quality of life video case study

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• v.48(6); 2019 Jun

A review of quality of life (QOL) assessments and indicators: Towards a “QOL-Climate” assessment framework

Ronald c. estoque.

1 Center for Social and Environmental Systems Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki 305-0053 Japan

Takuya Togawa

2 Fukushima Branch, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 10-2 Fukasaku, Miharu, Tamura District, Fukushima 963-7700 Japan

Makoto Ooba

Shogo nakamura, yasuaki hijioka, yasuko kameyama, associated data.

Quality of life (QOL), although a complex and amorphous concept, is a term that warrants attention, especially in discussions on issues that touch on the impacts of climate change and variability. Based on the principles of RepOrting standards for Systematic Evidence Synthesis, we present a systematic review aimed at gaining insights into the conceptualization and methodological construct of previous studies regarding QOL and QOL-related indexes. We find that (i) QOL assessments vary in terms of conceptual foundations, dimensions, indicators, and units of analysis, (ii) social indicators are consistently used across assessments, (iii) most assessments consider indicators that pertain to the livability of the environment, and (iv) QOL can be based on objective indicators and/or subjective well-being, and on a composite index or unaggregated dimensions and indicators. However, we also find that QOL assessments remain poorly connected with climate-related issues, an important research gap. Our proposed “QOL-Climate” assessment framework, designed to capture the social-ecological impacts of climate change and variability, can potentially help fill this gap.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-018-1090-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Introduction

Quality of life (QOL) has been, and continues to be, an important research topic across various disciplines including medicine, health, psychology, economics, sociology, and environmental science. Accordingly, the literature regarding QOL is rich and continuously growing. However, owing to its multidimensionality and nebulousness, the meaning of QOL can vary from person to person across various contexts (Table  1 ). Numerous review articles concerning the various facets of QOL are available, including reviews that focus on its conceptual origin, foundation, and development (e.g., Massam 2002 ; Moons et al. 2006 ; Veenhoven 2007 ; Barcaccia et al. 2013 ). Reviews of various indexes related to QOL are also available (e.g., Hagerty et al. 2001 ; Pantisano et al. 2014 ). In addition, various frameworks and approaches for QOL assessment have been proposed, including those employing medicine and health-related questionnaire survey instruments (see Bakas et al. 2012 ; Theofilou 2013 ) as well as those transcending the scope of medicine and health-related fields (Veenhoven 2000 , 2007 ; Costanza et al. 2007 ; Fahy and Cinnéide 2008 ).

Table 1

Various definitions and descriptions of QOL

In recent years, various global initiatives built on the concept of sustainable development have been framed and propounded, including the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA 2005 ), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments (IPCC 2014a ), the Future Earth initiative ( www.futureearth.org ), the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (UN 2000 ) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (UN 2015 ), and the Paris Agreement on climate change (UNFCCC 2015 ). Embedded in these initiatives is the aim of promoting sustainability and improving QOL and human well-being by conserving the natural environment, promoting low carbon development, and adapting to global environmental change, especially climate change and variability.

By definition, climate change refers to “a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g., by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer” (IPCC 2014a , p. 120). This includes changes in the patterns of essential climate variables such as precipitation and temperature (IPCC 2014a ). Climate variability refers to “variations in the mean state and other statistics (such as standard deviations, the occurrence of extremes, etc.) of the climate on all spatial and temporal scales beyond that of individual weather events” (IPCC 2014a , p. 121).

Climate change and variability affect QOL and human well-being in many ways, rendering it one of the most pressing and significant challenges of the present day. For instance, climate-related disasters and extreme events (such as droughts, floods, typhoons and landslides) can affect both the social and ecological components of a social-ecological system (Redman et al. 2004 ; Glaser et al. 2008 ; Ostrom 2009 ; Estoque and Murayama 2014a ), a coupled human–environment system (Turner et al. 2003 ), or a coupled human and natural system (Liu et al. 2007a , b ). Changes in precipitation and temperature patterns can also affect the supply and flow of various ecosystem services [provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services (MEA 2005 ; TEEB 2010 )] (MEA 2005 ; IPCC 2014a ; Pecl et al. 2017 ; Runting et al. 2017 ). These ecosystem services are essential to human well-being because they are felt and experienced by people. Indeed, QOL and human well-being are important subjects in discourses on sustainability (Levett 1998 ; Fahy and Cinnéide 2008 ), ecosystem services (MEA 2005 ; Farley 2012 ), and climate impacts (Roberts 1976 ; IPCC 2001 ; Evans 2019 ).

Many scholars have demonstrated that a systematic review (Grant and Booth 2009 ; Haddaway et al. 2018 ) can help capture the state of knowledge and research trends, directions, and gaps in a particular discipline or subject (Englund et al. 2017 ; Jurgilevich et al. 2017 ; Runting et al. 2017 ). Owing to the rapid growth of information across disciplines and continuous improvements in scholars’ access to such information, the number and temporal occurrence of systematic reviews are expected to increase. In order to ensure that systematic reviews including reports are of high quality, attempts have been made to standardize the method used under the banner of RepOrting standards for Systematic Evidence Synthesis (ROSES) (Haddaway et al. 2017a , b , 2018 ; www.roses-reporting.com ). Central to ROSES is a set of detailed, state-of-the-art forms that authors (reviewers) are encouraged to use to ensure that their methods attain the highest possible standards. Although these forms have been specifically designed for environmental topics, they are applicable across disciplines ( www.roses-reporting.com ).

Systematic reviews of QOL assessments in medicine and health-related fields are available (Bakas et al. 2012 ; Ireson et al. 2018 ). In these fields, questionnaire survey instruments such as those by Wilson and Cleary, Ferrans et al., and the World Health Organization (WHO) (see Bakas et al. 2012 ; Theofilou 2013 ) play a key role in assessing QOL. However, there is a glaring absence of a systematic review of QOL assessments that are based on a more general context and that go beyond the use of medicine and health-related questionnaire survey instruments. Therefore, in this review of QOL assessments and indicators, we carried out the necessary to fill the information gap.

Our primary aim was to gain insights regarding the conceptualization and methodological construct of previous studies and assessments of QOL as well as of selected existing and emerging QOL-related indexes. The knowledge gained was used to develop a conceptual framework that may potentially connect QOL with issues of climate change and variability. We achieved this purpose by applying the principles of ROSES for a systematic review.

Materials and methods

The three major steps under the ROSES principles for a systematic review are: (1) searching; (2) screening; and (3) appraisal and synthesis (Haddaway et al. 2017a , b , 2018 ). These steps are described below in the context of this current review (see also Fig.  1 ).

Flowchart of the review. This diagram is based on ROSES (Haddaway et al. 2017a , b , 2018 ; www.roses-reporting.com )

For this review, we used two sub-databases (SCI-EXPANDED and SSCI) within the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection. WoS is a large database of articles that include those in the social and environmental sciences (Landauer et al. 2015 ; Englund et al. 2017 ; Jurgilevich et al. 2017 ). In a recent scholarly work, it was demonstrated that WoS alone could be used as a source for a major systematic review (Runting et al. 2017 ). The potential limitations of this current review regarding database are discussed in “ Methodology-related discussion ” section.

In this review, we were especially interested in studies focusing on QOL assessment, evaluation, or measurement in the social-ecological context. Hence, we used terms that focus on the assessment, evaluation, and measurement of QOL (see Fig.  1 ). We performed our search on January 4, 2018, and included records published from 2000 to 2017. This period was chosen intentionally to capture recent trends in QOL research. The year 2000 essentially coincides with the Climate Change 2001—IPCC Third Assessment Report, a report that has been instrumental to the advancement of studies on climate impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability, all of which are important factors affecting QOL and human well-being (more details about this are provided in “ Linking QOL with climate change and variability issues ” section). In this review, we focused only on ‘articles’ published in the ‘English’ language.

Our search tracked 3251 articles (Fig.  1 ) that were dominated by medicine and health-related studies as indicated by the authors’ keywords and research areas as per the WoS classification (Fig. S1 ; Table S1 ). We further refined the search by focusing only on research areas that were deemed more relevant under the social-ecological system paradigm (Redman et al. 2004 ; Glaser et al. 2008 ; Ostrom 2009 ; Estoque and Murayama 2014a ): “social sciences other topics,” “sociology,” “science technology other topics,” “environmental sciences ecology,” “engineering,” “anthropology,” “social work,” “social issues,” “agriculture,” “public administration,” “geography,” “operations research management science,” “urban studies,” “physical geography,” and “remote sensing” (Table S1 ).

By narrowing the research areas, the searched articles decreased to 178 articles (Fig.  1 ). Having screened these articles based on title and abstract, 81 articles were identified and subjected to the next level of screening which focused on methods. The articles that were excluded were those that neither explicitly mentioned the method or approach used in QOL assessment, nor proceeded with QOL assessment, evaluation and measurement, as well as those that did not use any method other than medicine and health-related questionnaire survey instruments. On this basis, 19 articles were retained and subjected to a full-text review.

In addition, nine pre-screened existing and emerging QOL-related indexes were included in the review (Fig.  1 ). These included the Human Development Index (HDI) (UNDP 1990 ), Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) (Cobb et al. 1995 ), Happy Planet Index (HPI) (Marks 2006 ), Cities of Opportunity Quality of Life (COQOL) (PwC 2016 ), Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI) (UNDP 2010 ), Better Life Index (BLI) (OECD 2011 ), Human Sustainable Development Index (HSDI) (Togtokh 2011 ), Social Progress Index (SPI) (Porter et al. 2014 ), and Social-Ecological Status Index (SESI) (Estoque and Murayama 2014a , 2017 ). It was important to include these indexes because they are all related to QOL assessment to some extent, and thus provide complementary perspectives through their conceptualization and methodological construct of QOL-related indexes. There might have been some limitations in our selection of these indexes, and these are discussed in “ Methodology-related discussion ” section. Hereafter, these articles and indexes are collectively referred to as “reference(s).”

Appraisal and synthesis

In order to facilitate our analysis of the conceptualization and methodological construct of previous studies and assessments on QOL, as well as of some existing and emerging QOL-related indexes, we developed a questionnaire checklist (Table  2 ) for the systematic retrieval of relevant information from all of the references (Table S2 ). Prior to our analysis of the retrieved information, we examined the QOL publication trends and the network of keywords used in the searched articles (Fig.  1 ).

Table 2

Questionnaire checklist used to retrieve relevant information from the references reviewed

Publication trend and keywords network analysis

We used the two sets of searched articles (i.e., 3251 and 178) in our analysis of the temporal trends in QOL article publications, research areas, and occurrence and network of authors’ keywords. Our analysis of the occurrence and network of authors’ keywords was performed using the VOSviewer version 1.6.6, a software tool for analyzing bibliometric networks, creating maps based on network data, as well as visualizing and exploring these maps (van Eck and Waltman 2010 , 2017 ). The same software has been used in other previous bibliometric analyses (e.g., Gobster 2014 ; Rodrigues et al. 2014 ; Sweileh 2017 ).

Synthesis of the conceptualization and methodological construct for QOL assessment

Based on our pre-defined set of questions (Table  2 ), we summarized the following information in a table: year of publication or first release; purpose and scope; theoretical or conceptual foundation; dimensions and indicators; weighting and aggregation methods; value range and unit of final index; unit of analysis; and type of data used.

In our synthesis, we evaluated the references in relation to the triple bottom line. The triple bottom line has been, and continues to be, an important framework for sustainability assessment. It comprises three dimensions that are central to people’s quality of life and well-being: economic (profit), social (people), and environmental (planet) (Elkington 1994 , 1997 ). We classified the references based on the presence or absence of indicators (i.e., for an objective assessment) that fall under each of the three dimensions of the triple bottom line. To this end, the reference that included at least one indicator that falls within the scope of the dimension under consideration was marked by placing its number inside a circle. Otherwise, the reference was marked with a circle only, without its number. The references were also evaluated for whether subjective well-being (satisfaction, happiness, fulfillment, welfare, etc.) was considered in their respective assessments. Here, an objective assessment is defined as a type of evaluation or measurement that uses indicators that are based on statistics (e.g., census data) and other type of data (e.g., remote sensing and GIS data) independent of perceptions, while a subjective assessment is a type of evaluation or measurement that captures individual perceptions, preferences and evaluations (e.g., subjective well-being).

As part of our synthesis, we also evaluated and classified the references based on the four qualities of life plotted in four quadrants (Veenhoven 2000 , 2007 ). The four quadrants (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) are the results of the intersections of two dichotomies, namely the outer and inner qualities of life, and the life chances and life results: (Q1) outer quality-life chances (livability of the environment); (Q2) inner qualities-life chances (life-ability of a person); (Q3) outer qualities-life results (utility of life); and (Q4) inner qualities-life results (enjoyment of life). According to Veenhoven ( 2000 , 2007 ), “outer quality” and “inner quality” are found in the environment and within the individual, respectively. Life chances refer to opportunities for a good life, while life results refer to outcomes. Livability of environment refers to the habitability of the environment, while the life-ability of a person refers to the capacity of individuals to cope with pressures or perturbations. Utility of life includes the external effects of life or the individual’s contributions to society and the environment, while enjoyment of life refers to the subjective appreciation of life, subjective well-being, life satisfaction, or happiness, including life expectancy (Veenhoven 2000 , 2007 ). Based on their respective indicators (i.e., either based on statistics, questionnaire surveys, or other types of data), we determined whether each of the references could have fulfilled each quadrant.

