, effectively breaking down silos and fostering a collaborative culture within the organization.
• Lean principles in design processes: Incorporating Lean principles into design processes was encouraged to promote lean thinking and identify non-value-adding activities, bottlenecks, and process inefficiencies. 
• Agile methodologies and cross-functional teams: Agile methodologies and cross-functional teams were adopted to facilitate iterative and adaptive design processes. 
• Digital tools and technologies: The organization embraced digital tools and technologies, such as collaborative project management software , Building Information Modeling (BIM), and cloud-based platforms. 
• A culture of innovation and learning: A culture of innovation and learning was promoted through training and workshops on Lean Project Delivery (LPD) and Agile Project Management (APM) methodologies. Incorporating Agile management training, such as KnowledgeHut Agile Training online , further enhanced the team's ability to implement LPD and APM effectively. 
• Clear project goals and metrics: Clear project goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) were established, aligning with LPD and APM principles. Regular monitoring and measurement of progress against these metrics helped identify areas for improvement and drive accountability.
• Industry best practices and case studies: industry best practices and case studies were explored, and guidance was sought from experts to gain valuable insights into effective strategies and techniques for implementation.

6. Ambidexterity in Agile Software Development (ASD) Projects

An organization in the software development industry aims to enhance their understanding of the tensions between exploitation (continuity) and exploration (change) within Agile software development (ASD) project teams. They seek to identify and implement ambidextrous strategies to effectively balance these two aspects.

How it was solved:

• Recognizing tensions: Teams were encouraged to understand and acknowledge the inherent tensions between exploitation and exploration in Agile projects.
• Fostering a culture of ambidexterity: The organization created a culture that values both stability and innovation, emphasizing the importance of balancing the two.
• Balancing resource allocation: Resources were allocated between exploitation and exploration activities, ensuring a fair distribution to support both aspects effectively.
• Supporting knowledge sharing : Team members were encouraged to share their expertise and lessons learned from both exploitation and exploration, fostering a culture of continuous learning.
• Promoting cross-functional collaboration: Collaboration between team members involved in both aspects was facilitated, allowing for cross-pollination of ideas and insights.
• Establishing feedback mechanisms: Feedback loops were implemented to evaluate the impact of exploitation and exploration efforts, enabling teams to make data-driven decisions and improvements.
• Developing flexible processes: Agile practices that supported both stability and innovation, such as iterative development and adaptive planning, were adopted to ensure flexibility and responsiveness.
• Providing leadership support: Leaders promoted and provided necessary resources for the adoption of agile practices, demonstrating their commitment to ambidexterity.
• Encouraging experimentation: An environment that encouraged risk-taking and the exploration of new ideas was fostered, allowing teams to innovate and try new approaches.
• Continuous improvement: Regular assessments and adaptations of agile practices were conducted based on feedback and evolving project needs, enabling teams to continuously improve their ambidextrous strategies.

7. Problem and Solutions for PM Governance Combined with Agile Tools in Financial Services Programs

Problem: The consumer finance company faced challenges due to changing state and federal regulatory compliance requirements, resulting in the need to reinvent their custom-built storefront and home office systems. The IT and PMO teams were not equipped to handle the complexities of developing new systems, leading to schedule overruns, turnover of staff and technologies, and the need to restart projects multiple times.

How it was Solved: 

To address these challenges, the company implemented several solutions with the help of PM Solutions:

• Back to Basics Approach: A senior-level program manager was brought in to conduct a full project review and establish stakeholder ownership and project governance. This helped refocus the teams on the project's objectives and establish a clear direction.
• Agile Techniques and Sprints: The company gradually introduced agile techniques, starting with a series of sprints to develop "proof of concept" components of the system. Agile methodologies allowed for more flexibility and quicker iterations, enabling faster progress.
• Expanded Use of JIRA: The company utilized Atlassian's JIRA system, which was already in place for operational maintenance, to support the new development project. PM Solutions expanded the use of JIRA by creating workflows and tools specifically tailored to the agile approach, improving timeliness and success rates for delivered work.
• Kanban Approach: A Kanban approach was introduced to help pace the work and track deliveries. This visual management technique enabled project management to monitor progress, manage workloads effectively, and report updates to stakeholders.
• Organizational Change Management: PM Solutions assisted the company in developing an organizational change management system. This system emphasized early management review of requirements and authorizations before work was assigned. By involving company leadership in prioritization and resource utilization decisions, the workload for the IT department was reduced, and focus was placed on essential tasks and priorities.

8. Insurance Company Cuts Cycle Time by 20% and Saves Nearly $5 Million Using Agile Project Management Practices

In this Agile Scrum case study, the insurance company successfully implemented Agile Scrum methodology for their software development projects , resulting in significant improvements in project delivery and overall team performance.

The insurance company faced challenges with long project cycles, slow decision-making processes, and lack of flexibility in adapting to changing customer demands. These issues resulted in higher costs, delayed project deliveries, and lower customer satisfaction levels.

• Implementation of Agile Practices: To address these challenges, the company decided to transition from traditional project management approaches to Agile methodologies. The key steps in implementing Agile practices were as follows:
• Executive Sponsorship: The company's leadership recognized the need for change and provided full support for the Agile transformation initiative. They appointed Agile champions and empowered them to drive the adoption of Agile practices across the organization.
• Training and Skill Development: Agile training programs were conducted to equip employees with the necessary knowledge and skills. Training covered various Agile frameworks, such as Scrum and Kanban, and focused on enhancing collaboration, adaptive planning, and iterative development.
• Agile Team Formation: Cross-functional Agile teams were formed, consisting of individuals with diverse skill sets necessary to deliver projects end-to-end. These teams were self-organizing and empowered to make decisions, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability.
• Agile Project Management Tools: The company implemented Agile project management tools and platforms to facilitate communication, collaboration, and transparency. These tools enabled real-time tracking of project progress, backlog management, and seamless coordination among team members.

9. Agile and Generic Work Values of British vs Indian IT Workers

Problem: 

In this Agile transformation case study, the problem identified is the lack of effective communication and alignment within an IT firm unit during the transformation towards an agile work culture. The employees from different cultural backgrounds had different perceptions and understanding of what it means to be agile, leading to clashes in behaviors and limited team communication. This situation undermined morale, trust, and the sense of working well together.

