Case studies can be an effective B2B promotional tool especially when your products and services are intangible, expensive, highly technical or provide benefits that are not instantaneously derived upon purchase. Supporting marketing collateral that tells the stories of other customers’ experiences with what you are selling are often useful to share with prospects during the sales process. Case studies can be a powerful means to promote the benefits of a product or service like this. A good case study follows a specific formula that will optimize its effectiveness. If you’ve been nominated, asked or commissioned to write a case study, and you have little experience the following is a guide to writing an effective case study.

To Begin

Just like any kind of writing, when you are writing a case study the point of your content is to show the reader a certain perspective. You do not just want to tell them something. You want to demonstrate it so that the benefits become tangible in their mind. An effective case study highlights how a specific situation was initially identified, which solution was selected to resolve the issue, and a summary of the final results. Many case studies, especially in the IT world, tend to be short, around 300-500 words. As a general rule, aim for three pages, and include one graphic per page at most. A graphic can be an effective tool for readers that are visual, but with any more than one graphic, you clutter the message and run the risk of making the case study seem like a hard sell.

The Title

In your case study title you should include a benefit of the product or service. Instead of writing “Technology Case Study”, say “Case Study on How X Improved Sales by Y.” This way you will grab the reader’s attention from the start.

The Structure

The structure of most case studies includes three main sections: the situation (or problem), the solution (or implementation) and the results (or future forecast). The opening section that outlines the situation or problem being faced should carry a punch. This section has to discuss some sort of pain or problem that the reader can relate to. Next you should demonstrate how your product or service resolved a critical business issue. What you’re saying in this section is that if the reader chooses your product or service their situation or problem can also be resolve.

The Meat

The more specific the case study, the more effective it will be. Concentrate on how the meat of the case study, which is the solution or service, addresses a very specific issue. The entire case study is built around this single issue, so you should make sure to fine tune it and make it clear to the reader. Don’t dilute the case study by addressing more than one issue.

The Numbers

Stick to one area and explain how your product or service can solve the problem you outlined in measurable and quantifiable terms. Where possible, support your case study with statistics, figures and tables. Mention the measured Return On Investment (ROI) and explain how the investment in your product/service pays for itself. Demonstrate how you can substantiate this; otherwise, your argument loses credibility. If possible, discuss how the solution can help contain costs. This area is very important, as budgets are always a sensitive issue to businesses. If you can illustrate through numbers how a similar company saved a certain amount of money by adopting your product or service, you’ll certainly capture the reader’s attention. To reduce barriers, demonstrate how your solution improves operations. Show how it fits into the business process. Mention how your system plugs into other applications or expensive business critical applications. Make sure the statistics stand out so that the reader can easily digest them and then remember them later on.

Finalization

Use your judgment when compiling the final case study document. Avoid making it too technical or overloading it with excessive statistics. A case study should be an easy read, so make sure you are not making your explanation unnecessarily complicated.

The Reward

The long term reward of writing an impressive case study is that they stand out. Decision-makers will use them as a source of reference. Your case study will be seen as a credible and reliable source of information and make the decision-makers think that this is the type of company people want to do business with. For more tips on business best practices, visit www.flourishingbusiness.com.

The experience of studying overseas is rife with opportunities for academic and personal development. To garner the greatest results from the experience, though, it’s important to select a university with strong academic credentials and a competitive course of study.

Whether your preference is to study in Australia, New Zealand or Fiji, the university systems of this region more than meet these requirements. Additionally, there are many study abroad programs from which to choose. Students may decide to study in New Zealand or other locations for a shorter-term summer program, a semester, a year or even for the duration of a full degree program. For those seeking to round their academic qualifications even more, there are even internship programs from which to choose. The wide selection of programs makes it easy to meet almost any academic or scheduling goals.

What Are the Benefits of Studying in Australia, New Zealand or Fiji?

Most study abroad programs share basic benefits. These programs are a distinctive addition to college applications and resumes. Electing to study in New Zealand, Australia or Fiji carries these additional benefits for students:

•Exposure to a rich and diverse culture – Classroom experience as well as downtime in a study abroad program provides numerous opportunities to experience diverse cultures, traditions and social norms. In addition, the cultures and history of these nations share similarities with that found in North America. As a result, students gain the cultural insight afforded by international travel while enjoying the commonalities of our shared heritage. Students studying in Australia or throughout the South Pacific obtain a broadened perspective on the world as well as a more grounded perspective of their place in it.

•Outstanding educational opportunities—The region boasts internationally recognized degree programs and a world class university system. Students enrolling in study abroad program in Australia, New Zealand or Fiji are privy to some of the finest courses of study in an established, respected academic setting.