Synthesis of the linkage between QOL and climate change and variability issues

After the results of the bibliometric analysis and full-text review were summarized, we determined whether the issues of climate change and variability were considered in the references reviewed. Our finding (“ Methodological construct for QOL assessment ” and “ QOL and climate change and variability issues: their connections ” sections) revealed that QOL assessments were not [yet] well-connected with the issues of climate change and variability. To help advance this subfield of QOL research, we developed a conceptual framework that could potentially link QOL with issues relating to climate change and variability (“ Linking QOL with climate change and variability issues ” section).

Publication trends and keywords network

Of the total 3251 articles that resulted from our search, 38% were published during the first half of the analysis period (2000–2008), while 62% were published during the latter period (2009–2017) (Fig.  2 a). This means that the average number of articles published per year was higher during the 2009–2017 period (223) than during the 2000–2008 period (138). From 2000 to 2017, the average annual number of articles published was 181. Based on the 178 articles, i.e., those articles that were derived from the bibliometric search on the selected research areas (Fig.  1 , Table S1 ), a similar trend was observed; 31% and 69% of the articles were published during the earlier and latter periods, respectively (Fig.  2 b). The results also revealed some fluctuations in the annual publication of QOL research articles during the analysis period. Nevertheless, the results showed an overall significant increase in article publication of QOL assessments over the past 18 years for both sets of articles (Fig.  2 a, b).

Temporal trends in article publications regarding QOL (2000–2017). a Based on the 3521 articles resulting from all research areas; and b Based on the 178 articles resulting from the selected research areas. Table S1 lists all the research areas and those selected

Table S1 provides the complete list of research areas that the 3251 searched QOL articles fell into as per the WoS classification. With a few exceptions, most of the research areas are directly related to the medicine and health-related fields. Among these research areas, “health care sciences services,” “public environmental occupational health,” “oncology,” “surgery,” and “neurosciences neurology” topped the list. Those areas that are not directly related to the medicine and health-related fields include “sociology,” “environmental sciences ecology,” “engineering,” “agriculture,” “geography,” and “urban studies.”

Figure  3 presents the occurrence and network of authors’ keywords based on the 178 articles obtained after further screening, while the network map of the 3251 articles is presented in Fig. S1 . In both figures, the size of the circles indicates occurrences, while the thickness of the lines indicates link strength between keywords. The color and position of the circles indicate the clustering pattern. For the 178 articles (Fig.  3 ), the keyword “quality of life” had the highest occurrence (86) and total link strength (48). This was followed by the keyword “well-being” with an occurrence of 9 and a total link strength of 8. The keyword “well-being” also had the strongest connection with “quality of life,” followed by “assessment,” and “life satisfaction.”

Total occurrence and network of authors’ keywords based on the 178 articles (2000–2017). Fractional counting was used, which means that the weight of a link was fractionalized. For example, if a keyword co-occurs with five other keywords, each of the five keywords has a weight of 0.2 (1/5). For these 178 articles, a threshold of 2 was applied (i.e., the minimum number of occurrences for each keyword), resulting in a total of 50 keywords. The result for the 3251 articles is presented in Fig. S1

Conceptualization of QOL

The articles reviewed were structured on more specific concepts or variants of QOL, including quality of life as a function of objective socioeconomic and environmental variables, urban quality of life, transport quality of life, tourism-related community quality of life, and sustainable tourism development (Table S2 ). On the other hand, the QOL-related indexes reviewed were designed based on general concepts, including human development, sustainability or sustainable development, better life, social progress, and social-ecological status.

A wide range of QOL dimensions was identified from the references reviewed, and each of these dimensions included at least one indicator (Table S2 ). Selection of these dimensions and indicators was largely based on the references’ conceptualization of QOL as mentioned above, as well as on their respective purposes (see Table S2 ). For indicators, we found that 71% of the references considered indicators that could fulfill all the three dimensions of the the triple bottom line (economic, social and environmental) and 39% explicitly considered subjective well-being in their respective assessments (Fig.  4 ; see also Table S3 ). All of the references considered indicators that were related to the social dimension. However, some of the references did not consider indicators that directly fall under the economic (18%) and environmental (14%) dimensions (Fig.  4 ).

Classification of the references reviewed (19 articles [1–19] and 9 indexes [20–28]) based on their respective indicators plotted according to the triple bottom line (fulfillers of human needs). The figure also shows the articles and indexes that explicitly considered subjective well-being (satisfaction, happiness, fulfillment, welfare, etc.) in their respective frameworks and assessments. The numbers correspond to the numbers under the column heading “No.” in Tables  3 , S2 and S3 , and those in Fig. ​ Fig.5 5

Figure  5 presents the categorization of the references reviewed in terms of their respective indicators in relation to the four qualities of life. Q1 (livability of the environment) included any indicator that is related to the quality of the social and physical environment, such as housing conditions, as well as the quantity and quality of urban facilities, water, air, and green spaces. Q2 (life-ability of a person) was associated with human and personal attributes, such as those related to health and education. Q3 (utility of life) included any indicator that is related to one’s (or the community’s) contribution to society and the environment, such as civic involvement, ecological footprint, sustainability-related programs, and efforts toward environmental conservation and art and culture preservation. Q4 (enjoyment of life) comprised indicators or dimensions such as subjective well-being, life satisfaction, happiness, and life expectancy. Of the total references reviewed, 39% were present in all four quadrants, which means that these references included at least one indicator under each of the four qualities of life. Among the four quadrants, Q3 had the highest percentage of references that lacked any indicator with 36%, followed by Q2 and Q4 with 25% each. In Q1, all but one of the references had at least one indicator.

Classification of the references reviewed (19 articles [1–19] and 9 indexes [20–28]), plotted across the four quadrants of QOL based on their respective indicators. The numbers correspond to the numbers in Fig.  4 and to the numbers under the column heading “No.” in Tables  3 , S2 and S3

Methodological construct for QOL assessment

Unit of analysis.

The results revealed that QOL assessments varied greatly in terms of context or unit of analysis. With the exception of González et al. ( 2011a ), the studies (articles) reviewed were conducted at the level of either census tract or neighborhood (C T /N), municipality or city (M/C), district or province (D/P), region or state (R/S), or country (C) (Table  3 ). In González et al. ( 2011a ), QOL assessment was conducted at three different administrative levels: M/C, D/P, and R/S. Of the nine indexes reviewed, eight were designed for country-level assessments, of which some could also be applied to sub-national level assessments (e.g., GPI and SESI; see also description in Table ​ Table3). 3 ). Of all the indexes, GPI appeared to be the most flexible as it could also be applied at the M/C, D/P, and R/S levels, in addition to the country level. Of the studies (articles) reviewed, 47% assessed QOL in an urban area or city, two of which focused on transport systems (Table S2 ; see also description in Table ​ Table3). 3 ). Eight of the nine indexes were designed for general assessment without targeting any particular sector, like urban areas or cities. COQOL is designed for QOL assessment in cities.

Table 3

Summary table highlighting some of the salient features of the references reviewed (articles [1–19] and indexes [20–28]). The table also indicates whether a particular reference used unequal weights (UW) during aggregation (dimension level) and whether it derived an overall composite index (OCI). The column called “No.,” which stands for number, corresponds to the column called “No.” in Tables S2 and S3 , and to the numbers in Figs.  4 and ​ and5. 5 . C T /N—census tract/neighborhood; M/C—municipality or city; D/P—district or province; R/S—region or state; and C—country. Indexes: HDI (UNDP 1990 , 2010 , 2013 ); GPI (Cobb et al. 1995 ; Talberth and Weisdorf 2017 ); HPI (Marks 2006 ; NEF 2016 ); COQOL (PwC 2016 ); IHDI (UNDP 2010 , 2013 ); BLI (OECD 2011 , 2017 ); HSDI (Togtokh 2011 ); SPI (Porter et al. 2014 ; Stern et al. 2017 ); and SESI (Estoque and Murayama 2014a , 2017 )

a This reference presents a rule-based expert system for evaluating QOL. The intended unit of analysis was not explicitly mentioned. The testing of its prototype was performed in two universities. b HDI and IHDI are mainly used at the country level, though they are also used at the province or state level in some countries. c The BLI has no final index, but its web application allows users to assign weights to its dimensions. d The SESI can be applied across the units of analysis mentioned provided the required data are available. In this table, Reference Nos. (articles) 2–4, 8–9, 12, and 15–17 assessed QOL in an urban area or city, two of which focused on the transport system (4 and 8). Except for Reference Nos. 19 (article) and 23 (index), which respectively focused on tourism and urban/city, the rest of the references (articles and indexes) were designed for general assessments. More details can be found in Table S2

Methodological framework

The methodological framework employed by the references reviewed generally follows the principles of hierarchical aggregation (Fig.  6 ). This means that indicators are aggregated first, followed by the aggregation of the dimensions to produce a composite index. Of the references reviewed, 86% derived an overall composite index (OCI) (Table  3 ). The other 14% either did not aggregate at all (e.g., Carse 2011 ), or had their aggregation stopped at the dimension level (e.g., COQOL, PwC 2016 ). Of those that derived an OCI, 58% used unequal weights (UW) for their dimensions (Table  3 ), while the rest either explicitly used equal weights, simply derived the arithmetic or geometric mean, or had their own models for aggregation (Table S2 ). The BLI (OECD 2011 , 2017 ) does not have an OCI, but its web application allows users to assign weights to its dimensions.

A generalized and simplified flowchart for deriving an overall composite index based on hierarchical aggregation. Of the references reviewed, 86% derived an overall composite index, and 58% of these used unequal weights in the aggregation of their dimensions (see Tables ​ Tables3 3 and S2 ). The dotted line between the dimension boxes and the overall composite index box indicates that not all of the references reviewed derived an overall composite index. Here, dimensions also refer to domains, components or their equivalent. In some cases, sub-indicators, called variables in the figure, were also used (e.g., Royuela et al. 2003 )

QOL and climate change and variability issues: their connections

The results revealed that climate-related keywords such as climate change, vulnerability, adaptive capacity, sensitivity, exposure, hazard, and risk were not [yet] popular among QOL scholars (Figs.  3 , S1). Nevertheless, we recognize that some of the references reviewed included some essential climate variables like temperature and rainfall (Royuela et al. 2003 ; Li and Weng 2007 ; Rao et al. 2012 ; Morais and Camanho 2011 ), as well as indicators like exposure and sensitivity to climate hazards (Estoque and Murayama 2014a , 2017 ), and thermal comfort and natural disaster exposure and preparedness (PwC 2016 ) (see also Table S2 ).

Research trend and potential gaps in QOL research

The bibliometric analysis revealed an overall significant increase in article publications concerning QOL assessment over the past 18 years, indicating that this field of study is receiving attention from the research and academic communities. In general, bibliometric analysis supports the evaluation of research trends in a particular field of study (Englund et al. 2017 ; Jurgilevich et al. 2017 ; Runting et al. 2017 ; Sweileh 2017 ). Besides providing guidance, it can encourage and challenge researchers to conduct further studies. In addition to the temporal data from article publications, the resulting research topics or keywords from this review (including their occurrences and networks) can be used to identify research trends and potential gaps in QOL research. We acknowledge that our approach for refining the research areas to be included in the second stage of the bibliometric analysis of QOL assessments that are more general in context was rather subjective. Nonetheless, the approach proved to be useful as it resulted in a more diverse set of keywords, favorable to the purpose of this review.

For instance, in our bibliometric analysis, the inclusion of keywords that go beyond the realms of medicine and health-related fields (e.g., “urban quality of life,” “environment,” “informal settlement,” “social indicators,” “municipalities,” “poverty,” and “remote sensing”) (Fig.  3 ) indicates that QOL assessments based on a more general perspective are becoming increasingly common. However, we observed that the aforementioned keywords still had low occurrences and weak connections with QOL (Fig.  3 ), indicating a need for further studies in their respective contexts. For example, although the keyword “environment” has been used by some scholars in their respective QOL assessments, its occurrence and connection with the keywords “quality of life” or “well-being” remained low and weak (Fig.  3 ). This could be due to the focus of the assessment, which might not be directly related to the environment, and/or the decision of the authors regarding their choice of keywords. Another plausible reason is that “environment” might have been perceived as having little importance in the context of the QOL assessment being performed, or not related to QOL at all. In fact, four of the references reviewed did not include any indicator of environment in their respective assessments or index development (UNDP 1990 , 2010 , 2013 ; Rinner 2007 ; Narayana 2009 ) (Fig.  4 ; Table S2 ). Furthermore, the observed low occurrence of the keyword “environment” and its weak connection with QOL could also signify a research gap, indicating that more studies are required to reveal the importance of natural capital to people’s QOL and well-being, as well as the human impact on the environment.

