Case Studies
The full story behind the work
A case study is not a press release. It is a complete, honest account of what we did, why we did it, what happened, and what we learned. Including the parts that did not go as planned.
What Is in a Case Study
Every case study follows the same structure so readers know exactly what to expect.
1
The Problem
What was broken, missing, or inadequate? Who was affected? How did we discover or confirm the problem existed? The problem statement is the foundation of every case study.
2
The Context
What had been tried before? What were the constraints? What resources, partners, and conditions shaped the project? Context determines what solutions are actually viable.
3
The Approach
What did we actually do? What decisions did we make and why? What alternatives did we consider? The approach section is detailed enough that someone else could replicate it.
4
The Results
What happened? Measured outcomes, user feedback, adoption numbers, performance data. We report the actual results, not the results we hoped for.
5
The Lessons
What did we learn? What would we do differently? What surprised us? The lessons section is where the real value lives for other organizations facing similar challenges.
Browse Case Studies
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Coming Soon
Our first case studies are being written now. Each will document the full story: problem, context, approach, results, and lessons.
Get notifiedWhy We Publish Failures
Most organizations only publish their wins. The result is a distorted picture of what works and a lot of wasted effort as others repeat the same mistakes.
We publish case studies about projects that did not achieve their goals. We document what went wrong, what we misunderstood, and what we would do differently. This is not a failure of the organization. It is a feature of how we operate.
Honest documentation of what does not work is one of the most valuable things a research organization can produce. It saves others time, money, and effort. It builds trust. And it makes us better at the work.
Have a Story to Tell?
If you have worked with CMRU on a project and want to contribute to a case study, or if your organization has a story about failure worth sharing, we want to hear from you.
Get in Touch