The study suggests that the cultural background of IT employees and managers, influenced by different national values and norms, can impact the adoption and interpretation of agile work values.

• Leadership: Leaders role-modeled the full agile mindset, along with cross-cultural skills. They demonstrated teamwork, justice, equality, transparency, end-user orientation, helpful leadership, and effective communication . 
• Culture: Managers recognized and appreciated the cultural diversity within the organization. Cultural awareness and sensitivity training were provided to help employees and managers understand and appreciate the diverse cultural backgrounds within the organization.
• Agile values : The importance of agile work values was emphasized, including shared responsibility, continuous learning and improvement, self-organizing teamwork, fast fact-based decision-making, empowered employees, and embracing change. Managers actively promoted and reinforced these values in their leading and coaching efforts to cultivate an agile mindset among employees.
• Transformation: A shift was made from a centralized accountability model to a culture of shared responsibility. Participation in planning work projects was encouraged, and employees were empowered to choose their own tasks within the context of the team's objectives.
• Roadmap: An agile transformation roadmap was developed and implemented, covering specific actions and milestones to accelerate the adoption of agile ways of working. 
• Senior management received necessary support, training, and additional management consultancy to drive the agile transformation effectively.

Benefits of Case Studies for Professionals

Case studies provide several benefits for professionals in various fields: 

• Real-world Application: Agile methodology examples and case studies offer insights into real-life situations, allowing professionals to see how theoretical concepts and principles are applied in practice.
• Learning from Success and Failure: Agile transformation case studies often present both successful and failed projects or initiatives. By examining these cases, professionals can learn from the successes and avoid the mistakes made in the failures.
• Problem-solving and Decision-making Skills: Case studies present complex problems or challenges that professionals need to analyze and solve. By working through these cases, professionals develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. 
• Building Expertise: By studying cases that are relevant to their area of expertise, professionals can enhance their knowledge and become subject matter experts. 
• Professional Development: Analyzing and discussing case studies with peers or mentors promotes professional development.
• Practical Application of Concepts: Teams can test their understanding of concepts, methodologies, and best practices by analyzing and proposing solutions for the challenges presented in the cases. 
• Continuous Learning and Adaptation: By studying these cases, professionals can stay updated on industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies. 

In conclusion, agile methodology case studies are valuable tools for professionals in various fields. The real-world examples and insights into specific problems and solutions, allow professionals to learn from others' experiences and apply those learning their own work. Case studies offer a deeper understanding of complex situations, highlighting the challenges faced, the strategies employed, and the outcomes achieved.

The benefits of case studies for professionals are numerous. They offer an opportunity to analyze and evaluate different approaches, methodologies, and best practices. Case studies also help professionals develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and decision-making capabilities through practical scenarios and dilemmas to navigate.

Overall, agile case study examples offer professionals the opportunity to gain practical wisdom and enhance their professional development. Studying real-life examples helps professionals acquire valuable insights, expand their knowledge base, and improve their problem-solving abilities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Three examples of Agile methodologies are:

Scrum: Scrum is one of the most widely used Agile frameworks. It emphasizes iterative and incremental development, with a focus on delivering value to the customer in short, time-boxed iterations called sprints. 

Kanban: Kanban is a visual Agile framework that aims to optimize workflow efficiency and promote continuous delivery.

Lean: Lean is a philosophy and Agile approach focused on maximizing value while minimizing waste. 

• People over process: Agile values the people involved in software development, and emphasizes communication and collaboration.
• Working software over documentation: Agile prioritizes delivering working software over extensive documentation.
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation: Agile values close collaboration with customers and stakeholders throughout the development process.
• Responding to change over following a plan: Agile recognizes that change is inevitable, and encourages flexibility and adaptability.

The six phases in Agile are:

• Initiation: Define the project and assemble the team.
• Planning: Create a plan for how to achieve the project's goals.
• Development: Build the product or service in short sprints.
• Testing: Ensure the product or service meets requirements.
• Deployment: Release the product or service to the customer.
• Maintenance: Support the product or service with bug fixes, new features, and improvements.

Lindy Quick

Lindy Quick, SPCT, is a dynamic Transformation Architect and Senior Business Agility Consultant with a proven track record of success in driving agile transformations. With expertise in multiple agile frameworks, including SAFe, Scrum, and Kanban, Lindy has led impactful transformations across diverse industries such as manufacturing, defense, insurance/financial, and federal government. Lindy's exceptional communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills have earned her a reputation as a trusted advisor. Currently associated with KnowledgeHut and upGrad, Lindy fosters Lean-Agile principles and mindset through coaching, training, and successful execution of transformations. With a passion for effective value delivery, Lindy is a sought-after expert in the field.

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Top 40 Most Popular Case Studies of 2021

Two cases about Hertz claimed top spots in 2021's Top 40 Most Popular Case Studies

Two cases on the uses of debt and equity at Hertz claimed top spots in the CRDT’s (Case Research and Development Team) 2021 top 40 review of cases.

Hertz (A) took the top spot. The case details the financial structure of the rental car company through the end of 2019. Hertz (B), which ranked third in CRDT’s list, describes the company’s struggles during the early part of the COVID pandemic and its eventual need to enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 

The success of the Hertz cases was unprecedented for the top 40 list. Usually, cases take a number of years to gain popularity, but the Hertz cases claimed top spots in their first year of release. Hertz (A) also became the first ‘cooked’ case to top the annual review, as all of the other winners had been web-based ‘raw’ cases.

Besides introducing students to the complicated financing required to maintain an enormous fleet of cars, the Hertz cases also expanded the diversity of case protagonists. Kathyrn Marinello was the CEO of Hertz during this period and the CFO, Jamere Jackson is black.

Sandwiched between the two Hertz cases, Coffee 2016, a perennial best seller, finished second. “Glory, Glory, Man United!” a case about an English football team’s IPO made a surprise move to number four.  Cases on search fund boards, the future of malls,  Norway’s Sovereign Wealth fund, Prodigy Finance, the Mayo Clinic, and Cadbury rounded out the top ten.

Other year-end data for 2021 showed:

• Online “raw” case usage remained steady as compared to 2020 with over 35K users from 170 countries and all 50 U.S. states interacting with 196 cases.
• Fifty four percent of raw case users came from outside the U.S..
• The Yale School of Management (SOM) case study directory pages received over 160K page views from 177 countries with approximately a third originating in India followed by the U.S. and the Philippines.
• Twenty-six of the cases in the list are raw cases.
• A third of the cases feature a woman protagonist.
• Orders for Yale SOM case studies increased by almost 50% compared to 2020.
• The top 40 cases were supervised by 19 different Yale SOM faculty members, several supervising multiple cases.

