Making the case: The systems project case study as storytelling

Term projects based on case studies are a common way to engage students in the concepts and skills introduced by information-systems development courses. The case study works as a pedagogical approach in great part because it tells a story, which taps into the centrality of narrative in human cognition. This paper draws on thinking in the area of narrative studies in order to develop a systematic perspective on the task of writing systems-project case studies. A general narrative framework for the case study is proposed, with the goal of providing structured guidance in the development, use, and evaluation of cases. The author's recent experience in developing a case study for use in database-management courses illustrates key points. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT] Keywords: case studies, narrative, situated learning, systems development