•No language obstacles — Since English is the predominant language in the region, extensive language study is not a prerequisite of study in Australia, New Zealand or Fiji. Classes are taught in English, and coursework and testing is done in English. Students are free to focus on soaking up the experience rather than worry about the accuracy of translating it.

•Breathtaking surroundings – One of the more striking benefits of choosing to study in New Zealand, Australia or Fiji is exposure to some of the most unique surroundings on the planet. Whether you are drawn to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, volcanoes in New Zealand or the pristine landscapes of Fiji, the region offers students the finest of educations in an unforgettable setting.

As American enrollment rises at foreign universities, college recruiters from around the globe continue to seek out qualified American students to fill quotas. If you’re looking to expand your horizons, meet new people, and experience new cultures, here’s what the landscape looks like, and how you can take advantage of study abroad programs without breaking the bank.

According to “Open Doors 2008,” a report released by the Institute of International Education, the number of Americans studying abroad has jumped 150 percent over the last decade. In 2006-2007 (the last year for which data was available) almost a quarter of a million Americans headed abroad to study–compared to fewer than 100,000 for 1996-1997.

While increased cross-cultural awareness among college-bound students has contributed to overseas enrollment, foreign recruiters are noticing another contributing factor. This fall, the National Association for College Admissions Counseling conference in Seattle hosted representatives from the University of Waikato in New Zealand, Seoul National University in South Korea, Jacobs University Bremen in Germany, and the University of Limerick in Ireland. Their goal: to fill university seats with qualified applicants. 

The Benefits of Study Abroad Programs
If you’re interested in studying abroad, you may be wondering how foreign universities differ from colleges in the United States. One difference is a more focused approach to study. American universities emphasize a well-rounded education, which means that if you’re studying medicine, you may still have to suffer through a course on postcolonial literature. In contrast, foreign universities sometimes offer early specialization, allowing you to skip the coursework that doesn’t interest you. Sam Dresser, a freshman at Scotland’s University of Edinburgh, found his niche in logic, psychology, and introductory philosophy courses after reading Sartre and Nietzsche in high school. “My math and science grades were not so good,” says Dresser, “so I loved the idea of only studying what I’m interested in.”

While Dresser discovered his path, the Scottish university system still allows for exploration outside of his specialty. English Universities offer an even more specialized approach, generally requiring three years of coursework. If you already have an idea of what you’d like to study, English or Scottish universities might be an ideal choice for you.

Ivy League Prestige–Without the Tuition or Competition
In addition to a narrower academic track, many foreign schools offer international experience and training comparable to the American Ivy League at a significantly lower cost. At Scotland’s St. Andrews University, where enrollment of American students recently jumped to 1,230, up from less than 200 a decade ago, many students end up paying tuition comparable to out-of-state tuition at an American public university.

Although competition is tight for students of host nations, Americans often have an easier time landing seats at foreign universities. According to Stephen Magee, St Andrews’ vice principal, “Am I wrong to say I don’t care if they can’t get into Harvard?”

The Value of a Dollar
If you decide to study abroad, the weak dollar means you may have to consider your wallet. For an economical study-abroad experience, there are a few strategies to help you keep your costs down. This might mean considering places outside of Western Europe and the industrialized world. According to “Open Doors 2008,” American students are gravitating toward less expensive options.

During 2006-2007, the number of American’s studying in China stood at 11,064–an increase of by 20 percent over the previous year. Compare that to the 1995-96 academic year, when only 1,396 Americans chose China for study abroad programs. Asia at large saw an increase of 20 percent, while the number of Americans studying in Africa increased by 19 percent. For Middle Eastern and Latin American programs, the increase stood at 7 percent.

Keep It Short
Although many Americans have elected to go abroad for the full course of their degree programs, financial expediency might make it difficult for you to stay abroad a full four years. All the same, you can still enjoy a richly rewarding experience–at a fraction of the cost–by keeping your study abroad time short. According to “Open Doors 2008,” about 36 percent of Americans who study abroad go for only a semester, while 55 percent choose short-term programs. Short-term programs can range from a summer, to a January term, or any program from two to four eight weeks during the academic year.  Short term programs serve the largest number of students studying abroad, including students of community colleges, or students with financial needs that prevent them from staying abroad for extended periods of time.

With foreign recruiters on the hunt, enrollment up among American expats, and economical options for study abroad gaining in popularity, you should have plenty of strategies to help you travel the world on a shoestring.

Product Description
The goal in developing this ASHE Reader was to provide a contextualized picture of community colleges, having their own history, their own place within the contemporary higher education system, and their own future trajectory. These selections of readings do not place community colleges on a pedestal, nor do they attempt to condemn. They offer a rich array of perspectives, theoretical frameworks and research-based evidence drawn from quantitative and qualitative … More >>

ASHE Reader on Community Colleges