CRDT compiled the Top 40 list by combining data from its case store, Google Analytics, and other measures of interest and adoption.

All of this year’s Top 40 cases are available for purchase from the Yale Management Media store .

And the Top 40 cases studies of 2021 are:

1.   Hertz Global Holdings (A): Uses of Debt and Equity

2.   Coffee 2016

3.   Hertz Global Holdings (B): Uses of Debt and Equity 2020

4.   Glory, Glory Man United!

5.   Search Fund Company Boards: How CEOs Can Build Boards to Help Them Thrive

6.   The Future of Malls: Was Decline Inevitable?

7.   Strategy for Norway's Pension Fund Global

8.   Prodigy Finance

9.   Design at Mayo

10. Cadbury

11. City Hospital Emergency Room

13. Volkswagen

14. Marina Bay Sands

15. Shake Shack IPO

16. Mastercard

17. Netflix

18. Ant Financial

19. AXA: Creating the New CR Metrics

20. IBM Corporate Service Corps

21. Business Leadership in South Africa's 1994 Reforms

22. Alternative Meat Industry

23. Children's Premier

24. Khalil Tawil and Umi (A)

25. Palm Oil 2016

26. Teach For All: Designing a Global Network

27. What's Next? Search Fund Entrepreneurs Reflect on Life After Exit

28. Searching for a Search Fund Structure: A Student Takes a Tour of Various Options

30. Project Sammaan

31. Commonfund ESG

32. Polaroid

33. Connecticut Green Bank 2018: After the Raid

34. FieldFresh Foods

35. The Alibaba Group

36. 360 State Street: Real Options

37. Herman Miller

38. AgBiome

39. Nathan Cummings Foundation

40. Toyota 2010

How to write a case study — examples, templates, and tools

It’s a marketer’s job to communicate the effectiveness of a product or service to potential and current customers to convince them to buy and keep business moving. One of the best methods for doing this is to share success stories that are relatable to prospects and customers based on their pain points, experiences, and overall needs.

That’s where case studies come in. Case studies are an essential part of a content marketing plan. These in-depth stories of customer experiences are some of the most effective at demonstrating the value of a product or service. Yet many marketers don’t use them, whether because of their regimented formats or the process of customer involvement and approval.

A case study is a powerful tool for showcasing your hard work and the success your customer achieved. But writing a great case study can be difficult if you’ve never done it before or if it’s been a while. This guide will show you how to write an effective case study and provide real-world examples and templates that will keep readers engaged and support your business.

In this article, you’ll learn:

What is a case study?

How to write a case study, case study templates, case study examples, case study tools.

A case study is the detailed story of a customer’s experience with a product or service that demonstrates their success and often includes measurable outcomes. Case studies are used in a range of fields and for various reasons, from business to academic research. They’re especially impactful in marketing as brands work to convince and convert consumers with relatable, real-world stories of actual customer experiences.

The best case studies tell the story of a customer’s success, including the steps they took, the results they achieved, and the support they received from a brand along the way. To write a great case study, you need to:

• Celebrate the customer and make them — not a product or service — the star of the story.
• Craft the story with specific audiences or target segments in mind so that the story of one customer will be viewed as relatable and actionable for another customer.
• Write copy that is easy to read and engaging so that readers will gain the insights and messages intended.
• Follow a standardized format that includes all of the essentials a potential customer would find interesting and useful.
• Support all of the claims for success made in the story with data in the forms of hard numbers and customer statements.

Case studies are a type of review but more in depth, aiming to show — rather than just tell — the positive experiences that customers have with a brand. Notably, 89% of consumers read reviews before deciding to buy, and 79% view case study content as part of their purchasing process. When it comes to B2B sales, 52% of buyers rank case studies as an important part of their evaluation process.

Telling a brand story through the experience of a tried-and-true customer matters. The story is relatable to potential new customers as they imagine themselves in the shoes of the company or individual featured in the case study. Showcasing previous customers can help new ones see themselves engaging with your brand in the ways that are most meaningful to them.

Besides sharing the perspective of another customer, case studies stand out from other content marketing forms because they are based on evidence. Whether pulling from client testimonials or data-driven results, case studies tend to have more impact on new business because the story contains information that is both objective (data) and subjective (customer experience) — and the brand doesn’t sound too self-promotional.

Case studies are unique in that there’s a fairly standardized format for telling a customer’s story. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for creativity. It’s all about making sure that teams are clear on the goals for the case study — along with strategies for supporting content and channels — and understanding how the story fits within the framework of the company’s overall marketing goals.

Here are the basic steps to writing a good case study.

1. Identify your goal

Start by defining exactly who your case study will be designed to help. Case studies are about specific instances where a company works with a customer to achieve a goal. Identify which customers are likely to have these goals, as well as other needs the story should cover to appeal to them.

The answer is often found in one of the buyer personas that have been constructed as part of your larger marketing strategy. This can include anything from new leads generated by the marketing team to long-term customers that are being pressed for cross-sell opportunities. In all of these cases, demonstrating value through a relatable customer success story can be part of the solution to conversion.

2. Choose your client or subject

Who you highlight matters. Case studies tie brands together that might otherwise not cross paths. A writer will want to ensure that the highlighted customer aligns with their own company’s brand identity and offerings. Look for a customer with positive name recognition who has had great success with a product or service and is willing to be an advocate.

The client should also match up with the identified target audience. Whichever company or individual is selected should be a reflection of other potential customers who can see themselves in similar circumstances, having the same problems and possible solutions.

Some of the most compelling case studies feature customers who:

• Switch from one product or service to another while naming competitors that missed the mark.
• Experience measurable results that are relatable to others in a specific industry.
• Represent well-known brands and recognizable names that are likely to compel action.
• Advocate for a product or service as a champion and are well-versed in its advantages.

Whoever or whatever customer is selected, marketers must ensure they have the permission of the company involved before getting started. Some brands have strict review and approval procedures for any official marketing or promotional materials that include their name. Acquiring those approvals in advance will prevent any miscommunication or wasted effort if there is an issue with their legal or compliance teams.

