Writing Case Studies for Consulting Projects

Do you know how to correctly set user personas for your product? What are user personas? Should both Prince Charles and Ozzy Osbourne land in the same user bucket? Well... It depends! A user persona is a made-up person representing a group of users in your product. It’s explicitly designed to help product teams understand their end users deeply by digging into their problems, goals, needs, pain points, behaviors, and preferences. The common misconception is that user personas are based on demographic data. While for some products this may be the right choice, this will usually be wrong and misguided. The user persona concept is not really about representing real people but representing a pattern of behavior. So, to correctly identify your user persona, you should not start with a name and a fake bio. Not at all! Instead, you need to dig deep into your product's analytics data and identify groups of users that interact with the Product in a similar manner. Thus, for example, for Spotify, you could identify the following groups: • Casual, free users • Paid users • Creators    Of course, you can go deeper and look for more granular personas within those main groups, but that's a story for another day. To the point, definitely, King Charles and Ozzy Osbourne would not fall into the same persona bucket. The King is most likely a Paid user, while Ozzy is a Creator. I can however imagine a Product, say about a medicine tracking app, where both Ozzy and Charles would fall under the same, "elderly, who need help to track their medicine intake" group, though they are very different people when you get to know them. And this is ok, again, user personas are about identifying patterns of behavior, not about any specific user, fictional or otherwise. Giving those patterns names and backstories has only one goal: To help you better communicate, to connect emotions and context to any problems the problem is built to fix :) Just like it helped to build this post! Just to add: knowing your demographics will help you build the right product, but it's not the same as crafting user personas. It will help you craft an imaginary user to closely match your typical user :) Do you agree with me? What are the product personas in your favorite product? Sound off in the comments! P.S. User personas are only a single tool in a Product Manager's toolbox. To learn more about other tools and how to become a Great product manager, visit www . drbartpm . com.

Here’s why your case study is getting skipped: → It shows what you did. → But not why it mattered. → And definitely not how you decided. Most designers think a case study is a timeline. “Here’s my research → here’s my wireframes → here’s the final UI.” But that’s not a case study. That’s a to-do list. Hiring managers aren’t looking for your steps. They’re looking for your thinking. Here’s the 6-part structure I use with my clients — the same one that got me a 50% salary bump: → Context: Frame the project with stakes and story. → Problem: Define what was broken — and how it hurt users/business. → Objectives: Be clear on the impact you were chasing. → Research: Highlight insights that shifted your direction. → Design: Narrate decisions, not just deliverables. → Results: End with proof, not polish. Bonus tip? Start your case study like a Netflix cold open: “High bounce rates. Angry users. 3 weeks to fix it.” Now you’ve got attention. So ask yourself: Are you telling a story… or just listing tasks? List or narrative — which one builds trust?

“Show, don’t tell” is common advice. But many design portfolios miss the mark. Here’s why. 👇 Designers often showcase raw artifacts like: → Sketches → Diagrams → User flows → Wireframes → Sticky notes → Journey maps But to be honest, 90% of the time, I have absolutely no idea what is going on in those images. I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen a screenshot of 30+ sticky notes and thought: → "This is very zoomed out." → "When I zoom in, it’s too blurry." → "Even if I can read them, I feel overwhelmed." This leaves me wondering: → "Am I supposed to read every sticky note?" → "What’s important here?" → "Is it worth my time to figure out what's going on?" This is why storytelling matters. Before dropping a raw image or screenshot, first ask yourself, "how is this adding to the story?" Don't be afraid to zoom in, summarize, annotate, add a caption, or guide the reader's attention to what's significant about the visual Raw assets can be useful—but only when they add clarity instead of confusion. Have you seen this in other portfolios? How do you approach it in your own? Let me know in the comments below! 👇 #ux #design #portfolio #casestudy #storytelling

🔥 During design interviews, presenting your case study can feel like a make-or-break moment. However, many designers can benefit from strengthening one essential skill: clearly communicating the impact of their work. In my latest video, I worked with Joshua McKenzie, a Senior Product Designer, to critique his case study presentation and help him elevate it to interview-ready status. The goal? Craft a compelling story that showcases his skills, approach, and outcomes 🏆. In this critique, we cover: - How to structure your case study for clarity and engagement. - The importance of pairing visuals with a strong narrative. - Why you need two versions of your case study: one to send, one to present. - How to effectively integrate data and metrics into your story. - Common presentation pitfalls (and how to avoid them). 👀 Watch the full critique and take your portfolio to the next level: https://lnkd.in/gcjxD7VJ Some key takeaways: - Structure matters: Start with a clear business problem and user challenge, then walk through your process step by step, ending with measurable outcomes. - Visuals over words: Avoid text-heavy slides—let your work speak for itself while you guide the story. - Tailor for the audience: Use a concise, visual version of your case study for live presentations and a more detailed, written version if sending out. - Leverage data: Metrics and insights show your impact and differentiate your thinking and work from others. - Practice storytelling: Your ability to communicate your work is just as important as the work itself. ✨ If you're preparing for design interviews or looking to refine your case study game, this video is packed with actionable advice to help you stand out! 💥