The results additionally revealed that some of the key environment-related concepts today were not popular among QOL authors in their choice of keywords, such as sustainable development (or sustainability), natural capital, and ecosystem services (Figs.  3 , S1). In fact, the relationship between QOL and sustainable development has continued to constitute an important topic among scholars (e.g., Boersema 1995 ; Mackay and Probert 1995 ; Levett 1998 ; Porio 2015 ; Gazzola and Querci 2017 ). We noted that within the references reviewed, some authors either mentioned or related their QOL assessments to the concept of sustainable development (Doi et al. 2008 ; Carse 2011 ; Atanasova and Karashtranova 2016 ; Yu et al. 2016 ). However, given that the sustainable development (or sustainability) concept was not captured in the analysis (Fig.  3 ), this indicates that more studies are needed to shed light on its connection with QOL and its importance in the actual assessment of human well-being in general. This is especially pertinent because sustainability is not a well-defined concept (Beckerman 1994 ; Wu 2013 ).

It is possible that one way of illustrating the connection between QOL and the concept of sustainable development is through the use of bridging concepts, such as the natural capital and ecosystem services concepts. Natural capital includes environments that generate and provide valuable ecosystem services to people (Costanza and Daly 1992 ; MEA 2005 ). The fresh air we breathe, the clean water we drink, the wood and medicinal plants we harvest, the coastal protective role that mangroves play, and the shade that trees provide (to name a few) are all considered ecosystem services. These services impact the quality of living and well-being of the populace because they are felt and experienced directly by people, and not “sustainable development” per se. However, in order to ensure the sustainability of these services, the concept of sustainable development must be observed and put into practice. The quantity and quality of these services today and in the future are contingent on human actions, i.e., what was done in the past and what is being done today. The United Nations recognizes that sustainable development is crucial to the QOL (UN 2015 ) and hence, the sustainability concept has been incorporated in most of the indexes reviewed (Fig. ​ (Fig.4 4 and Table S2 ).

Conceptualization and methodological construct for QOL assessment

Among the studies (articles) reviewed, differences in the interpretation and operationalization of the QOL concept were observed. These studies have addressed and used the QOL concept in the context of their respective assessments. For instance, in their attempt to develop an integrated evaluation method for accessibility, quality of life, and social interaction, Doi et al. ( 2008 ) anchored their interpretation of the QOL concept on the livability of the environment, both physical and social. In their assessment of general QOL, González et al. ( 2011a , b ) interpreted and operationalized the QOL concept based on social welfare. Rao et al. ( 2012 ) viewed the QOL concept as a function of objective socioeconomic and environmental variables, while other scholars have considered more specific variants of QOL, such as urban quality of life (Li and Weng 2007 ; Rinner 2007 ; Morais and Camanho 2011 ; Brambilla et al. 2013 ), transport quality of life (Carse 2011 ), and tourism-related community quality of life (Yu et al. 2016 ) (see Table S2 ).

Conversely, the indexes reviewed are built on more general concepts and are designed for much broader types of QOL-related assessments. Among these conceptual foundations are sustainable development (or sustainability), human development, social progress, better life, global cities, resilience, and the social-ecological system paradigm. In general, these varied conceptual foundations are indicative of the multidimensionality and flexibility, but also the amorphous nature, of the QOL concept. In line with the references reviewed, we contend that there is a constant need to be explicit and specific, theoretically and conceptually, when attempting to perform a QOL assessment. In fact, in previous reviews, a theoretical/conceptual foundation has been deemed among the most important criteria for evaluating QOL indicators and assessments (Hagerty et al. 2001 ; Pantisano et al. 2014 ). Clarification at the outset of an assessment can help elucidate the overall context, and facilitate the identification and selection of the relevant dimensions and indicators to be included.

Thus, given that the references reviewed have their own conceptualization of QOL or QOL-related indexes according to their respective purposes, their respective sets of dimensions and indicators also varied (Table S2 ). Nevertheless, all of the indicators used can be related to the triple bottom line of sustainability (Fig.  4 ). While we found that HDI and IHDI did not include indicators related to the environment (UNDP 2013 ), two of the articles reviewed also did not include any indicator that could generally be classified under the environmental dimension (Rinner 2007 ; Narayana 2009 ) (Fig.  4 ). In terms of the social dimension, all the references considered at least one indicator, but in terms of the economic dimension, three of the articles (Narayana 2009 ; Brambilla et al. 2013 ; Kapuria 2014 ) and two of the indexes, viz. HPI (Marks 2006 ; NEF 2016 ) and SPI (Porter et al. 2014 ; Stern et al. 2017 ), did not consider any economic indicator. SPI is designed to measure social progress directly based on social and environmental outcomes, independent of economic development (Porter et al. 2014 ; Stern et al. 2017 ). On the other hand, HPI is designed to be a measure of sustainable well-being based on how efficiently residents in different countries use natural resources to achieve long lives and high levels of well-being (Marks 2006 ; NEF 2016 ).

The results also revealed that many of the references considered subjective well-being in their respective assessments (Fig.  4 ; Table S3 ). Overall, while the results (i.e., varying conceptual foundations, dimensions, indicators, and units of analysis) were somewhat expected due to the nature of the QOL concept, they were indicative of the diversity of dimensions and indicators that could be linked to the QOL concept. The extensive list of research areas identified in this review (Table S1 ) is another indication of the wide-ranging scope of the QOL concept. QOL assessments can also be performed across multiple spatial scales or administrative levels, although we recognize that most of the indexes reviewed are designed for country-level assessments (Table  3 ).

The four quadrants in Fig.  5 depict the four qualities of life according to Veenhoven ( 2000 , 2007 ). The results revealed that only 39% of the references reviewed considered at least one indicator under each QOL. Six of the nine indexes (67%) and five of the 19 articles (26%) reviewed considered at least one indicator under each QOL. This indicates that the indexes reviewed are, to some extent, relatively more holistic in their respective approaches to QOL-related assessments, i.e., as per the four qualities of life (Veenhoven 2000 , 2007 ). The four quadrants in Fig.  5 essentially capture the general dimensions of the triple bottom line and people’s subjective well-being (Fig.  4 ). In fact, by considering one’s contribution to society and the environment (Veenhoven 2000 , 2007 ), Q3 is also explicit in taking “leakage effects” into account, or the external environmental impact of development (Estoque and Murayama 2014b ).

In the methodological construct of QOL assessment and QOL-related index development, we need to consider important factors such as the purpose of the assessment or index, the multidimensionality of the QOL concept, the time and unit of analysis, and data availability in the selection of dimensions, indicators, and their corresponding variables (Rinner 2007 ; Grasso and Canova 2008 ; Narayana 2009 ; González et al. 2011a , b ; Morais and Camanho 2011 ; Li and Wang 2013 ; Kapuria 2014 ; Soleimani et al. 2014 ). Data availability is also critical to the testing and further development of various QOL-related indexes, e.g., BLI (OECD 2011 , 2017 ), COQOL (PwC 2016 ), GPI (Talberth and Weisdorf 2017 ), HPI (NEF 2016 ), SESI (Estoque and Murayama 2014a , 2017 ), and SPI (Porter et al. 2014 ; Stern et al. 2017 ). Data can be based on surveys (respondents’ perceptions) and/or census statistics and other sources such as geospatial (remote sensing and GIS) datasets.

In generating an overall composite index, weighting and aggregation methods also varied across studies and indexes (Table S2 ). While this indicates that a common approach to this purpose is unavailable, it is also indicative of the richness of the potential approaches that can be applied, explored, and further developed. In fact, it has been noted that the strengths and weaknesses of composite indicators largely depend on the stages of index development, including the weighting and aggregation methods used (OECD 2008 ). Some scholars prefer to use equal weights based on the literature (Royuela et al. 2003 ; Narayana 2009 ) or owing to the absence of empirical evidence or scientific basis (Estoque and Murayama 2014a , 2017 ). The subject of weighting is discussed in detail in other publications (Hagerty and Land 2007 ; OECD 2008 ; Hsieh 2014 ; Hsieh and Kenagy 2014 ).

Some scholars also prefer not to aggregate (Carse 2011 ; Lin 2013 ; PwC 2016 ; Yu et al. 2016 ). There are two sides to the argument regarding aggregation. On the one hand, composite indicators have the ability to reveal the results of an integrated analytical framework, capture the bigger picture, and provide summary statistics that can communicate system status and trends to a wide range of audiences (Baptista 2014 ; Estoque and Murayama 2017 ). They are also “suitable tools whenever the primary information of an object is too complex to be handled without aggregations” (Müller et al. 2000 , p. 13). Conversely, “composite indicators are also criticized for their tendencies to [lose information (Carse 2011 )], ignore or omit important dimensions that are difficult to measure, disguise weaknesses in some components, overlook the interconnectedness of indicators, and misrepresent the observed condition or process due to oversimplification…, [thus] have the potential to misguide policy and practice” (Estoque and Murayama 2017 , p. 613). Furthermore, there is always doubt whether the aggregation of QOL dimensions or indicators can actually reflect the quality of people’s lives (Schneider 1976 ; Lin 2013 ). Therefore, it is necessary for one to pay attention to these issues when using a composite index. Estoque and Murayama ( 2017 , p. 613) have argued that “specific indicators should be given more attention at the planning and policy levels, rather than focusing only on the summary statistic provided by the composite indicator.” Here, the hierarchical structure of a QOL assessment (Fig.  6 ) serves as a diagnostic tool to reveal which of the dimensions and indicators (or their variables, if available) are most responsible for high or low overall composite index values.

Linking QOL with climate change and variability issues

It is indisputable that the IPCC’s assessment reports (AR1–AR5) have helped raise people’s awareness (at least those in the environmental science field) of the social-ecological impacts of climate change and variability, as well as possible mitigation and adaptation measures. In fact, ‘quality of life’ has been explicitly mentioned in these reports (e.g., AR3, IPCC 2001 ). However, the results of this review provide very little evidence regarding the relationship between QOL and issues of climate change and variability as far as the references reviewed are concerned (Figs.  3 , S1 ; Table S2 ). Hence, overall, we believe that there remains a need to expand the scope of QOL research to include climate-related issues more explicitly.

We recognize that this attempt to explicitly connect QOL with climate-related issues is not new. For instance, in the mid-1970s, Hoch and Drake ( 1974 ) examined the relationship between wage rates and climatic variables (precipitation, temperature, and wind velocity) hypothesizing that higher wages compensated for lower quality of life. In their study, they found evidence in support of this hypothesis, the applications of which included estimating changes in real income given specified climate changes. Furthermore, Roberts ( 1976 ) highlighted the impacts of climate change and variability on the quality and character of life for millions of the Earth’s people. In particular, he emphasized impending world food shortages due to population growth, the demands of the affluent on available food supplies, and climate variability.

In a more recent case study, also in the context of QOL, Albouy et al. ( 2014 ) developed a hedonic framework to estimate US households’ preferences regarding local climates. They found that Americans would pay more on the margin to avoid excess heat than cold. In their review, Adger et al. ( 2013 ) highlighted the importance and role of cultural factors or services in climate change adaptation. They postulated that while place attachment contributes to QOL, this cultural value might be lost if people were forced to relocate as part of the strategy to adapt to climate change. Moreover, in a recent review of the behavioral impacts of global climate change, Evans ( 2019 , p. 6.1) posited that “droughts, floods, and severe storms diminish quality of life, elevate stress, produce psychological distress, and may elevate interpersonal and intergroup conflict… [and that] recreational opportunities are compromised by extreme weather, and children may suffer delayed cognitive development.”

In summary, these publications have considered wage rates (Hoch and Drake 1974 ), food (Roberts 1976 ), place attachment (Adger et al. 2013 ), the impacts of exposure to climate on comfort, activity, and health, including time use and mortality risk (Albouy et al. 2014 ), and behavioral impacts (Evans 2019 ) as indicators to bridge QOL and issues of climate change and variability. However, overall, QOL assessments in the context of climate-related issues remain limited. We believe that in order to help advance the “QOL-Climate” subfield of QOL research, a framework identifying and establishing the connection between QOL and climate-related issues is needed. Thus, drawing on the above insights regarding (i) the impacts of climate change and variability, (ii) QOL-Climate connection, and (iii) the results of this review on general QOL assessment, we present a general framework that could potentially link QOL and issues of climate change and variability.

On the right-hand side of Fig.  7 is a general structure for QOL assessment built upon the dimensions of the triple bottom line (economic, social, environmental) and subjective well-being (satisfaction, happiness, fulfillment, welfare, etc.) as summarized from the references reviewed. While the integrative definition of QOL suggests that it is the extent to which objective human needs are fulfilled in relation to personal or group perceptions of subjective well-being that defines QOL (Costanza et al. 2007 ; Table  1 ), this review finds that QOL can be based on objective indicators and/or subjective well-being (Fig. ​ (Fig.4). 4 ). However, it should be noted that although this is a generalized structure (Fig.  7 —right side), some studies did not have a well-defined set of dimensions (Li and Weng 2007 ; Narayana 2009 ; Rao et al. 2012 ) (Table S2 ) and did not generate an overall composite index (Carse 2011 ; PwC 2016 ; Yu et al. 2016 ) (Table  3 ). As discussed above, some of the references also did not include subjective well-being in their respective assessments (Fig.  4 ).