3. Conduct research and compile data

Substantiating the claims made in a case study — either by the marketing team or customers themselves — adds validity to the story. To do this, include data and feedback from the client that defines what success looks like. This can be anything from demonstrating return on investment (ROI) to a specific metric the customer was striving to improve. Case studies should prove how an outcome was achieved and show tangible results that indicate to the customer that your solution is the right one.

This step could also include customer interviews. Make sure that the people being interviewed are key stakeholders in the purchase decision or deployment and use of the product or service that is being highlighted. Content writers should work off a set list of questions prepared in advance. It can be helpful to share these with the interviewees beforehand so they have time to consider and craft their responses. One of the best interview tactics to keep in mind is to ask questions where yes and no are not natural answers. This way, your subject will provide more open-ended responses that produce more meaningful content.

4. Choose the right format

There are a number of different ways to format a case study. Depending on what you hope to achieve, one style will be better than another. However, there are some common elements to include, such as:

• An engaging headline
• A subject and customer introduction
• The unique challenge or challenges the customer faced
• The solution the customer used to solve the problem
• The results achieved
• Data and statistics to back up claims of success
• A strong call to action (CTA) to engage with the vendor

It’s also important to note that while case studies are traditionally written as stories, they don’t have to be in a written format. Some companies choose to get more creative with their case studies and produce multimedia content, depending on their audience and objectives. Case study formats can include traditional print stories, interactive web or social content, data-heavy infographics, professionally shot videos, podcasts, and more.

5. Write your case study

We’ll go into more detail later about how exactly to write a case study, including templates and examples. Generally speaking, though, there are a few things to keep in mind when writing your case study.

• Be clear and concise. Readers want to get to the point of the story quickly and easily, and they’ll be looking to see themselves reflected in the story right from the start.
• Provide a big picture. Always make sure to explain who the client is, their goals, and how they achieved success in a short introduction to engage the reader.
• Construct a clear narrative. Stick to the story from the perspective of the customer and what they needed to solve instead of just listing product features or benefits.
• Leverage graphics. Incorporating infographics, charts, and sidebars can be a more engaging and eye-catching way to share key statistics and data in readable ways.
• Offer the right amount of detail. Most case studies are one or two pages with clear sections that a reader can skim to find the information most important to them.
• Include data to support claims. Show real results — both facts and figures and customer quotes — to demonstrate credibility and prove the solution works.

6. Promote your story

Marketers have a number of options for distribution of a freshly minted case study. Many brands choose to publish case studies on their website and post them on social media. This can help support SEO and organic content strategies while also boosting company credibility and trust as visitors see that other businesses have used the product or service.

Marketers are always looking for quality content they can use for lead generation. Consider offering a case study as gated content behind a form on a landing page or as an offer in an email message. One great way to do this is to summarize the content and tease the full story available for download after the user takes an action.

Sales teams can also leverage case studies, so be sure they are aware that the assets exist once they’re published. Especially when it comes to larger B2B sales, companies often ask for examples of similar customer challenges that have been solved.

Now that you’ve learned a bit about case studies and what they should include, you may be wondering how to start creating great customer story content. Here are a couple of templates you can use to structure your case study.

Template 1 — Challenge-solution-result format

• Start with an engaging title. This should be fewer than 70 characters long for SEO best practices. One of the best ways to approach the title is to include the customer’s name and a hint at the challenge they overcame in the end.
• Create an introduction. Lead with an explanation as to who the customer is, the need they had, and the opportunity they found with a specific product or solution. Writers can also suggest the success the customer experienced with the solution they chose.
• Present the challenge. This should be several paragraphs long and explain the problem the customer faced and the issues they were trying to solve. Details should tie into the company’s products and services naturally. This section needs to be the most relatable to the reader so they can picture themselves in a similar situation.
• Share the solution. Explain which product or service offered was the ideal fit for the customer and why. Feel free to delve into their experience setting up, purchasing, and onboarding the solution.
• Explain the results. Demonstrate the impact of the solution they chose by backing up their positive experience with data. Fill in with customer quotes and tangible, measurable results that show the effect of their choice.
• Ask for action. Include a CTA at the end of the case study that invites readers to reach out for more information, try a demo, or learn more — to nurture them further in the marketing pipeline. What you ask of the reader should tie directly into the goals that were established for the case study in the first place.

Template 2 — Data-driven format

• Start with an engaging title. Be sure to include a statistic or data point in the first 70 characters. Again, it’s best to include the customer’s name as part of the title.
• Create an overview. Share the customer’s background and a short version of the challenge they faced. Present the reason a particular product or service was chosen, and feel free to include quotes from the customer about their selection process.
• Present data point 1. Isolate the first metric that the customer used to define success and explain how the product or solution helped to achieve this goal. Provide data points and quotes to substantiate the claim that success was achieved.
• Present data point 2. Isolate the second metric that the customer used to define success and explain what the product or solution did to achieve this goal. Provide data points and quotes to substantiate the claim that success was achieved.
• Present data point 3. Isolate the final metric that the customer used to define success and explain what the product or solution did to achieve this goal. Provide data points and quotes to substantiate the claim that success was achieved.
• Summarize the results. Reiterate the fact that the customer was able to achieve success thanks to a specific product or service. Include quotes and statements that reflect customer satisfaction and suggest they plan to continue using the solution.
• Ask for action. Include a CTA at the end of the case study that asks readers to reach out for more information, try a demo, or learn more — to further nurture them in the marketing pipeline. Again, remember that this is where marketers can look to convert their content into action with the customer.

While templates are helpful, seeing a case study in action can also be a great way to learn. Here are some examples of how Adobe customers have experienced success.

Juniper Networks

One example is the Adobe and Juniper Networks case study , which puts the reader in the customer’s shoes. The beginning of the story quickly orients the reader so that they know exactly who the article is about and what they were trying to achieve. Solutions are outlined in a way that shows Adobe Experience Manager is the best choice and a natural fit for the customer. Along the way, quotes from the client are incorporated to help add validity to the statements. The results in the case study are conveyed with clear evidence of scale and volume using tangible data.

The story of Lenovo’s journey with Adobe is one that spans years of planning, implementation, and rollout. The Lenovo case study does a great job of consolidating all of this into a relatable journey that other enterprise organizations can see themselves taking, despite the project size. This case study also features descriptive headers and compelling visual elements that engage the reader and strengthen the content.

