After reading the case study thrice, a reader should have an understanding of the company, the timeline, and the numbers. However, when the feedback comes, it is stated “too descriptive” or “no clear recommendation”, the mark may be disappointing.
This kind of situation is both frustrating and quite common among students seeking Case Study Assignment Help UK. Marks are often deducted not because students put in too little effort, but because they simply retell the case instead of analysing the problem. Students are expected to identify the main issues, compare possible solutions using relevant theories, and recommend practical actions. In this blog, we explain what examiners expect, which mistakes can lead to lower marks, and how you can improve your next case study assignment.
What Do Lecturers Expect From a Case Study Assignment?
Requirements vary according to one university, course and subject, so always start by looking at your assignment sheet and the marking grid. Still, student support guidance gives much the same set of ideas, which Glasgow Caledonian University’s guide to case study analysis explains how a good case study should identify the main problem, dig into the underlying issues, argue the pros and cons of other potential solutions with the use of theory or practical experience, and end with a set of realistic recommendations,
Paying attention to the point list we just mentioned, notice the absence of a detailed summary of the case. If your reader had read the book or the material before, how is it that they are not getting the point now?
Five Common Reasons Students Lose Marks in Case Study Assignment Help UK
The same guide also lists the major issues leading to the students’ loss of marks. Below is just a straightforward translation of what the students do wrong, including suggestions and how to prevent it
1. Describing the case instead of finding the real problem
Describing the situation is a very natural way for the beginner writer. However, there is a problem: describing gives little to the marking. Ask yourself: what is the real issue? How did it start? What if there is a status quo without a change? These three questions should give you the main point(s) of your writing. Make them the core of the beginning and keep the reiteration short. If this way of approaching reminds of the common mistake in a common assignment writing mistake, you are right because that article also refers to a wrong analysis and not a description causing the fall of the mark in different types of coursework.
2. Mixing up big-picture and day-to-day issues
The company experiencing customer loss could be strategically wrong in that it is targeting the wrong market. The operations of a company that has a slow delivery system could lead to loss of customers. In the event that you mix the two, your proposed solution will be vague. Therefore, separate these problems, and then suggest a solution to each of them before putting together the different problems and your solutions.
3. Not saying who the problem affects
For example, managers’ problems may be different from what customers/staff think are problems. Not indicating whose issue it is would result in a solution that does not have a proper audience. Therefore, it will be better, to pick and describe the people who it’s a matter of for them, first and then proceed. Explain to them the issue that is on the basis of their problem before you offer the suggestion.
4. Skipping other options
Some students have the habit of immediately going to their mind’s first thoughts. However, the marking criteria for the assessment usually require several feasible alternatives with a description of merits, demerits, and risks, and so after a proper analysis you choose one and support it with your reasons. Hence, the greatest number of thinking marks is obtained through this comparison of the alternatives.
5. Recommendations with no plan or evidence
A remark such as “the company should improve communication” is not adequate. One must state what actually needs to happen, by whom and the possible obstacles. The suggestion must also be supported by theory, data or research from literature in your course modules, cited in the format your department requires. For a complete idea of how a case study with a detailed analysis of a business case is written you may refer to a guide on case study for MBA students that explains the process of writing case studies from beginning to end.
Use SWOT as a Tool, Not as the Whole Answer
Students often choose to write in a SWOT style and that’s a very understandable decision. According to OpenLearn’s course on writing the SWOT analysis of the Open University which is free online SWOT can be described as the method of business cases study evaluation and further, once the table is drawn, its content can be used to write the case study analysis and to make recommendations.
Therefore the work of making up the table remains as a task which you start with, a table that is still a description even with a list of the main points that you are not explaining why they are important. From the several key points you should select at least two to three that are essential and clarify why they are crucial for your readers in making a decision.
A Quick Checklist Before You Submit
Run through these questions on your final draft:
- Is it possible for you to state the major issue in one or two sentences?
- Did you differentiate matters at the level of overall planning from everyday running of the business in your SWOT analysis.
- Have you identified who the problem affects?
- Have you made a comparison of at least two possible solutions?
- Does every recommendation have the support, an understandable statement and comment on risk?
- Have you verified the requirement on word limitation, presentation and referencing from your assignment brief?
Answering yes to six questions out of these ten shows that your case study is more than a simple summary.
When Does Getting Case Study Assignment Help Make Sense?
There are several reasons why one might ask for assistance such as understanding the theoretical part while facing time constraints or not having enough time to work on case studies. That’s when it becomes a natural thing for you to seek help. With the help from the experts at Western Assignment Help, students can get their case study assignment help for making plans, developing structures and analyzing so that they can understand exactly what a strong answer is.
In choosing which support to take advantage of, it will be a great way to study it by means of that support. It would be better to look for your university policies on the use of external help before you proceed, and to use the advice/ help/ guidance that you obtain to deepen your understanding and improve your own way of writing. If there is a grade that one can be sure of with a service, and you need help with other modules at the same time, the web page on getting assignment help for UK students clarifies the different types of assistance available to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is my case study mark low even when I understand the topic?
A: Sometimes, a low score is because of an overly descriptive nature of the text. You probably have a term such as “descriptive”, “unclear recommendation” or “lack of evidence” in your comments. Then try to improve those parts of the text first.
Q: Do I need theory in a case study assignment?
A: For such a case the answer, probably, is a yes. Ideas, the Glasgow Caledonian University guide says, have to be backed with research, studies, or theories-based evidence. To get an idea of what your lecturer is expecting you, you could start by looking at your module reading list. This is because that is where your lecturer has likely taken the references from.
Q: Should I write a case study as a report or an essay?
A: Refer to your guidelines, as modules may affect the requirement. The same manual outlines a report layout consisting of introduction, main body, conclusion and recommendations sections, but your tutor could prefer a different type of delivery.
Q: Is it acceptable to use outside help for a case study?
A: Universities may have their own sets of standards, hence always review your institution’s academic integrity document first. Obtaining assistance in planning, comprehension and refinement of your own efforts is generally a more acceptable way of getting help than submitting a piece of work where you did not contribute in any way.
Final Thoughts
Most times, you just repeat the question as an introduction and that is where you get stuck. If you have done a case study that requires analysis, do not be shy in putting your knowledge to work. The majority of students who score low marks in a case study have the habit of not doing enough analysis and just providing the facts.
If you are pressed for time and don’t know where to begin, the assignment writing services at Western Assignment can read your assignment instructions, suggest to you the next action based on a case. You can get in touch with experts through our contact form to explain us your assignment requirements and ask what kind of tutoring you need for your case study.