The “QOL-Climate” assessment framework: a general framework for assessing quality of life, considering the social-ecological impacts of climate change and variability. Key references used in the development of this framework include IPCC’s AR5 on climate-related issues, Ostrom ( 2009 ) on the social-ecological system paradigm, Costanza et al. ( 2007 ) on the integrative definition of QOL, Elkington ( 1994 , 1997 ) on the triple bottom line, www.forumforthefuture.org on the five capitals, and www.pik-potsdam.de on impact chain analysis. Also included are references reviewed for some examples of indicators, and the syntheses in this review for the overall structure of the diagram

On the left-hand side of the diagram (Fig.  7 ) is a structure that illustrates the connection between climate change and variability and the components of a social-ecological system (i.e., essentially the ecosystems and sectors of society that produce the five capitals). Here, climate-related impacts across ecosystems and sectors of society are clarified through a climate impact chain analysis (in short: impact chain). An impact chain is “a general representation of how a given climate stimulus propagates through a system of interest via the direct and indirect impacts it entails” ( www.pik-potsdam.de ). For instance, a climate stimulus such as sea level rise can result in land loss, which then can trigger havoc to agricultural production and rural and urban areas, as well as necessitate migration ( www.pik-potsdam.de ). This analysis is important because it can help reveal the impacts of climate change and variability on the five capitals (human, social, natural, financial, and manufactured; www.forumforthefuture.org ) that provide goods and services to people.

In the center of the diagram are indicators (Fig.  7 ), their status being dependent on the condition of the capitals that produce them. The hypothesis is that the resulting QOL, through these indicators, depends on the status of the five capitals, which is also contingent on the extent of climate-related impacts at a given point in time. A feedback loop is drawn from the QOL and its dimensions to the social-ecological system components, indicating that the resulting level of QOL can be used as a driving force for policy intervention and adaptive planning (Fig.  7 ).

Such planning and policy interventions should be able to limit the exposure of the social-ecological system components and their sub-components to climate hazards and reduce their vulnerability to climate change and variability. The latter might be achieved by improving their adaptive capacities and reducing their sensitivities or susceptibilities to harm (IPCC 2014a , b ). In the context of adaptive planning and policy intervention, the hierarchical structure of a QOL assessment (Figs.  6 , ​ ,7—right 7 —right side) can help diagnose which of the outcome indicators (or their variables, if available) need to be prioritized. This cyclic process of the framework is similar to those of other frameworks used in health, development, and environment-related monitoring and evaluation, such as the pressure-state-response (PSR) framework (OECD 1993 ) and the driving force-pressure-state-effect-action (DPSEA) framework (Kjellström and Corvalán 1995 ).

However, the lack of data regarding direct experience with climate change and variability (Evans 2019 ) can represent a major challenge in the operationalization of this proposed “QOL-Climate” assessment framework. We also recognize that all of these insights may not be easy to put into actual practice because every ecosystem and every sector of society may need its own set of interventions. Such interventions are among the hot issues today in the context of climate change adaptation, not only among scholars but also among planners and policy-makers. In a broader context, nature-based solutions or NbS is currently being considered as a potential approach to addressing global societal challenges, including those related to water security, food security, human health, disaster risk reduction, and climate change and variability (Cohen-Shacham et al. 2016 ). Among the ecosystem-based approaches within the NbS family are ecosystem restoration approaches (e.g., ecological restoration, ecological engineering, and forest landscape restoration), issue-specific ecosystem-related approaches (e.g., ecosystem-based approaches, ecosystem-based mitigation, climate adaptation services, and ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction), and green infrastructure and natural infrastructure approaches (for details, see Cohen-Shacham et al. 2016 ).

Methodology-related discussion

We recognize that the findings presented above are limited by the methods applied, and they should be interpreted with those caveats in mind. This is especially true of the search terms used, which focused on quality of life assessment, evaluation, or measurement, without the inclusion of other QOL-related terms like happiness, subjective well-being, and life satisfaction, or climate-related terms such as climate change, climate impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation. Nevertheless, we believe that the search terms used have provided equal opportunity for all research articles in the database to be selected, regardless of their focus (happiness, climate impacts, etc.) for as long as the terms (Fig.  1 ) were explicitly mentioned in their respective titles.

The selection of the scientific database(s) to be used is a very important consideration at the initial stage of any systematic review that adopts the ROSES principles and protocols. The selection of database(s) and the rationale behind their use often depend on their accessibility to users (reviewers), who are themselves reliant on their personal or their institutions’ subscriptions. Our case is no different. Had we included additional scientific databases, more research articles might have been captured. Nevertheless, as we mentioned in “ Searching ” section, it has been shown that WoS (the database we used) can be used on its own as a source for a major systematic review work (Runting et al. 2017 ). That being said, we support any future attempt to replicate this review involving a greater number of scientific databases.

Our selection of the nine QOL-related indexes was also rather subjective. Our intention was to include some relatively old indexes that are still in use (e.g., HDI, GPI), and others that are emerging (e.g., SPI, BLI), as well as peer-reviewed (e.g., SESI and GPI) indexes. As we mentioned in “ Introduction ” section, there exists a number of reviews that can be consulted for a more extensive list and a focused review of QOL-related indexes (e.g., Hagerty et al. 2001 ; Pantisano et al. 2014 ).

Summary and concluding remarks

Based on the principles of ROSES, we have presented a systematic review aimed at gaining insights regarding the conceptualization and methodological construct of previous studies and assessments of QOL and of selected existing and emerging QOL-related indexes. The knowledge gained was used to develop a framework that might link QOL with climate-related issues. Our review revealed that (i) QOL assessments varied in terms of conceptual foundations, dimensions, indicators, and units of analysis, (ii) compared with economic and environmental indicators, social indicators were consistently used across assessments; (iii) most assessments considered indicators that were related to the life-ability of a person, enjoyment of life, utility of life, and especially the livability of the environment, and (iv) QOL could be based on objective indicators and/or subjective well-being, and on a composite index or unaggregated dimensions and indicators. Our review also revealed that QOL assessments remain poorly connected with climate-related issues. We consider this as an important gap in QOL research, which needs to be filled by expanding the scope of such research. Our proposed “QOL-Climate” assessment framework, which is designed to capture the social-ecological impacts of climate change and variability, can potentially help in this regard.

Just like many key concepts such as sustainability, freedom, justice, and democracy (Daly 1995 ; Wu 2013 ) that have emerged in this contemporary geological epoch, the Anthropocene (the age of man) (Crutzen 2002 ), QOL represents a complex and dialectically vague concept (Massam 2002 ; Moons et al. 2006 ; Barcaccia et al. 2013 ). However, although all of these concepts possess elements of ambiguity, they convey fundamental principles that guide our actions and shape our visions for the future (see also Wu 2013 ). Consequently, we argue that, like the aforementioned concepts, QOL is considered a term of great importance to humankind. We are today faced with various pressing issues, including the social-ecological impacts of climate change and variability. Scholars from various fields are encouraged to work together so that this subfield of QOL research, which we have labeled “QOL-Climate,” will advance for the benefit of all.

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Ministry of Environment, Japan, through Research Grants S2-1708 and S15. The conclusions and recommendations presented in this article are of the authors and do not, in any way, represent the views of the funder.

Biographies

is a Research Associate at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan. His research interests include quality of life assessment, sustainability assessment, climate change vulnerability, impact and adaptation assessment, and the applications of geospatial technologies (remote sensing and geographic information systems) for social-ecological studies, including the monitoring and assessment of land-use/land-cover changes and ecosystem services.

is a Researcher at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan. His research interests include quality of life indicators, sustainability indicators, applied mathematical optimization, and regional and urban environment design theory.

is a Section Head at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan. His research interests include quality of life assessment, ecosystem services assessment, climate change vulnerability, impact and adaptation assessment, environmental ethics, and information science.

is a Senior Researcher at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan. His research interests include integrated modeling, regional sciences, demography, and climate change mitigation and adaptation scenarios.

is a Researcher at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan. His research interests include rural planning, social capital, sustainability, rural resource management, and community environmental management.

is a Section Head at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan. His research interests include the analysis of environmental issues related to climate change, and the development of an integrated assessment model to assess climate change impacts and adaptation measures, as well as policy options for stabilizing global climate.

is a Deputy Director at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan. Her research interests include international and institutional negotiations concerning climate change based on theories and methodologies of international relations, and policies towards a sustainable society, including its assessment.

Contributor Information

Ronald C. Estoque, Email: [email protected] , Email: ku.oc.oohay@k2snor .

Takuya Togawa, Email: [email protected] .

Makoto Ooba, Email: [email protected] .

Kei Gomi, Email: [email protected] .

Shogo Nakamura, Email: [email protected] .

Yasuaki Hijioka, Email: pj.og.sein@akoijih .

Yasuko Kameyama, Email: pj.og.sein@emaky .

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How to Make Killer Video Case Studies

Everyone loves a good story. Maybe that’s why video case studies are popular. Case studies are stories that give us insight, provide a behind-the-scenes look, and introduce us to real people at a real company. Many businesses use case studies to show how their products and services are making an impact on their customers. They can document new product development, or show how a company has made improvements, changed corporate culture, or leveraged resources for the benefit of a community.

We’ll explore every facet of video case studies, breaking down what they are, how to make them, and what makes a successful one. We’ll also provide you with case study video examples as well as tips for making effective videos that will drive results.

Key Takeaways

What is a video case study?

A video case study is a compelling audiovisual presentation that tells the story of how a particular product, service, or solution positively impacted a real-world customer or client. It typically features interviews with the customer, highlights their challenges and goals, and showcases how the featured product or service provided a solution and delivered measurable benefits.

Video case studies are powerful marketing tools, as they build trust, demonstrate credibility, and provide potential customers with real-life examples of successful outcomes, ultimately influencing their purchasing decisions.

What are the benefits of video case studies?

The truth is, consumers want more video content. In a 2023 study from Wyzowl , 91% of respondents claimed that they wanted more video content from brands. So why not give the people what they want? On top of that, using case study videos can offer several significant benefits for a business:

• Credibility and trust: Case study videos showcase real-life success stories, demonstrating that your products or services have delivered tangible benefits to satisfied customers. This builds trust and credibility with potential clients or customers.
• Engagement: Videos are inherently engaging and can captivate your audience better than text or static images. Case study videos allow you to tell a compelling narrative, keeping viewers interested in your content.
• Demonstration of expertise: Through case studies, you can showcase your expertise and industry knowledge. They establish you as an authority in your field and position your business as a go-to solution provider.
• Problem-solution narrative: Case study videos often follow a problem-solution structure, helping potential customers identify with the challenges presented and visualize how your product or service can solve their own problems.
• Personal connection: Including customer interviews or testimonials in your videos adds a personal touch. Prospective clients can relate to real people who have benefited from your offerings, making your brand more relatable.
• Versatility: Case study videos can be shared across various platforms, such as your website, social media, email marketing, and presentations. This versatility ensures that your success stories reach a wide audience.
• Measurable impact: Case study videos can include data and metrics that demonstrate the concrete results achieved by your clients. This evidence of ROI can be particularly persuasive.
• Lead generation: Well-optimized case study videos can serve as valuable lead magnets, attracting potential customers who are actively seeking solutions to problems similar to those addressed in your videos.
• Storytelling: Effective storytelling in case study videos helps create an emotional connection with your audience, making your brand more memorable and relatable.

Incorporating case study videos into your marketing strategy can have a profound impact on your business by fostering trust, engagement, and conversions while showcasing your expertise and the real-world benefits of your products or services.

Are there different types of video case studies?

As with any genre of film or video production, there are some commonalities in style and tone you’ll see as you delve into that genre. The same holds true with video case studies, where there are several common types you will encounter.

Product/Service Reviews

Purpose: Product or service review case study videos aim to provide an in-depth analysis of your offering’s features, functionality, and benefits. These videos offer an objective evaluation and often serve as informative resources for potential customers.

• Introduction: Begin with an introduction to the product or service being reviewed.
• Features and Benefits: Highlight key features and benefits, explaining how they address specific needs or pain points.
• Demonstration: Showcase the product or service in action through practical demonstrations.
• User Experience: Share real user experiences, feedback, and opinions.
• Comparison (optional): Sometimes, a review may compare your offering with competitors to illustrate its advantages.
• Conclusion: Summarize the review, emphasizing the overall value and why viewers should consider your product or service.

Audience: These videos are geared toward potential customers who are actively researching your product or service. They seek detailed information to make an informed purchase decision.

Benefits: Product/service review case study videos build trust and transparency with your audience. They offer an unbiased evaluation and help potential customers understand how your offering can meet their needs.

• Testimonials

Purpose: Testimonial case study videos feature satisfied customers or clients sharing their personal experiences and success stories with your product or service. These videos serve as powerful social proof, demonstrating real-world benefits.

• Introduction: Introduce the customer or client who will provide the testimonial.
• Problem: Describe the challenges or issues the customer faced before using your product or service.
• Solution: Explain how your offering addressed those challenges.
• Benefits: Highlight the specific results, improvements, or positive outcomes achieved.
• Recommendation: Conclude with the customer’s recommendation or endorsement of your product or service.

Audience: Testimonial case study videos are effective for a broad audience, particularly those in the consideration stage of the buyer’s journey. They provide credibility and build trust.

Benefits: Testimonial videos offer authenticity and credibility, showcasing real customers who have benefited from your offering. They help potential customers relate to others with similar needs and challenges.