Tata Consulting

When it comes to using data to show customer results, this case study does an excellent job of conveying details and numbers in an easy-to-digest manner. Bullet points at the start break up the content while also helping the reader understand exactly what the case study will be about. Tata Consulting used Adobe to deliver elevated, engaging content experiences for a large telecommunications client of its own — an objective that’s relatable for a lot of companies.

Case studies are a vital tool for any marketing team as they enable you to demonstrate the value of your company’s products and services to others. They help marketers do their job and add credibility to a brand trying to promote its solutions by using the experiences and stories of real customers.

When you’re ready to get started with a case study:

• Think about a few goals you’d like to accomplish with your content.
• Make a list of successful clients that would be strong candidates for a case study.
• Reach out to the client to get their approval and conduct an interview.
• Gather the data to present an engaging and effective customer story.

Adobe can help

There are several Adobe products that can help you craft compelling case studies. Adobe Experience Platform helps you collect data and deliver great customer experiences across every channel. Once you’ve created your case studies, Experience Platform will help you deliver the right information to the right customer at the right time for maximum impact.

To learn more, watch the Adobe Experience Platform story .

Keep in mind that the best case studies are backed by data. That’s where Adobe Real-Time Customer Data Platform and Adobe Analytics come into play. With Real-Time CDP, you can gather the data you need to build a great case study and target specific customers to deliver the content to the right audience at the perfect moment.

Watch the Real-Time CDP overview video to learn more.

Finally, Adobe Analytics turns real-time data into real-time insights. It helps your business collect and synthesize data from multiple platforms to make more informed decisions and create the best case study possible.

Request a demo to learn more about Adobe Analytics.

https://business.adobe.com/blog/perspectives/b2b-ecommerce-10-case-studies-inspire-you

https://business.adobe.com/blog/basics/business-case

https://business.adobe.com/blog/basics/what-is-real-time-analytics

Business growth

Marketing tips

16 case study examples (+ 3 templates to make your own)

I like to think of case studies as a business's version of a resume. It highlights what the business can do, lends credibility to its offer, and contains only the positive bullet points that paint it in the best light possible.

Imagine if the guy running your favorite taco truck followed you home so that he could "really dig into how that burrito changed your life." I see the value in the practice. People naturally prefer a tried-and-true burrito just as they prefer tried-and-true products or services.

To help you showcase your success and flesh out your burrito questionnaire, I've put together some case study examples and key takeaways.

What is a case study?

A case study is an in-depth analysis of how your business, product, or service has helped past clients. It can be a document, a webpage, or a slide deck that showcases measurable, real-life results.

For example, if you're a SaaS company, you can analyze your customers' results after a few months of using your product to measure its effectiveness. You can then turn this analysis into a case study that further proves to potential customers what your product can do and how it can help them overcome their challenges.

It changes the narrative from "I promise that we can do X and Y for you" to "Here's what we've done for businesses like yours, and we can do it for you, too."

16 case study examples 

While most case studies follow the same structure, quite a few try to break the mold and create something unique. Some businesses lean heavily on design and presentation, while others pursue a detailed, stat-oriented approach. Some businesses try to mix both.

There's no set formula to follow, but I've found that the best case studies utilize impactful design to engage readers and leverage statistics and case details to drive the point home. A case study typically highlights the companies, the challenges, the solution, and the results. The examples below will help inspire you to do it, too.

1. .css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class]{all:unset;box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-text-fill-color:currentColor;cursor:pointer;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class]{all:unset;box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;outline-offset:1px;-webkit-text-fill-color:currentColor;outline:1px solid transparent;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='ocean']{color:#3d4592;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='ocean']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='ocean']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='white']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='white']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='white']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='primary']{color:#3d4592;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='primary']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='primary']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='secondary']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='secondary']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='secondary']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-weight='inherit']{font-weight:inherit;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-weight='normal']{font-weight:400;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-weight='bold']{font-weight:700;} Volcanica Coffee and AdRoll

People love a good farm-to-table coffee story, and boy am I one of them. But I've shared this case study with you for more reasons than my love of coffee. I enjoyed this study because it was written as though it was a letter.

In this case study, the founder of Volcanica Coffee talks about the journey from founding the company to personally struggling with learning and applying digital marketing to finding and enlisting AdRoll's services.

It felt more authentic, less about AdRoll showcasing their worth and more like a testimonial from a grateful and appreciative client. After the story, the case study wraps up with successes, milestones, and achievements. Note that quite a few percentages are prominently displayed at the top, providing supporting evidence that backs up an inspiring story.

Takeaway: Highlight your goals and measurable results to draw the reader in and provide concise, easily digestible information.

2. Taylor Guitars and Airtable

This Airtable case study on Taylor Guitars comes as close as one can to an optimal structure. It features a video that represents the artistic nature of the client, highlighting key achievements and dissecting each element of Airtable's influence.

It also supplements each section with a testimonial or quote from the client, using their insights as a catalyst for the case study's narrative. For example, the case study quotes the social media manager and project manager's insights regarding team-wide communication and access before explaining in greater detail.

Takeaway: Highlight pain points your business solves for its client, and explore that influence in greater detail.

3. EndeavourX and Figma

My favorite part of Figma's case study is highlighting why EndeavourX chose its solution. You'll notice an entire section on what Figma does for teams and then specifically for EndeavourX.

It also places a heavy emphasis on numbers and stats. The study, as brief as it is, still manages to pack in a lot of compelling statistics about what's possible with Figma.

Takeaway: Showcase the "how" and "why" of your product's differentiators and how they benefit your customers.

4. ActiveCampaign and Zapier

Zapier's case study leans heavily on design, using graphics to present statistics and goals in a manner that not only remains consistent with the branding but also actively pushes it forward, drawing users' eyes to the information most important to them. 

The graphics, emphasis on branding elements, and cause/effect style tell the story without requiring long, drawn-out copy that risks boring readers. Instead, the cause and effect are concisely portrayed alongside the client company's information for a brief and easily scannable case study.

Takeaway: Lean on design to call attention to the most important elements of your case study, and make sure it stays consistent with your branding.

5. Ironclad and OpenAI

In true OpenAI fashion, this case study is a block of text. There's a distinct lack of imagery, but the study features a narrated video walking readers through the product.