7 Portfolio Case-Study Structures That Keep Hiring Managers Reading: 1. Lead With A Punchy, One Line Header Start your case study by stating the outcome first. Use this template for a concise, result-driven statement: [Action verb] + [Metric] + [Audience] For example: Cut checkout time by 55% for mobile shoppers This sets the promise and keeps readers interested in the “how”. 2. Set The Scene Provide the context and set the stakes so readers know the extent of the problem you were challenged to solve. Here's how: Comment on the problem State the baseline Provide the time frame For example: Cart abandonment was 40% on mobile in Q4 2024 3. Define The Goal And Constraints Make your target clear so hiring managers know what success looked like. Here’s how: State the key metric you aimed to move Add one constraint you had to respect For example: Increase checkout conversion from 2% to 3% with no added headcount 4. Show Your Plan In 3 Steps Break down your approach into three simple actions so your method feels structured and skimmable. Use this template: Step 1 → Step 2 → Step 3 For example: Audit → Prototype → A/B Test This proves you think in systems, not random fixes. 5. Prove It With Before And After Hiring managers trust numbers. Show them the shift in one clear line. Use this template: [Metric] from [Baseline] → [Result] in [Timeframe] across [Sample] For example: Page load fell from 4.2s to 1.1s in 3 weeks across 1,000 sessions. 6. Add One Clean Visual Support your story with a single chart or screenshot that highlights the result. Here’s how: Choose a simple chart (line or bar) or a key screen Label axes and circle the main data point Keep text large and clutter low Readers grasp wins faster with a visual anchor. 7. Close With Impact And Next Steps End strong by connecting your result to business value and showing what comes next. Use this template: [Result in metric] → [Business impact] → [Next step] For example: Conversion up 1 point → Adds $90k per quarter → Next build one-click pay. This proves you think beyond the project and tie outcomes to growth. 🔎 These 7 case study frameworks help you stand out in a stack of resumes. We’ll show you how to structure your portfolio to keep hiring managers reading (and responding). 👉 Book a 30-min Clarity Call to see how it fits your job search: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

25 Case Studies on #Mergers and #Acquisitions The case studies presented in this book are a distillation of real professional wisdom and experience. Each case study delves into the specific challenges and #competitive situations faced by a variety of #organizations across different industries. The analyses are crafted from the viewpoint of #consulting teams as they navigate the unique set of questions, uncertainties, strengths, weaknesses, and dynamic conditions particular to each organization. What one can gain from this whitepaper: 1️⃣ Real-World Challenges, Practical Strategies: Each case study presents real-world business challenges and the strategic maneuvers used to navigate them successfully. 2️⃣ Expert Perspectives: Crafted from the viewpoint of top-tier consultants, you get an insider's look into professional #methodologies and decision-making processes. 3️⃣ Diverse Industry Insights: Whether it's #finance, #tech, #retail, #manufacturing, or #healthcare, gain insights into a variety of sectors and understand how top firms tackle critical issues. 4️⃣ Enhance Your Strategic Acumen: This collection is designed to sharpen your strategic thinking, providing you with tools and frameworks used by the best in the business. #strategy #learnings #bestpractices #benchmarks

🚀 Understanding Risk in Wholesale Banking from an Industry-specific perspective: In wholesale banking, credit risk isn't generic - it's deeply tied to industry dynamics. Lets try to decipher why this matters and how to think of it, using an example. Scenario: In 2020, a mid-sized oil & gas company requested a $500 million revolving credit facility from a bulge bracket bank. The Surface View: - Strong historical EBITDA ($200 million/year) - Assets: Proven oil reserves worth $1Billion - Loan request: 2.5x leverage (appears conservative) What Really Matters: 1. Commodity Price Sensitivity: - Every $10/barrel drop in oil prices → $50MM EBITDA impact - Bankers using $60/barrel in models → but futures curve showed $45 prevalence risk 2. Reserve Life Issues: - "Proven reserves" had just 5 years left → refinancing risk - Capex needs were understated in projections 3. ESG Transition Risk: - 30% of their customer base (European utilities) had 2030 decarbonization targets The Outcome: > 12 months later, 3 banks took >30% haircuts when the company restructured. > The bankers that flagged these risks? They avoided the losses. Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ Go Beyond Ratios: - Anyone can calculate Debt/EBITDA - Winners understand what drives those numbers - For your industry, identify the 2-3 key variables that make or break credit 2️⃣ Stress Test Properly: - Historical performance ≠ future results - Build scenarios using industry-specific triggers (e.g., oil prices, regulatory changes) 3️⃣ Understand the Capital Stack: - Where does your loan sit in bankruptcy? - Understand structural and collateral subordination risk (I'll cover this in a subsequent post) Go ahead with an action plan. Pick an industry of your choice - Energy? Healthcare? Tech? Choose one, then deep dive within it. > Read Annual Reports of 3 troubled companies in that sector and identify the key credit risks. This forms the foundation to decipher key insights, and to read between the lines to come with intuitive financial analysis and an independent outlook. Krishank Parekh | LinkedIn