Narrative Case Studies

Purpose: Narrative case study videos are storytelling-focused. They aim to engage viewers emotionally by presenting a compelling narrative that highlights a customer’s journey from problem to solution, often emphasizing the transformational aspects.

• Introduction: Set the stage by introducing the customer or client and their unique situation.
• Challenge: Describe the significant challenges or pain points the customer faced.
• Journey: Take viewers on the customer’s journey, emphasizing their struggles and emotional experiences.
• Solution: Reveal how your product or service came into play, providing a solution and sparking change.
• Transformation: Showcase the transformation or positive outcomes that occurred as a result.
• Conclusion: Conclude with a powerful message that resonates emotionally and reinforces your product or service’s role.

Audience: Narrative case study videos are particularly effective for creating an emotional connection with viewers. They engage a wide range of audiences, including those in the awareness and consideration stages.

Benefits: These videos go beyond showcasing features and benefits; they create an emotional connection. Narrative case study videos are memorable and can inspire action by demonstrating the profound impact of your offering on a customer’s life or business.

Each type of case study video serves a unique purpose and engages different aspects of your audience’s decision-making process. Depending on your goals and the subject matter, one of these case study styles should help you convey the message you’re trying to get across.

How to make a video case study

Case studies as a rule won’t necessarily follow an exact timeline or template, but in general, the following steps are typically part of the video case study production process.

1. Planning and Pre-production

Before diving into the video production process , it’s crucial to lay a solid foundation. Start by clearly defining your objectives for the case study video. Identify the specific goals you want to achieve, such as increasing brand awareness, showcasing product effectiveness, or driving conversions.

Selecting the right client or customer is a pivotal step. Choose someone who has a compelling story to tell and has experienced significant benefits from your product or service. Gather initial information about their experience and challenges to ensure they align with your goals.

Set clear goals and key messages you want to convey through the case study. These messages will guide the direction of your video. Assemble your team, which may include videographers, editors, and interviewers, and develop a production timeline to keep the project on track. Don’t forget to secure any necessary permissions and releases from your client and any individuals featured in the video.

2. Research and Interviews

With your pre-production work complete, it’s time to dive into the research phase. Conduct in-depth interviews with your chosen client or customer. These interviews should yield insightful testimonials that highlight the impact of your product or service.

During the interviews, aim to identify the pain points and challenges your client faced before using your solution. Document their journey in detail, from their initial struggles to the moment they found your product or service. Equally important is to capture how your solution addressed these challenges and the benefits it provided.

Supporting data and metrics are key to substantiating your case study. Collect relevant statistics, customer feedback, or any measurable results that reinforce the success story. Build a storyboard or outline for your video, which will serve as the roadmap for the narrative you want to convey.

3. Filming and Production

The production phase involves bringing your case study to life through video. Start by meticulously planning the video shoot. This includes location scouting to find suitable settings, setting up equipment, and assembling your production team if necessary.

Conduct interviews with your client to capture their story authentically. Additionally, capture B-roll footage that complements the narrative. Ensure that you maintain high-quality audio and visuals throughout the shoot to create a professional and engaging video.

Consistency in branding and style is essential. Your case study video should align with your brand’s identity and values. If needed, shoot additional footage to fill any gaps and enhance the overall storytelling.

4. Post-production

After filming, the post-production phase is where the pieces come together to create a cohesive and compelling video. Begin by reviewing all the footage and selecting the best clips that tell the story effectively.

The editing process is crucial. Arrange the footage in a way that builds a compelling narrative, starting with the problem and progressing to the solution. Add supporting graphics, text, and data to provide context and enhance viewer understanding. Pay close attention to enhancing visual and audio quality to maintain professionalism.

Incorporate music or voiceover, if appropriate and necessary for the narrative. Test the video for clarity and impact, and obtain feedback from stakeholders to ensure the final product aligns with your goals and objectives.

5. Finalization and Distribution

With the video edited and polished, it’s time for finalization and distribution. Add branding elements and a clear call to action that guides viewers on what to do next.

Consider creating different versions of the video, such as shorter snippets for social media and a longer, more detailed version for your website or email marketing.

Optimize the video for search engines if you plan to host it online. Set up a dedicated landing page or platform for hosting the video.

Develop a distribution plan that outlines how and where you’ll share the video, ensuring it reaches your target audience effectively.

6. Monitoring and Analysis

Once the video is live, your work isn’t over. Track key video metrics such as views, engagement (likes, shares, comments), and conversions. Collect feedback from your audience to gauge their response and make improvements for future videos.

Evaluate the video’s impact on your defined objectives. Did it drive the desired results, whether that’s increased brand awareness or conversions? Use this analysis to refine your future video case studies.

7. Post-Release Engagement

Stay engaged with your audience after releasing the video. Respond promptly to comments and questions on social media and other platforms where the video is shared. Encourage viewers to share their own experiences or thoughts related to the case study.

8. Case Study Promotion

Highlight the case study video prominently on your website. Incorporate it into sales presentations and pitches to showcase real success stories. Leverage the video in email marketing campaigns to engage with your subscribers. Share it across all relevant social media channels and communities, harnessing the power of social proof to influence potential customers.

By following these outlined steps, you’ll be well-prepared to create a captivating and effective video case study that not only tells a compelling story but also drives results for your business.

10 top tips for video case studies that succeed

Now that you have a solid background on the fundamentals of case studies and how to bring them to life in video, let’s dig a little deeper and discuss some of the keys to creating winning case studies.

Find an engaging story

Find a story with depth to carry the video. We have all been to movies or read a book where the plot is thin or non-existent. A video case study needs to have a plot. It can’t be business as usual; something needs to happen, or no one will care. Is there a problem that was solved? Did you find a better way to accomplish a task? Break into new markets? It helps if the story is about a company or individual whose name people know. Of course, that might not be possible. An interesting, smaller company or unique person can also be engaging.

Camera-friendly interviewees

Video case studies often include real people. The engineer or scientist who made an amazing discovery. The shop floor worker who found a better way to make a product. The customer service representative who solved a problem. People do great work, but can they be engaging on camera? Look for those who are excited to tell their story. Watch to see if they have good eye contact and answer questions concisely. Most people need some coaching, so be sure you have a professional interviewer. They will put people at ease and know when they hear that perfect soundbite.

Choose the right format

There are several formats that can work to make great case studies. Interesting interviews can carry a story by weaving them together. This requires a well-thought-out storyline and a producer who knows how to get interviews that tell the complete story.

A second option is to combine narrative and soundbites. We pick the most interesting soundbites and then write narrative transitions as needed. Narrative can be helpful because it shortens up and crystallizes what might be lengthy explanations by interviewees.

The final option is all narrative. This gives you complete control of the story and the video production supports it.

Great visuals

You know the old saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words?” It’s true. Sometimes it’s easy to capture visuals. People working on cool machines. A bustling office or factory. A time-lapse of something being built or installed. Think about the visual opportunities you have to support the content of the interviews. At CK and CO, we can help decide what to shoot… and how to “make video” when the settings are limited.

Use motion graphics

Some video case studies are about concepts or elements that cannot be seen. Take, for example, the transfer of data to the cloud. You can’t see it, but you know it happens. Motion graphics can illustrate things we can’t see or visualize complex processes and procedures. They can also spice up videos to make them even more appealing.

Impressive results

Viewers love “wow” statistics. As you tell your story, it’s important to share tangible results. For example:

Did you reduce costs by 30% or increase productivity?

Did you get a return on your investment in half the projected time?

Have you improved employee retention by 20%?

You get the idea. Brag about what you have achieved. Sometimes, it is too soon to know the results of your story. In that case, you might include a vision statement about what you hope to achieve.

High content. Short timeframe.

We live in a world where Twitter and Instagram have influenced how we consume information. Whether or not you use these tools the mindset today is, “give it to me now, give it to me fast and don’t make me think about it.” As a result, your viewers expect a video case study that provides high content in a short timeframe. Every word is important, and when coupled with great visuals, you can get your message across in far less time than you might think.

Create alternate versions of the same story.

Meaty stories beg for more time. The truth is that audiences vary in how much time they are willing to devote to a video. At CK and CO, we often create several versions of a case study using the same raw video. We might create a longer piece (5:00-6:00) for use in a face-to-face opportunity. That same video content can be cut down to a shorter video (2:30-3:00) for use on a website. One length does not fit all. If you have spent the time and money to capture the story, consider your options.

Tease your video case study

Just as filmmakers cut movie trailers to generate interest in a film, you can “tease” your video case study. We often pull short compelling soundbites and package them into media shorts. These :15-:30 videos end with a call to action to view the entire video.

Add a whitepaper

While it’s true that many people prefer video to print, don’t miss an opportunity. Create a short whitepaper to accompany your video case study. The whitepaper should not be a transcript of the video, but instead should complement it. This is the place for highly technical elements and background information that does not translate well to video.

Video case studies are an effective tool for engaging potential customers and telling your company’s story. So, consider how you might use them to tell your story.

Where to use video case studies

We discussed this briefly above in the “how to” section, but it’s worth revisiting in more detail. Once you’ve put the finishing touches on your case study video you need to get it out to the world. But where exactly should you be promoting it?

1. Your Website

Embed the video case study prominently on your website’s homepage or a dedicated landing page to make it easily accessible to visitors. Having a dedicated section or page for all your case studies can provide a convenient reference point for interested prospects.

2. Social Media

Share the video on your compa ny’s social media profiles, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. Optimize the video for each platform’s specifications, and actively engage with your audience through comments, likes, and shares to increase its visibility and reach.

3. Email Marketing

Include the video case study in your email marketing campaigns, especially when targeting segments of your email list interested in the topic. Additionally, use the video in email signatures to add a dynamic touchpoint to your email correspondence.

4. Sales and Marketing Presentations

Integrate the video into your sales pitches and marketing presentations. By doing so, you can provide real-world examples of your product or service’s success, which can be highly persuasive during client interactions.

5. Content Marketing

Incorporate the video into your content marketing strategy by using it in blog posts, articles, or other written content related to the case study’s topic. You can also create teaser content from snippets or excerpts of the video to pique the interest of your audience and direct them to the full video for more in-depth information.

These strategic placements will help you maximize the visibility and impact of your video case study across different channels and engage your target audience effectively.

Case study video examples worth watching

Want to see some effective case study video examples? We’ve put together a short list here with some key takeaways and tips for video case studies that might prove helpful as you look to create your next video masterpiece.

Video case study example 1

• Quick summary: Queen City Candy has a sweet history that spans more than three decades as a buyer, packager and reseller of candy and confections to customers throughout the world. But in 2015 the company began manufacturing candy – all thanks to Siemens automation.
• Why it works: The visuals help guide this video as the interviewees describe their challenge and how Siemens helped them discover a solution. It’s impossible to look away while colorful candy floats across the screen. Not to mention the impressive results, like a 40% increase in sales thanks to Siemens technology.
• Key takeaway(s): Outcomes and visuals are a critical component of any video case study.

Video case study example 2

• What do you do when your company name and identity no longer reflect what you do? You change your name and update your brand with a new look. But there is still work to be done. You need to communicate the changes to your existing customers and attract new ones once rebranding efforts are completed.
• Why it works: This piece uses compelling motion graphics and narrative to create a short, simplified message. It helps the viewer see that Marana group knows their struggles when it comes to breaking through the noise and getting their message to prospective customers. It then shares how Marana group can help.
• Key takeaway(s): Simple graphics and messaging are key to the success of this case study. A topic than can be complex to share is made simple thanks to motion graphics.

Video case study example 3

• Quick summary: Vibrant cities require reliable, convenient and comfortable transportation systems. Get a look at the Charlotte Streetcar and see how the 4-mile-long streetcar line connects the Historic West End through Center City Charlotte to the Elizabeth neighborhood. This Siemens Mobility project shows how transportation is the lifeblood of a community. 
• Why it works: With this case study, viewers understand how the Charlotte Streetcar is helping bring a city together – connecting diverse neighborhoods and making them more accessible for all. It also highlights the key features and benefits the city has come to appreciate from the Siemens Mobility Streetcar.
• Key takeaway(s): Customers are often your biggest promoter – if you have a project that has gone well, further build the relationship by sharing the story together with your customers.

Cynthia Kay

Cynthia Kay founded Cynthia Kay and Company media production 35 years ago. The company produces communications for organizations from Fortune Global 100 to small businesses. A graduate of Michigan State University, Kay holds a master’s in communications from Western Michigan University. She is the Past Board Chair of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) and the National Small Business Association (NSBA). Cynthia has been honored with many awards including numerous Tellys and Woman Owned Small Business Supplier of the Year from Siemens in 2018. She has been named One of West Michigan’s 50 Most Influential Women 5 times. She is also the recipient of over 30 broadcast awards from UPI, AP and other news organizations.