The lack of imagery and color may not be the most inviting, but utilizing video format is commendable. It helps thoroughly communicate how OpenAI supported Ironclad in a way that allows the user to sit back, relax, listen, and be impressed. 

Takeaway: Get creative with the media you implement in your case study. Videos can be a very powerful addition when a case study requires more detailed storytelling.

6. Shopify and GitHub

GitHub's case study on Shopify is a light read. It addresses client pain points and discusses the different aspects its product considers and improves for clients. It touches on workflow issues, internal systems, automation, and security. It does a great job of representing what one company can do with GitHub.

To drive the point home, the case study features colorful quote callouts from the Shopify team, sharing their insights and perspectives on the partnership, the key issues, and how they were addressed.

Takeaway: Leverage quotes to boost the authoritativeness and trustworthiness of your case study. 

7 . Audible and Contentful

Contentful's case study on Audible features almost every element a case study should. It includes not one but two videos and clearly outlines the challenge, solution, and outcome before diving deeper into what Contentful did for Audible. The language is simple, and the writing is heavy with quotes and personal insights.

This case study is a uniquely original experience. The fact that the companies in question are perhaps two of the most creative brands out there may be the reason. I expected nothing short of a detailed analysis, a compelling story, and video content. 

Takeaway: Inject some brand voice into the case study, and create assets that tell the story for you.

8 . Zoom and Asana

Asana's case study on Zoom is longer than the average piece and features detailed data on Zoom's growth since 2020. Instead of relying on imagery and graphics, it features several quotes and testimonials. 

It's designed to be direct, informative, and promotional. At some point, the case study reads more like a feature list. There were a few sections that felt a tad too promotional for my liking, but to each their own burrito.

Takeaway: Maintain a balance between promotional and informative. You want to showcase the high-level goals your product helped achieve without losing the reader.

9 . Hickies and Mailchimp

I've always been a fan of Mailchimp's comic-like branding, and this case study does an excellent job of sticking to their tradition of making information easy to understand, casual, and inviting.

It features a short video that briefly covers Hickies as a company and Mailchimp's efforts to serve its needs for customer relationships and education processes. Overall, this case study is a concise overview of the partnership that manages to convey success data and tell a story at the same time. What sets it apart is that it does so in a uniquely colorful and brand-consistent manner.

Takeaway: Be concise to provide as much value in as little text as possible.

10. NVIDIA and Workday

The gaming industry is notoriously difficult to recruit for, as it requires a very specific set of skills and experience. This case study focuses on how Workday was able to help fill that recruitment gap for NVIDIA, one of the biggest names in the gaming world.

Though it doesn't feature videos or graphics, this case study stood out to me in how it structures information like "key products used" to give readers insight into which tools helped achieve these results.

Takeaway: If your company offers multiple products or services, outline exactly which ones were involved in your case study, so readers can assess each tool.

11. KFC and Contentful

I'm personally not a big KFC fan, but that's only because I refuse to eat out of a bucket. My aversion to the bucket format aside, Contentful follows its consistent case study format in this one, outlining challenges, solutions, and outcomes before diving into the nitty-gritty details of the project.

Say what you will about KFC, but their primary product (chicken) does present a unique opportunity for wordplay like "Continuing to march to the beat of a digital-first drum(stick)" or "Delivering deep-fried goodness to every channel."

Takeaway: Inject humor into your case study if there's room for it and if it fits your brand. 

12. Intuit and Twilio

Twilio does an excellent job of delivering achievements at the very beginning of the case study and going into detail in this two-minute read. While there aren't many graphics, the way quotes from the Intuit team are implemented adds a certain flair to the study and breaks up the sections nicely.

It's simple, concise, and manages to fit a lot of information in easily digestible sections.

Takeaway: Make sure each section is long enough to inform but brief enough to avoid boring readers. Break down information for each section, and don't go into so much detail that you lose the reader halfway through.

13. Spotify and Salesforce

Salesforce created a video that accurately summarizes the key points of the case study. Beyond that, the page itself is very light on content, and sections are as short as one paragraph.

I especially like how information is broken down into "What you need to know," "Why it matters," and "What the difference looks like." I'm not ashamed of being spoon-fed information. When it's structured so well and so simply, it makes for an entertaining read.

Takeaway: Invest in videos that capture and promote your partnership with your case study subject. Video content plays a promotional role that extends beyond the case study in social media and marketing initiatives .

14. Benchling and Airtable

Benchling is an impressive entity in its own right. Biotech R&D and health care nuances go right over my head. But the research and digging I've been doing in the name of these burritos (case studies) revealed that these products are immensely complex. 

And that's precisely why this case study deserves a read—it succeeds at explaining a complex project that readers outside the industry wouldn't know much about.

Takeaway: Simplify complex information, and walk readers through the company's operations and how your business helped streamline them.

15. Chipotle and Hubble

The concision of this case study is refreshing. It features two sections—the challenge and the solution—all in 316 words. This goes to show that your case study doesn't necessarily need to be a four-figure investment with video shoots and studio time. 

Sometimes, the message is simple and short enough to convey in a handful of paragraphs.

Takeaway: Consider what you should include instead of what you can include. Assess the time, resources, and effort you're able and willing to invest in a case study, and choose which elements you want to include from there.

16. Hudl and Zapier

I may be biased, but I'm a big fan of seeing metrics and achievements represented in branded graphics. It can be a jarring experience to navigate a website, then visit a case study page and feel as though you've gone to a completely different website.

The Zapier format provides nuggets of high-level insights, milestones, and achievements, as well as the challenge, solution, and results. My favorite part of this case study is how it's supplemented with a blog post detailing how Hudl uses Zapier automation to build a seamless user experience.

The case study is essentially the summary, and the blog article is the detailed analysis that provides context beyond X achievement or Y goal.

Takeaway: Keep your case study concise and informative. Create other resources to provide context under your blog, media or press, and product pages.

3 case study templates

Now that you've had your fill of case studies (if that's possible), I've got just what you need: an infinite number of case studies, which you can create yourself with these case study templates.

Case study template 1

If you've got a quick hit of stats you want to show off, try this template. The opening section gives space for a short summary and three visually appealing stats you can highlight, followed by a headline and body where you can break the case study down more thoroughly. This one's pretty simple, with only sections for solutions and results, but you can easily continue the formatting to add more sections as needed.