Most brands create case studies. Few make them compelling enough to drive real conversions. Anthropic, the AI company behind Claude, gets 60K+ organic visitors per month— Not by shouting about AI, but by structuring customer stories the right way. And optimizing content for real user problems. Here’s how Anthropic nails customer success stories: 1. The “Before” struggle: → They don’t just say, “Our client needed automation.” Instead, they paint a relatable picture: → “The legal team spent 15+ hours a week manually summarizing contracts, leading to delays and backlogs.” 2. The Claude factor: → They don’t just say, “Claude improved efficiency.” They highlight exactly how: → “With Claude, contract review time dropped from 15 hours to 3.” 3. The Aftermath & Impact: → They close the loop by showing the tangible business outcome: → “This time savings led to 25% faster deal closures, allowing the team to onboard more clients without hiring.” But Anthropic goes beyond storytelling too. Here’s their growth playbook: a. SEO without the jargon: → Instead of chasing broad AI keywords, they optimize for specific user searches, like “AI for contract analysis.” b. Educate first, sell later: → Their blog isn’t just about Claude; it answers pain points. → e.g., “How secure is AI in legal workflows?” → Thus, positioning them as trusted advisors rather than just another AI vendor. Now, here’s how you can apply this to your strategy: 1. Make customer success stories feel real: → Frame them as a journey (Problem → Solution → Impact). 2. Use specific numbers: → How much time, money, or effort was saved? 3. Optimize content for actual searches: → Not just generic industry buzzwords. A great case study isn’t about you— it’s about how your product makes life better for them. What’s the best customer story you’ve read recently? Comment them below.

I am thrilled to share our just-accepted study that focuses on integrating demand response strategy and operational scheduling in the energy industry. In this research, we jointly collaborated with our colleagues at the Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka on a novel approach to explore process flexibility in operational performance under time-sensitive electricity tariffs. The study focuses on a case study of scheduling for an industrial network of compressors, explicitly examining the Time of Use (TOU) and Enhanced Time of Use (ETOU) energy tariffs. The results were truly impressive! Implementing the demand response strategy led to a substantial reduction in total costs, ranging from 5% to 13%. This means that industrial consumers can choose the ETOU tariff and maximise production output during these periods while reducing operating costs. If you're interested in this research or have thoughts to share, let's connect and discuss further. P.S. Do you use pre-print servers to share your research? #EnergyManagement #DemandResponse #OperationalOptimization #SustainableDevelopment #Research #Innovation

The way you frame your answer matters just as much as the answer itself. When you're in a Data Analytics interview, you're not just being tested on your technical knowledge. The interviewer wants to see: ▪️How you approach a problem ▪️How structured your thought process is ▪️How clearly you communicate And that's where frameworks come in. They're like the Google Maps of your answers keeping you from wandering around. Some common frameworks that work beautifully in analytics interviews: 📌STAR Method (Situation, Task, Action, Result): Perfect for behavioral questions like "Tell me about a time you solved a business problem with data." It helps you stay on track instead of rambling. 📌CASE Approach (Clarify, Approach, Solve, Evaluate): Great when they throw an open ended problem at you: How would you measure the success of our new product launch? This shows you can clarify assumptions , outline a plan, and evaluate impact. 📌Business-Data-Insight-Action (BDIA): A simple storytelling arc for technical answers: ▪️Whats' the business problem? ▪️What data is relevant? ▪️What insights can we pull? ▪️What action can be taken? Trust me, using frameworks doesn't make your answers robotic. It makes them memorable. Because the interviewer isn't just listening for correctness they're listening for clarity. Next time you prep for interviews, don't just focus on the SQL queries or Python syntax. Practice answering within a framework. That's how you turn an answer into a story and a story into an offer. ♻️ Repost : If you found this helpful... ✳️ Follow Mariya Joseph for more daily content!