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A Mixed Method Approach to Quality of Life Research: A Case Study Approach

• Published: 04 May 2007
• Volume 85 , pages 145–158, ( 2008 )

Cite this article

• Heather Dunning 1 ,
• Allison Williams 2 ,
• Sylvia Abonyi 3 &
• Valorie Crooks 4  

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Increased use of qualitative and quantitative methods in quality of life projects necessitates an examination of how to effectively work within a mixed method framework. The research objectives of this paper are to (1) operationalize the two goals of mixed method research (confirmation and comprehension) and (2) develop a strategy for using mixed methods in quality of life research. Face-to-face interview (qualitative) and telephone survey (quantitative) data from the Community–University Institute for Social Research Quality of Life (CUISR QoL) project in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan were used for operationalization. Overall, confirmation and comprehension were challenging concepts to operationalize. Seven benefits and four guidelines were developed and are presented as dynamic, rather than definitive, structures.

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City Planning Branch, City of Saskatoon, 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7K 0J5

Heather Dunning

Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 2K1

Allison Williams

Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5E5

Sylvia Abonyi

Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, RCB 7123 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Colombia, Canada, V5A 1S6

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Dunning, H., Williams, A., Abonyi, S. et al. A Mixed Method Approach to Quality of Life Research: A Case Study Approach. Soc Indic Res 85 , 145–158 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-007-9131-5

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5 impactful case study video examples you can make in 5 minutes

Mattison Hofstedt

November 15, 2023

Think creating impactful case study videos requires hours of filming and editing? Think again! We're about to show you that it's possible to craft compelling case study videos in as little as five minutes, using resources you already have.

In this article, we're excited to showcase five outstanding examples of case study videos that were crafted in mere minutes. Each example demonstrates how you can turn existing written content into a visually engaging and persuasive narrative, proving that effective marketing doesn't always require a lot of time or resources. Let's dive in!

Why case study videos matter

But first, let's address a crucial question: Why are case study videos so important? These videos are not just another marketing tool; they are a powerhouse of storytelling that can significantly boost your brand's credibility and customer engagement.

89% say that watching a video convinced them to buy something.

Videos can simplify complex information, making it easier for potential clients to understand the value proposition. A well-executed case study video can act as a persuasive testimonial, driving more leads to convert. 

91% of folks want to see more videos from brands in 2023.

Sharing success stories humanizes a brand. When existing clients see their stories being showcased, it fosters a sense of pride and loyalty. For potential clients, seeing real-life success stories in video builds trust and credibility.

Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to 10% when reading it in text

Videos are more engaging than text. With the right storytelling techniques, a case study video can keep viewers hooked till the end, increasing the chances of them taking the desired action.

Myth busting: You don't need client footage

Now, let's debunk a common myth: You don't need extensive footage of your clients speaking to create an impactful case study video. The secret lies in leveraging the written case studies you already possess. 

By combining this existing text with relevant images, be it supporting visuals or simple headshots of your clients, you can narrate a compelling story. This approach not only eases the process for you but also respects the privacy and time constraints of your clients, who may be hesitant or unable to participate in video recordings.

5 fast and effective case study video examples

Now we’re going to show you 5 outstanding case study video examples crafted in mere minutes. Each demonstrates turning written content into engaging, persuasive narratives, proving effective marketing doesn't always need extensive resources.

Example 1: Challenge, Solution, Impact

The structured approach.

The Challenge-Solution-Impact format is a classic yet powerful structure for case study videos. It's simple: just fill in key details under each heading. We combine industry-relevant footage with images of the individuals behind each case study, creating a compelling narrative that resonates with viewers.

Example 2: Authentic Testimonials

Customer voices amplify your brand.

There's nothing quite like a customer's perspective to make your offerings relatable. Quick testimonial videos lend credibility and build trust in your brand. Easily produced, these videos gather customer insights through emails or forms, showcasing genuine experiences in a straightforward format.

Example 3: Powerful Single Quotes

A quote that speaks volumes.

Sometimes, a single, strong quote is all it takes to captivate and encourage further exploration. This format focuses on a standout quote that represents the essence of the customer's experience, making a lasting impression with just a few impactful words.

Example 4: Results-driven stories

Highlighting success stories.

Start with the end in mind - showcase the tangible results achieved by your clients. Whether it's a significant increase in LinkedIn followers or other measurable successes, using results as a narrative driver, complemented by supporting visuals, creates a compelling and aspirational story.

Example 5: Narrative storytelling

Engage with a story.

Narrate the customer journey as a story. This approach tends to capture attention more effectively than plain text, inviting viewers to follow a relatable and engaging narrative from start to finish.

Effortless case study video creation with Storykit AI

As we've explored these diverse and engaging case study video examples, a key theme emerges: simplicity and efficiency in video production. 

This is where Storykit AI becomes your invaluable tool. Imagine the convenience of creating these compelling videos by simply copying and pasting text from your existing case studies into Storykit AI. It's a game-changer.

Quick and user-friendly process

Storykit AI streamlines the video creation process, making it accessible even for those with no prior video editing experience. The process is as simple as it sounds: take your written case study, copy the text, and paste it into the Storykit platform. Within minutes, you have a foundational video ready.

Personalization and flexibility

But it doesn't stop at just generating a video; Storykit AI offers the flexibility to tailor and edit. If there's something in the automatically generated video that doesn't quite fit your vision, you can easily make adjustments. This customization aspect ensures that the end product is not just quick to create but also aligns perfectly with your brand's message and aesthetic.

A five-minute transformation

The most striking aspect of using Storykit AI is the speed. In about the time it takes to enjoy a coffee break, you can transform a written case study into a visually engaging video narrative. This efficiency doesn't come at the cost of quality either. The platform is designed to produce professional-level videos that are ready to captivate your audience.

Case study videos will be a game changer when it comes to your marketing game, and if you have Storykit AI by your side, there is no reason not to be creating them. Whether you're looking to create a structured case study, a powerful testimonial, or a story-driven video, Storykit AI equips you to do so in a matter of minutes, not hours. Embrace this tool and watch as your case studies come to life in a whole new way, engaging and inspiring your audience like never before.

Ready to create high quality videos? Try Storykit today . First time here?

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15 Real-Life Case Study Examples & Best Practices

Written by: Oghale Olori

Case studies are more than just success stories.

They are powerful tools that demonstrate the practical value of your product or service. Case studies help attract attention to your products, build trust with potential customers and ultimately drive sales.

It’s no wonder that 73% of successful content marketers utilize case studies as part of their content strategy. Plus, buyers spend 54% of their time reviewing case studies before they make a buying decision.

To ensure you’re making the most of your case studies, we’ve put together 15 real-life case study examples to inspire you. These examples span a variety of industries and formats. We’ve also included best practices, design tips and templates to inspire you.

Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

What is a case study, 15 real-life case study examples, sales case study examples, saas case study examples, product case study examples, marketing case study examples, business case study examples, case study faqs.

• A case study is a compelling narrative that showcases how your product or service has positively impacted a real business or individual. 
• Case studies delve into your customer's challenges, how your solution addressed them and the quantifiable results they achieved.
• Your case study should have an attention-grabbing headline, great visuals and a relevant call to action. Other key elements include an introduction, problems and result section.
• Visme provides easy-to-use tools, professionally designed templates and features for creating attractive and engaging case studies.

A case study is a real-life scenario where your company helped a person or business solve their unique challenges. It provides a detailed analysis of the positive outcomes achieved as a result of implementing your solution.

Case studies are an effective way to showcase the value of your product or service to potential customers without overt selling. By sharing how your company transformed a business, you can attract customers seeking similar solutions and results.

Case studies are not only about your company's capabilities; they are primarily about the benefits customers and clients have experienced from using your product.

Every great case study is made up of key elements. They are;

• Attention-grabbing headline: Write a compelling headline that grabs attention and tells your reader what the case study is about. For example, "How a CRM System Helped a B2B Company Increase Revenue by 225%.
• Introduction/Executive Summary: Include a brief overview of your case study, including your customer’s problem, the solution they implemented and the results they achieved.
• Problem/Challenge: Case studies with solutions offer a powerful way to connect with potential customers. In this section, explain how your product or service specifically addressed your customer's challenges.
• Solution: Explain how your product or service specifically addressed your customer's challenges.
• Results/Achievements : Give a detailed account of the positive impact of your product. Quantify the benefits achieved using metrics such as increased sales, improved efficiency, reduced costs or enhanced customer satisfaction.
• Graphics/Visuals: Include professional designs, high-quality photos and videos to make your case study more engaging and visually appealing.
• Quotes/Testimonials: Incorporate written or video quotes from your clients to boost your credibility.
• Relevant CTA: Insert a call to action (CTA) that encourages the reader to take action. For example, visiting your website or contacting you for more information. Your CTA can be a link to a landing page, a contact form or your social media handle and should be related to the product or service you highlighted in your case study.

Now that you understand what a case study is, let’s look at real-life case study examples. Among these, you'll find some simple case study examples that break down complex ideas into easily understandable solutions.

In this section, we’ll explore SaaS, marketing, sales, product and business case study examples with solutions. Take note of how these companies structured their case studies and included the key elements.

We’ve also included professionally designed case study templates to inspire you.

1. Georgia Tech Athletics Increase Season Ticket Sales by 80%

Georgia Tech Athletics, with its 8,000 football season ticket holders, sought for a way to increase efficiency and customer engagement.

Their initial sales process involved making multiple outbound phone calls per day with no real targeting or guidelines. Georgia Tech believed that targeting communications will enable them to reach more people in real time.

Salesloft improved Georgia Tech’s sales process with an inbound structure. This enabled sales reps to connect with their customers on a more targeted level. The use of dynamic fields and filters when importing lists ensured prospects received the right information, while communication with existing fans became faster with automation.

As a result, Georgia Tech Athletics recorded an 80% increase in season ticket sales as relationships with season ticket holders significantly improved. Employee engagement increased as employees became more energized to connect and communicate with fans.

Why Does This Case Study Work?

In this case study example , Salesloft utilized the key elements of a good case study. Their introduction gave an overview of their customers' challenges and the results they enjoyed after using them. After which they categorized the case study into three main sections: challenge, solution and result.

Salesloft utilized a case study video to increase engagement and invoke human connection.

Incorporating videos in your case study has a lot of benefits. Wyzol’s 2023 state of video marketing report showed a direct correlation between videos and an 87% increase in sales.

The beautiful thing is that creating videos for your case study doesn’t have to be daunting.

With an easy-to-use platform like Visme, you can create top-notch testimonial videos that will connect with your audience. Within the Visme editor, you can access over 1 million stock photos , video templates, animated graphics and more. These tools and resources will significantly improve the design and engagement of your case study.

Simplify content creation and brand management for your team

• Collaborate on designs , mockups and wireframes with your non-design colleagues
• Lock down your branding to maintain brand consistency throughout your designs
• Why start from scratch? Save time with 1000s of professional branded templates

Sign up. It’s free.

2. WeightWatchers Completely Revamped their Enterprise Sales Process with HubSpot

WeightWatchers, a 60-year-old wellness company, sought a CRM solution that increased the efficiency of their sales process. With their previous system, Weightwatchers had limited automation. They would copy-paste message templates from word documents or recreate one email for a batch of customers.

This required a huge effort from sales reps, account managers and leadership, as they were unable to track leads or pull customized reports for planning and growth.

WeightWatchers transformed their B2B sales strategy by leveraging HubSpot's robust marketing and sales workflows. They utilized HubSpot’s deal pipeline and automation features to streamline lead qualification. And the customized dashboard gave leadership valuable insights.

As a result, WeightWatchers generated seven figures in annual contract value and boosted recurring revenue. Hubspot’s impact resulted in 100% adoption across all sales, marketing, client success and operations teams.

Hubspot structured its case study into separate sections, demonstrating the specific benefits of their products to various aspects of the customer's business. Additionally, they integrated direct customer quotes in each section to boost credibility, resulting in a more compelling case study.

Getting insight from your customer about their challenges is one thing. But writing about their process and achievements in a concise and relatable way is another. If you find yourself constantly experiencing writer’s block, Visme’s AI writer is perfect for you.

Visme created this AI text generator tool to take your ideas and transform them into a great draft. So whether you need help writing your first draft or editing your final case study, Visme is ready for you.

3. Immi’s Ram Fam Helps to Drive Over $200k in Sales

Immi embarked on a mission to recreate healthier ramen recipes that were nutritious and delicious. After 2 years of tireless trials, Immi finally found the perfect ramen recipe. However, they envisioned a community of passionate ramen enthusiasts to fuel their business growth.

This vision propelled them to partner with Shopify Collabs. Shopify Collabs successfully cultivated and managed Immi’s Ramen community of ambassadors and creators.

As a result of their partnership, Immi’s community grew to more than 400 dedicated members, generating over $200,000 in total affiliate sales.

The power of data-driven headlines cannot be overemphasized. Chili Piper strategically incorporates quantifiable results in their headlines. This instantly sparks curiosity and interest in readers.

While not every customer success story may boast headline-grabbing figures, quantifying achievements in percentages is still effective. For example, you can highlight a 50% revenue increase with the implementation of your product.

Take a look at the beautiful case study template below. Just like in the example above, the figures in the headline instantly grab attention and entice your reader to click through.

Having a case study document is a key factor in boosting engagement. This makes it easy to promote your case study in multiple ways. With Visme, you can easily publish, download and share your case study with your customers in a variety of formats, including PDF, PPTX, JPG and more!