Case study template 2

For a case study template with a little more detail, use this one. Opening with a striking cover page for a quick overview, this one goes on to include context, stakeholders, challenges, multiple quote callouts, and quick-hit stats. 

Case study template 3

Whether you want a little structural variation or just like a nice dark green, this template has similar components to the last template but is designed to help tell a story. Move from the client overview through a description of your company before getting to the details of how you fixed said company's problems.

Tips for writing a case study

Examples are all well and good, but you don't learn how to make a burrito just by watching tutorials on YouTube without knowing what any of the ingredients are. You could , but it probably wouldn't be all that good.

Writing a good case study comes down to a mix of creativity, branding, and the capacity to invest in the project. With those details in mind, here are some case study tips to follow:

Have an objective: Define your objective by identifying the challenge, solution, and results. Assess your work with the client and focus on the most prominent wins. You're speaking to multiple businesses and industries through the case study, so make sure you know what you want to say to them.

Focus on persuasive data: Growth percentages and measurable results are your best friends. Extract your most compelling data and highlight it in your case study.

Use eye-grabbing graphics: Branded design goes a long way in accurately representing your brand and retaining readers as they review the study. Leverage unique and eye-catching graphics to keep readers engaged. 

Simplify data presentation: Some industries are more complex than others, and sometimes, data can be difficult to understand at a glance. Make sure you present your data in the simplest way possible. Make it concise, informative, and easy to understand.

Use automation to drive results for your case study

A case study example is a source of inspiration you can leverage to determine how to best position your brand's work. Find your unique angle, and refine it over time to help your business stand out. Ask anyone: the best burrito in town doesn't just appear at the number one spot. They find their angle (usually the house sauce) and leverage it to stand out.

In fact, with the right technology, it can be refined to work better . Explore how Zapier's automation features can help drive results for your case study by making your case study a part of a developed workflow that creates a user journey through your website, your case studies, and into the pipeline.

Case study FAQ

Got your case study template? Great—it's time to gather the team for an awkward semi-vague data collection task. While you do that, here are some case study quick answers for you to skim through while you contemplate what to call your team meeting.

What is an example of a case study?

An example of a case study is when a software company analyzes its results from a client project and creates a webpage, presentation, or document that focuses on high-level results, challenges, and solutions in an attempt to showcase effectiveness and promote the software.

How do you write a case study?

To write a good case study, you should have an objective, identify persuasive and compelling data, leverage graphics, and simplify data. Case studies typically include an analysis of the challenge, solution, and results of the partnership.

What is the format of a case study?

While case studies don't have a set format, they're often portrayed as reports or essays that inform readers about the partnership and its results. 

Related reading:

How Hudl uses automation to create a seamless user experience

How to make your case studies high-stakes—and why it matters

How experts write case studies that convert, not bore

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Hachem Ramki

Hachem is a writer and digital marketer from Montreal. After graduating with a degree in English, Hachem spent seven years traveling around the world before moving to Canada. When he's not writing, he enjoys Basketball, Dungeons and Dragons, and playing music for friends and family.

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International Conference on Intelligent Systems in Production Engineering and Maintenance

ISPEM 2023: Advances in Production pp 60–74 Cite as

Modern Trends in Project Management – Selected Issues – Case Study

• Anna Bluszcz   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-9724-5706 15 &
• Marcin Chabior 15  
• Conference paper
• First Online: 10 October 2023

204 Accesses

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 790))

Today’s enterprises operate in a global market characterized by the following conditions: volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. These conditions require the implementation of adequate management methods, ensuring sustainable foundations for business activity in the long term. In enterprises, currently about 30% of activities are carried out in the form of projects. The article presents an innovative approach to project management, which evolves from the traditional approach to a new sustainable approach. In particular, the stage of initiating a new project, in which it is required to perform a project impact analysis under the P5 Standard, was discussed. Based on the conclusions of this analysis, it is possible to plan the steps that will be taken by the project team in order not only to reduce the negative impact of the project on sustainability, but also to increase the benefits of the project. The article presents Projects integrating Sustainable Methods (PRiSM), which means a comprehensive methodology for managing sustainable projects. PRiSM goes beyond the typical project lifecycle model to maximize value by focusing on the entire asset lifecycle. This five-step approach includes pre-project planning, product/service adoption and integration, and benefit realization. The publication contains practical examples of project implementation based on sustainable project management, which is a valuable source of information for both theoreticians and business practitioners.

• Project Management
• Sustainable Development

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Bluszcz, A.: Ecological growth boundaries, management systems in production engineering. P.A. NOVA S.A. 25 (1), 55–59 (2017)

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Anna Bluszcz & Marcin Chabior

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Anna Burduk

Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK

Andre Batako

School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

José Machado

Katedra Budowy Maszyn, Politechnika Śląska, Gliwice, Poland

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Rzeszow University of Technology, Rzeszów, Poland

Katarzyna Antosz

Lublin University of Technology, Lublin, Poland

Arkadiusz Gola

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Bluszcz, A., Chabior, M. (2023). Modern Trends in Project Management – Selected Issues – Case Study. In: Burduk, A., Batako, A., Machado, J., Wyczółkowski, R., Antosz, K., Gola, A. (eds) Advances in Production. ISPEM 2023. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 790. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-45021-1_5

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Methodology

• What Is a Case Study? | Definition, Examples & Methods

What Is a Case Study? | Definition, Examples & Methods

Published on May 8, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on November 20, 2023.

A case study is a detailed study of a specific subject, such as a person, group, place, event, organization, or phenomenon. Case studies are commonly used in social, educational, clinical, and business research.

A case study research design usually involves qualitative methods , but quantitative methods are sometimes also used. Case studies are good for describing , comparing, evaluating and understanding different aspects of a research problem .

Table of contents

When to do a case study, step 1: select a case, step 2: build a theoretical framework, step 3: collect your data, step 4: describe and analyze the case, other interesting articles.

A case study is an appropriate research design when you want to gain concrete, contextual, in-depth knowledge about a specific real-world subject. It allows you to explore the key characteristics, meanings, and implications of the case.

Case studies are often a good choice in a thesis or dissertation . They keep your project focused and manageable when you don’t have the time or resources to do large-scale research.

You might use just one complex case study where you explore a single subject in depth, or conduct multiple case studies to compare and illuminate different aspects of your research problem.

