Developing Case Studies

DOE-STD-1058-93

4. DEVELOPING CASE STUDIES

The following steps and related examples illustrate the development of a

comprehensive case study.1 Where applicable, suggestions are made on how these steps

relate to the development of other types of case studies.

4.1 The Case Study Focus

The focus of a case study will be determined by the learning objective(s). This step

is the most critical one, because not meeting the learning objective equates to wasted time.

For example, the following objectives may be found in a typical facility training program:

OPERATOR LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Given a situation involving

an inplant fire, assess the plant conditions and determine a course of

action that will place the plant in a safe condition.

FIRE BRIGADE MEMBER LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Given a

situation involving unusual maintenance activities in the plant,

identify potential personnel and/or plant safety hazards and identify

how these hazards could be prevented.

Based on these objectives, the focus of the case study can be written in the case study

introduction and look like this:

A CABLE TRAY FIRE AT A COMMERCIAL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

This case study covers a cable

Successfully extinguishing a fire is

tray fire at a commercial nuclear power

difficult under ideal conditions;

plant. An event description of operator

combining fire fighting efforts with a

actions necessary to fight the fire and

plant shutdown requires forethought and

maintain control of the plant is

planning.

included.

The complete case study used to explain the development steps can be found in Appendix B of this guide.