4. How WOW! is Saving Nearly 79% in Time and Cost With Visme

This case study discusses how Visme helped WOW! save time and money by providing user-friendly tools to create interactive and quality training materials for their employees. Find out what your team can do with Visme. Request a Demo

WOW!'s learning and development team creates high-quality training materials for new and existing employees. Previous tools and platforms they used had plain templates, little to no interactivity features, and limited flexibility—that is, until they discovered Visme.

Now, the learning and development team at WOW! use Visme to create engaging infographics, training videos, slide decks and other training materials.

This has directly reduced the company's turnover rate, saving them money spent on recruiting and training new employees. It has also saved them a significant amount of time, which they can now allocate to other important tasks.

Visme's customer testimonials spark an emotional connection with the reader, leaving a profound impact. Upon reading this case study, prospective customers will be blown away by the remarkable efficiency achieved by Visme's clients after switching from PowerPoint.

Visme’s interactivity feature was a game changer for WOW! and one of the primary reasons they chose Visme.

“Previously we were using PowerPoint, which is fine, but the interactivity you can get with Visme is so much more robust that we’ve all steered away from PowerPoint.” - Kendra, L&D team, Wow!

Visme’s interactive feature allowed them to animate their infographics, include clickable links on their PowerPoint designs and even embed polls and quizzes their employees could interact with.

By embedding the slide decks, infographics and other training materials WOW! created with Visme, potential customers get a taste of what they can create with the tool. This is much more effective than describing the features of Visme because it allows potential customers to see the tool in action.

To top it all off, this case study utilized relevant data and figures. For example, one part of the case study said, “In Visme, where Kendra’s team has access to hundreds of templates, a brand kit, and millions of design assets at their disposal, their team can create presentations in 80% less time.”

Who wouldn't want that?

Including relevant figures and graphics in your case study is a sure way to convince your potential customers why you’re a great fit for their brand. The case study template below is a great example of integrating relevant figures and data.

This colorful template begins with a captivating headline. But that is not the best part; this template extensively showcases the results their customer had using relevant figures.

The arrangement of the results makes it fun and attractive. Instead of just putting figures in a plain table, you can find interesting shapes in your Visme editor to take your case study to the next level.

5. Lyte Reduces Customer Churn To Just 3% With Hubspot CRM

While Lyte was redefining the ticketing industry, it had no definite CRM system . Lyte utilized 12–15 different SaaS solutions across various departments, which led to a lack of alignment between teams, duplication of work and overlapping tasks.

Customer data was spread across these platforms, making it difficult to effectively track their customer journey. As a result, their churn rate increased along with customer dissatisfaction.

Through Fuelius , Lyte founded and implemented Hubspot CRM. Lyte's productivity skyrocketed after incorporating Hubspot's all-in-one CRM tool. With improved efficiency, better teamwork and stronger client relationships, sales figures soared.

The case study title page and executive summary act as compelling entry points for both existing and potential customers. This overview provides a clear understanding of the case study and also strategically incorporates key details like the client's industry, location and relevant background information.

Having a good summary of your case study can prompt your readers to engage further. You can achieve this with a simple but effective case study one-pager that highlights your customer’s problems, process and achievements, just like this case study did in the beginning.

Moreover, you can easily distribute your case study one-pager and use it as a lead magnet to draw prospective customers to your company.

Take a look at this case study one-pager template below.

This template includes key aspects of your case study, such as the introduction, key findings, conclusion and more, without overcrowding the page. The use of multiple shades of blue gives it a clean and dynamic layout.

Our favorite part of this template is where the age group is visualized.

With Visme’s data visualization tool , you can present your data in tables, graphs, progress bars, maps and so much more. All you need to do is choose your preferred data visualization widget, input or import your data and click enter!

6. How Workato Converts 75% of Their Qualified Leads

Workato wanted to improve their inbound leads and increase their conversion rate, which ranged from 40-55%.

At first, Workato searched for a simple scheduling tool. They soon discovered that they needed a tool that provided advanced routing capabilities based on zip code and other criteria. Luckily, they found and implemented Chili Piper.

As a result of implementing Chili Piper, Workato achieved a remarkable 75–80% conversion rate and improved show rates. This led to a substantial revenue boost, with a 10-15% increase in revenue attributed to Chili Piper's impact on lead conversion.

This case study example utilizes the power of video testimonials to drive the impact of their product.

Chili Piper incorporates screenshots and clips of their tool in use. This is a great strategy because it helps your viewers become familiar with how your product works, making onboarding new customers much easier.

In this case study example, we see the importance of efficient Workflow Management Systems (WMS). Without a WMS, you manually assign tasks to your team members and engage in multiple emails for regular updates on progress.

However, when crafting and designing your case study, you should prioritize having a good WMS.

Visme has an outstanding Workflow Management System feature that keeps you on top of all your projects and designs. This feature makes it much easier to assign roles, ensure accuracy across documents, and track progress and deadlines.

Visme’s WMS feature allows you to limit access to your entire document by assigning specific slides or pages to individual members of your team. At the end of the day, your team members are not overwhelmed or distracted by the whole document but can focus on their tasks.

7. Rush Order Helps Vogmask Scale-Up During a Pandemic

Vomask's reliance on third-party fulfillment companies became a challenge as demand for their masks grew. Seeking a reliable fulfillment partner, they found Rush Order and entrusted them with their entire inventory.

Vomask's partnership with Rush Order proved to be a lifesaver during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rush Order's agility, efficiency and commitment to customer satisfaction helped Vogmask navigate the unprecedented demand and maintain its reputation for quality and service.

Rush Order’s comprehensive support enabled Vogmask to scale up its order processing by a staggering 900% while maintaining a remarkable customer satisfaction rate of 92%.

Rush Order chose one event where their impact mattered the most to their customer and shared that story.

While pandemics don't happen every day, you can look through your customer’s journey and highlight a specific time or scenario where your product or service saved their business.

The story of Vogmask and Rush Order is compelling, but it simply is not enough. The case study format and design attract readers' attention and make them want to know more. Rush Order uses consistent colors throughout the case study, starting with the logo, bold square blocks, pictures, and even headers.

Take a look at this product case study template below.

Just like our example, this case study template utilizes bold colors and large squares to attract and maintain the reader’s attention. It provides enough room for you to write about your customers' backgrounds/introductions, challenges, goals and results.

The right combination of shapes and colors adds a level of professionalism to this case study template.

8. AMR Hair & Beauty leverages B2B functionality to boost sales by 200%

With limits on website customization, slow page loading and multiple website crashes during peak events, it wasn't long before AMR Hair & Beauty began looking for a new e-commerce solution.

Their existing platform lacked effective search and filtering options, a seamless checkout process and the data analytics capabilities needed for informed decision-making. This led to a significant number of abandoned carts.

Upon switching to Shopify Plus, AMR immediately saw improvements in page loading speed and average session duration. They added better search and filtering options for their wholesale customers and customized their checkout process.

Due to this, AMR witnessed a 200% increase in sales and a 77% rise in B2B average order value. AMR Hair & Beauty is now poised for further expansion and growth.

This case study example showcases the power of a concise and impactful narrative.

To make their case analysis more effective, Shopify focused on the most relevant aspects of the customer's journey. While there may have been other challenges the customer faced, they only included those that directly related to their solutions.

Take a look at this case study template below. It is perfect if you want to create a concise but effective case study. Without including unnecessary details, you can outline the challenges, solutions and results your customers experienced from using your product.

Don’t forget to include a strong CTA within your case study. By incorporating a link, sidebar pop-up or an exit pop-up into your case study, you can prompt your readers and prospective clients to connect with you.

9. How a Marketing Agency Uses Visme to Create Engaging Content With Infographics

SmartBox Dental , a marketing agency specializing in dental practices, sought ways to make dental advice more interesting and easier to read. However, they lacked the design skills to do so effectively.

Visme's wide range of templates and features made it easy for the team to create high-quality content quickly and efficiently. SmartBox Dental enjoyed creating infographics in as little as 10-15 minutes, compared to one hour before Visme was implemented.

By leveraging Visme, SmartBox Dental successfully transformed dental content into a more enjoyable and informative experience for their clients' patients. Therefore enhancing its reputation as a marketing partner that goes the extra mile to deliver value to its clients.

Visme creatively incorporates testimonials In this case study example.

By showcasing infographics and designs created by their clients, they leverage the power of social proof in a visually compelling way. This way, potential customers gain immediate insight into the creative possibilities Visme offers as a design tool.

This example effectively showcases a product's versatility and impact, and we can learn a lot about writing a case study from it. Instead of focusing on one tool or feature per customer, Visme took a more comprehensive approach.

Within each section of their case study, Visme explained how a particular tool or feature played a key role in solving the customer's challenges.

For example, this case study highlighted Visme’s collaboration tool . With Visme’s tool, the SmartBox Dental content team fostered teamwork, accountability and effective supervision.

Visme also achieved a versatile case study by including relevant quotes to showcase each tool or feature. Take a look at some examples;

Visme’s collaboration tool: “We really like the collaboration tool. Being able to see what a co-worker is working on and borrow their ideas or collaborate on a project to make sure we get the best end result really helps us out.”

Visme’s library of stock photos and animated characters: “I really love the images and the look those give to an infographic. I also really like the animated little guys and the animated pictures. That’s added a lot of fun to our designs.”

Visme’s interactivity feature: “You can add URLs and phone number links directly into the infographic so they can just click and call or go to another page on the website and I really like adding those hyperlinks in.”

You can ask your customers to talk about the different products or features that helped them achieve their business success and draw quotes from each one.

10. Jasper Grows Blog Organic Sessions 810% and Blog-Attributed User Signups 400X

Jasper, an AI writing tool, lacked a scalable content strategy to drive organic traffic and user growth. They needed help creating content that converted visitors into users. Especially when a looming domain migration threatened organic traffic.

To address these challenges, Jasper partnered with Omniscient Digital. Their goal was to turn their content into a growth channel and drive organic growth. Omniscient Digital developed a full content strategy for Jasper AI, which included a content audit, competitive analysis, and keyword discovery.

Through their collaboration, Jasper’s organic blog sessions increased by 810%, despite the domain migration. They also witnessed a 400X increase in blog-attributed signups. And more importantly, the content program contributed to over $4 million in annual recurring revenue.

The combination of storytelling and video testimonials within the case study example makes this a real winner. But there’s a twist to it. Omniscient segmented the video testimonials and placed them in different sections of the case study.

Video marketing , especially in case studies, works wonders. Research shows us that 42% of people prefer video testimonials because they show real customers with real success stories. So if you haven't thought of it before, incorporate video testimonials into your case study.

Take a look at this stunning video testimonial template. With its simple design, you can input the picture, name and quote of your customer within your case study in a fun and engaging way.

Try it yourself! Customize this template with your customer’s testimonial and add it to your case study!

11. How Meliá Became One of the Most Influential Hotel Chains on Social Media

Meliá Hotels needed help managing their growing social media customer service needs. Despite having over 500 social accounts, they lacked a unified response protocol and detailed reporting. This largely hindered efficiency and brand consistency.

Meliá partnered with Hootsuite to build an in-house social customer care team. Implementing Hootsuite's tools enabled Meliá to decrease response times from 24 hours to 12.4 hours while also leveraging smart automation.

In addition to that, Meliá resolved over 133,000 conversations, booking 330 inquiries per week through Hootsuite Inbox. They significantly improved brand consistency, response time and customer satisfaction.

The need for a good case study design cannot be over-emphasized.

As soon as anyone lands on this case study example, they are mesmerized by a beautiful case study design. This alone raises the interest of readers and keeps them engaged till the end.

If you’re currently saying to yourself, “ I can write great case studies, but I don’t have the time or skill to turn it into a beautiful document.” Say no more.

Visme’s amazing AI document generator can take your text and transform it into a stunning and professional document in minutes! Not only do you save time, but you also get inspired by the design.

With Visme’s document generator, you can create PDFs, case study presentations , infographics and more!

Take a look at this case study template below. Just like our case study example, it captures readers' attention with its beautiful design. Its dynamic blend of colors and fonts helps to segment each element of the case study beautifully.

12. Tea’s Me Cafe: Tamika Catchings is Brewing Glory

Tamika's journey began when she purchased Tea's Me Cafe in 2017, saving it from closure. She recognized the potential of the cafe as a community hub and hosted regular events centered on social issues and youth empowerment.

One of Tamika’s business goals was to automate her business. She sought to streamline business processes across various aspects of her business. One of the ways she achieves this goal is through Constant Contact.

Constant Contact became an integral part of Tamika's marketing strategy. They provided an automated and centralized platform for managing email newsletters, event registrations, social media scheduling and more.

This allowed Tamika and her team to collaborate efficiently and focus on engaging with their audience. They effectively utilized features like WooCommerce integration, text-to-join and the survey builder to grow their email list, segment their audience and gather valuable feedback.

The case study example utilizes the power of storytelling to form a connection with readers. Constant Contact takes a humble approach in this case study. They spotlight their customers' efforts as the reason for their achievements and growth, establishing trust and credibility.

This case study is also visually appealing, filled with high-quality photos of their customer. While this is a great way to foster originality, it can prove challenging if your customer sends you blurry or low-quality photos.

If you find yourself in that dilemma, you can use Visme’s AI image edit tool to touch up your photos. With Visme’s AI tool, you can remove unwanted backgrounds, erase unwanted objects, unblur low-quality pictures and upscale any photo without losing the quality.