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Once you have developed your problem statement and research questions , you should be ready to choose the specific case that you want to focus on. A good case study should have the potential to:

• Provide new or unexpected insights into the subject
• Challenge or complicate existing assumptions and theories
• Propose practical courses of action to resolve a problem
• Open up new directions for future research

TipIf your research is more practical in nature and aims to simultaneously investigate an issue as you solve it, consider conducting action research instead.

Unlike quantitative or experimental research , a strong case study does not require a random or representative sample. In fact, case studies often deliberately focus on unusual, neglected, or outlying cases which may shed new light on the research problem.

Example of an outlying case studyIn the 1960s the town of Roseto, Pennsylvania was discovered to have extremely low rates of heart disease compared to the US average. It became an important case study for understanding previously neglected causes of heart disease.

However, you can also choose a more common or representative case to exemplify a particular category, experience or phenomenon.

Example of a representative case studyIn the 1920s, two sociologists used Muncie, Indiana as a case study of a typical American city that supposedly exemplified the changing culture of the US at the time.

While case studies focus more on concrete details than general theories, they should usually have some connection with theory in the field. This way the case study is not just an isolated description, but is integrated into existing knowledge about the topic. It might aim to:

• Exemplify a theory by showing how it explains the case under investigation
• Expand on a theory by uncovering new concepts and ideas that need to be incorporated
• Challenge a theory by exploring an outlier case that doesn’t fit with established assumptions

To ensure that your analysis of the case has a solid academic grounding, you should conduct a literature review of sources related to the topic and develop a theoretical framework . This means identifying key concepts and theories to guide your analysis and interpretation.

There are many different research methods you can use to collect data on your subject. Case studies tend to focus on qualitative data using methods such as interviews , observations , and analysis of primary and secondary sources (e.g., newspaper articles, photographs, official records). Sometimes a case study will also collect quantitative data.

Example of a mixed methods case studyFor a case study of a wind farm development in a rural area, you could collect quantitative data on employment rates and business revenue, collect qualitative data on local people’s perceptions and experiences, and analyze local and national media coverage of the development.

The aim is to gain as thorough an understanding as possible of the case and its context.

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In writing up the case study, you need to bring together all the relevant aspects to give as complete a picture as possible of the subject.

How you report your findings depends on the type of research you are doing. Some case studies are structured like a standard scientific paper or thesis , with separate sections or chapters for the methods , results and discussion .

Others are written in a more narrative style, aiming to explore the case from various angles and analyze its meanings and implications (for example, by using textual analysis or discourse analysis ).

In all cases, though, make sure to give contextual details about the case, connect it back to the literature and theory, and discuss how it fits into wider patterns or debates.

If you want to know more about statistics , methodology , or research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• Normal distribution
• Degrees of freedom
• Null hypothesis
• Discourse analysis
• Control groups
• Mixed methods research
• Non-probability sampling
• Quantitative research
• Ecological validity

Research bias

• Rosenthal effect
• Implicit bias
• Cognitive bias
• Selection bias
• Negativity bias
• Status quo bias

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California Supreme Court hears arguments on UC Berkeley’s plans for housing at People’s Park

S hould noise from the future residents of a housing project be considered a form of environmental pollution under California environmental regulations? And to what degree should housing developers be pushed to study alternative sites for a project?

These are the questions the California Supreme Court faced Wednesday as it heard oral arguments in a case between UC Berkeley and a group of activists countering the university’s plans to build housing at People’s Park.

The case goes back to 2021, when Make UC A Good Neighbor and The People’s Park Historic District Advocacy Group sued UC Berkeley over the project — which would provide 1,100 student beds and 100 beds for people who are formerly homeless — arguing that the university failed to properly assess noise generated by students living there, or consider alternative sites. The university argued that it is building housing on all of the sites outlined in its Long Range Development Plan , which envisions adding 12,000 new student beds and 8 million square feet of classrooms, libraries and research labs by 2036.

Last year, an appellate court sided with the activists 3-0. Fearing the decision would indefinitely delay its master plan, including any future student housing, UC Berkeley appealed to the state Supreme Court to overturn that decision.

The university also got a major boost last year when, in response to that appellate court ruling, the state legislature passed AB 1307 , amending the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to clarify that noise generated by a housing project’s occupants can’t be considered a significant impact on the environment.

On Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan State Office Building in Downtown Los Angeles, UC lawyer Nicole Gordon pointed to the new law, arguing it undermined the appellate court’s February decision and gave the Supreme Court reason to overturn it.

“CEQA is not meant to regulate people,” Gordon said. “Yes, people cause pollution, but never before has a court said that the people themselves are the pollution.”

The attorney for the People’s Park activists, Thomas Lippe, argued that while AB 1307 may have rendered moot their argument around social noise regarding the People’s Park project, such noise should still be taken into account by environmental reviews of the university’s more broad long-range plan, which includes both residential and non-residential components.

“The legislature’s purpose was to remove barriers to the actual construction of housing,” Lippe argued. “It makes perfect sense for the legislature to leave a broad requirement in CEQA to… investigate the social noise impacts of increasing population.”

Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, who presided over the oral arguments, asked how the court should distinguish between the residential and non-residential parts of the long-term plan, and when CEQA should apply.

“You simply would come up with a method… to analyze the effect of the noise of having more students in the city,” Lippe said, adding that some colleges, like UC Berkeley and UC Santa Barbara, “have a party culture” and that could be a “focus of the analysis.”

“Having CEQA require social noise analysis of the long-range plan simply doesn’t interfere with the actual decisions to construct housing,” Lippe said.

Lippe also argued that UC Berkeley should be required to consider alternative sites as part of the environmental review it conducts under CEQA.

“It is in the public interest for the court to decide… that the public has the right to be involved in that decision making and have the reasons for alternative sites not being chosen made clear in the [environmental impact review.]”

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The discussion continued to come back to one thing: the university’s growth.

“The true target of the opponents’ challenge is really clear, that it is about undergraduate students,” Gordon argued.

Regardless of the court’s ruling on this case, the People’s Park housing project is expected to move forward, UC Berkeley spokesperson Dan Mogulof has said.

The university is in significant need of more housing — it currently provides just 22% of its more than 45,000 undergraduate and graduate students with on-campus housing, the lowest percentage of any UC school. The People’s Park project, plus other housing outlined in the long-range plan, would double the number of on-campus beds.

A decision is due by July 2.

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