Constant Contact offers its readers various formats to engage with their case study. Including an audio podcast and PDF.

In its PDF version, Constant Contact utilized its brand colors to create a stunning case study design.  With this, they increase brand awareness and, in turn, brand recognition with anyone who comes across their case study.

With Visme’s brand wizard tool , you can seamlessly incorporate your brand assets into any design or document you create. By inputting your URL, Visme’s AI integration will take note of your brand colors, brand fonts and more and create branded templates for you automatically.

You don't need to worry about spending hours customizing templates to fit your brand anymore. You can focus on writing amazing case studies that promote your company.

13. How Breakwater Kitchens Achieved a 7% Growth in Sales With Thryv

Breakwater Kitchens struggled with managing their business operations efficiently. They spent a lot of time on manual tasks, such as scheduling appointments and managing client communication. This made it difficult for them to grow their business and provide the best possible service to their customers.

David, the owner, discovered Thryv. With Thryv, Breakwater Kitchens was able to automate many of their manual tasks. Additionally, Thryv integrated social media management. This enabled Breakwater Kitchens to deliver a consistent brand message, captivate its audience and foster online growth.

As a result, Breakwater Kitchens achieved increased efficiency, reduced missed appointments and a 7% growth in sales.

This case study example uses a concise format and strong verbs, which make it easy for readers to absorb the information.

At the top of the case study, Thryv immediately builds trust by presenting their customer's complete profile, including their name, company details and website. This allows potential customers to verify the case study's legitimacy, making them more likely to believe in Thryv's services.

However, manually copying and pasting customer information across multiple pages of your case study can be time-consuming.

To save time and effort, you can utilize Visme's dynamic field feature . Dynamic fields automatically insert reusable information into your designs.  So you don’t have to type it out multiple times.

14. Zoom’s Creative Team Saves Over 4,000 Hours With Brandfolder

Zoom experienced rapid growth with the advent of remote work and the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic. Such growth called for agility and resilience to scale through.

At the time, Zoom’s assets were disorganized which made retrieving brand information a burden. Zoom’s creative manager spent no less than 10 hours per week finding and retrieving brand assets for internal teams.

Zoom needed a more sustainable approach to organizing and retrieving brand information and came across Brandfolder. Brandfolder simplified and accelerated Zoom’s email localization and webpage development. It also enhanced the creation and storage of Zoom virtual backgrounds.

With Brandfolder, Zoom now saves 4,000+ hours every year. The company also centralized its assets in Brandfolder, which allowed 6,800+ employees and 20-30 vendors to quickly access them.

Brandfolder infused its case study with compelling data and backed it up with verifiable sources. This data-driven approach boosts credibility and increases the impact of their story.

Bradfolder's case study goes the extra mile by providing a downloadable PDF version, making it convenient for readers to access the information on their own time. Their dedication to crafting stunning visuals is evident in every aspect of the project.

From the vibrant colors to the seamless navigation, everything has been meticulously designed to leave a lasting impression on the viewer. And with clickable links that make exploring the content a breeze, the user experience is guaranteed to be nothing short of exceptional.

The thing is, your case study presentation won’t always sit on your website. There are instances where you may need to do a case study presentation for clients, partners or potential investors.

Visme has a rich library of templates you can tap into. But if you’re racing against the clock, Visme’s AI presentation maker is your best ally.

15. How Cents of Style Made $1.7M+ in Affiliate Sales with LeadDyno

Cents of Style had a successful affiliate and influencer marketing strategy. However, their existing affiliate marketing platform was not intuitive, customizable or transparent enough to meet the needs of their influencers.

Cents of Styles needed an easy-to-use affiliate marketing platform that gave them more freedom to customize their program and implement a multi-tier commission program.

After exploring their options, Cents of Style decided on LeadDyno.

LeadDyno provided more flexibility, allowing them to customize commission rates and implement their multi-tier commission structure, switching from monthly to weekly payouts.

Also, integrations with PayPal made payments smoother And features like newsletters and leaderboards added to the platform's success by keeping things transparent and engaging.

As a result, Cents of Style witnessed an impressive $1.7 million in revenue from affiliate sales with a substantial increase in web sales by 80%.

LeadDyno strategically placed a compelling CTA in the middle of their case study layout, maximizing its impact. At this point, readers are already invested in the customer's story and may be considering implementing similar strategies.

A well-placed CTA offers them a direct path to learn more and take action.

LeadDyno also utilized the power of quotes to strengthen their case study. They didn't just embed these quotes seamlessly into the text; instead, they emphasized each one with distinct blocks.

Are you looking for an easier and quicker solution to create a case study and other business documents? Try Visme's AI designer ! This powerful tool allows you to generate complete documents, such as case studies, reports, whitepapers and more, just by providing text prompts. Simply explain your requirements to the tool, and it will produce the document for you, complete with text, images, design assets and more.

Still have more questions about case studies? Let's look at some frequently asked questions.

How to Write a Case Study?

• Choose a compelling story: Not all case studies are created equal. Pick one that is relevant to your target audience and demonstrates the specific benefits of your product or service.
• Outline your case study: Create a case study outline and highlight how you will structure your case study to include the introduction, problem, solution and achievements of your customer.
• Choose a case study template: After you outline your case study, choose a case study template . Visme has stunning templates that can inspire your case study design.
• Craft a compelling headline: Include figures or percentages that draw attention to your case study.
• Work on the first draft: Your case study should be easy to read and understand. Use clear and concise language and avoid jargon.
• Include high-quality visual aids: Visuals can help to make your case study more engaging and easier to read. Consider adding high-quality photos, screenshots or videos.
• Include a relevant CTA: Tell prospective customers how to reach you for questions or sign-ups.

What Are the Stages of a Case Study?

The stages of a case study are;

• Planning & Preparation: Highlight your goals for writing the case study. Plan the case study format, length and audience you wish to target.
• Interview the Client: Reach out to the company you want to showcase and ask relevant questions about their journey and achievements.
• Revision & Editing: Review your case study and ask for feedback. Include relevant quotes and CTAs to your case study.
• Publication & Distribution: Publish and share your case study on your website, social media channels and email list!
• Marketing & Repurposing: Turn your case study into a podcast, PDF, case study presentation and more. Share these materials with your sales and marketing team.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of a Case Study?

Advantages of a case study:

• Case studies showcase a specific solution and outcome for specific customer challenges.
• It attracts potential customers with similar challenges.
• It builds trust and credibility with potential customers.
• It provides an in-depth analysis of your company’s problem-solving process.

Disadvantages of a case study:

• Limited applicability. Case studies are tailored to specific cases and may not apply to other businesses.
• It relies heavily on customer cooperation and willingness to share information.
• It stands a risk of becoming outdated as industries and customer needs evolve.

What Are the Types of Case Studies?

There are 7 main types of case studies. They include;

• Illustrative case study.
• Instrumental case study.
• Intrinsic case study.
• Descriptive case study.
• Explanatory case study.
• Exploratory case study.
• Collective case study.

How Long Should a Case Study Be?

The ideal length of your case study is between 500 - 1500 words or 1-3 pages. Certain factors like your target audience, goal or the amount of detail you want to share may influence the length of your case study. This infographic has powerful tips for designing winning case studies

What Is the Difference Between a Case Study and an Example?

Case studies provide a detailed narrative of how your product or service was used to solve a problem. Examples are general illustrations and are not necessarily real-life scenarios.

Case studies are often used for marketing purposes, attracting potential customers and building trust. Examples, on the other hand, are primarily used to simplify or clarify complex concepts.

Where Can I Find Case Study Examples?

You can easily find many case study examples online and in industry publications. Many companies, including Visme, share case studies on their websites to showcase how their products or services have helped clients achieve success. You can also search online libraries and professional organizations for case studies related to your specific industry or field.

If you need professionally-designed, customizable case study templates to create your own, Visme's template library is one of the best places to look. These templates include all the essential sections of a case study and high-quality content to help you create case studies that position your business as an industry leader.

Get More Out Of Your Case Studies With Visme

Case studies are an essential tool for converting potential customers into paying customers. By following the tips in this article, you can create compelling case studies that will help you build trust, establish credibility and drive sales.

Visme can help you create stunning case studies and other relevant marketing materials. With our easy-to-use platform, interactive features and analytics tools , you can increase your content creation game in no time.

There is no limit to what you can achieve with Visme. Connect with Sales to discover how Visme can boost your business goals.

Easily create beautiful case studies and more with Visme

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Ultimate Guide to Case Study Videos in 2023

A case study (or three) may be the secret ingredient your video marketing strategy is missing. If the last time you heard ‘case study’ mentioned was the days you were slaving over your schoolwork, think again! Case studies, particularly when put in the evergreen and easily-accessible form of a video, offer your clients and potential clients a great way to understand the value-added nature of your brand, and build trust too.

Today the StoryXpress team dives in-depth into the world of case study videos, and how to make them work for you.

Wait- What is a Case Study?

In the marketing world, a case study means a detailed analysis of a particular marketing campaign, strategy, or initiative undertaken by a company or organization. You can also effectively use the case study format to illustrate in-depth how a specific product or service you offer gives back tangible value to your customers.

What marketing case studies share in common with the ‘boring’ style you may remember from academia is the process. You will examine the process, results, and impact of a marketing effort, service, or product in a particular context, often including information about the company or client who benefited, targets to meet, competition, and goals.

Case studies are a fantastic tool to illustrate how a specific approach was successful (or even unsuccessful, if you’re smart about presentation), and to draw insights and lessons that can be applied to others. While they were once only used in ‘in-house’ marketing education, today they can be a valuable addition to your marketing lineup, as well as further consulting and research to help companies offer their clients more.

How Can Video Case Studies Be Used in My Marketing?

Still not sure what we mean? Imagine yourself as the company bringing to life the very best HEPA-certified vacuum on the market. It’s new, it’s exciting, and it can revolutionize how your clients clean and enjoy their spaces.

Of course, you already have some smart marketing endeavors in place to get this baby launched. You’ve waxed lyrical about how revolutionary the product is.

You’ve spent time creating some humanizing behind-the-scenes video to show how strongly you and your team believe in the product. You have glitzy promo media in the bag. You have fantastic user-generated content lined up to show the impact it’s had on customers who’ve already trusted your product….

Hang on a moment!

If you’re still not sure how a ‘case study’ can be leveraged to help you market your brand, perhaps we should redefine it. Video case studies help the eventual viewer understand how something you did impacted the client you did it for.

With specific, tangible details, not marketing abstracts. Useful in-house to improve your services, yes, excellent for research, but also a potential goldmine for the marketer looking to showcase their brand to new people, too.

How to Leverage Video Case Studies Effectively

Now imagine your company can also bring to life a real, details-focused ‘study’ of how your new super-vacuum has enhanced clients' lives. Not merely a few lines of feedback here and there, but an in-depth look at a real-life situation and the very tangible solution you brought to the table.

Let’s imagine you sold this product to Johnny and Jane, star-crossed lovers, one of whom has terrible allergies, and the other who has a beloved dog. They desperately want to move in with each other to start their life together, but what are they to do? The dog is a precious and beloved family member, but you also can’t pitch up at work red-eyed and dripping every day.

Now imagine that, instead of simply telling your audience how your super-vacuum can help people like Johnny and Jane, you viscerally show them the impact you had on this specific pair, with real stories that will capture emotion and humanize your product as well as showcase its best features and potential.

The StoryXpress team is willing to bet you already care a lot more about the outcome for poor old Johnny and Jane (and Fido, too) than you ever did about a mere cleaning tool, right? And therein lies the marketing magic smart video case studies can bring to your table.

There’s three styles of video case study to consider- the long-form narrative, telling the whole story. And the shorter customer testimonial and review. Each will become a cornerstone of your video marketing strategies, so they’re worth investing in.

Why Choose Video Case Studies?

Of course, the traditional case study is written, and such readable media will always have a place in your marketing efforts. But the case study and video go hand-in-hand, and a video case study can pack a much more powerful punch.

Video is a powerful marketing tool because it can  communicate a lot of information quickly and effectively, while also engaging viewers emotionally.

Video is highly attention-grabbing, and can capture a viewer's attention quickly. It combines visuals, audio, and storytelling to create an immersive experience that keeps viewers engaged, appealing to all our senses and disseminating a message speedily.

Video can be used to build trust with your audience by showcasing the people involved, as well as your brand's personality, expertise, and values. Seeing real people and hearing their stories creates an immediate emotional connection with your brand.

It’s also a great way to explain complex concepts or products in a way that is easy to understand, making it perfect to demonstrate how a product works or showcase its features.

For marketers, video has been shown to increase conversions and sales. People are more likely to make a purchase or take action after watching a video than they are after reading text or looking at images, because of this deep impact.

Video can be easily shared on social media and other platforms, helping to increase engagement and reach. Videos that are entertaining, informative, or emotionally engaging are more likely to be shared.

So by opting for a video case study over other formats, you have the perfect vehicle to draw in your potential audience and help them see and understand the benefits of your products or services in a palatable, entertaining, and easily-digestible format.

Aren’t Videos Expensive?

Videos can be one of the most expensive (and time-intensive) content types to generate, but when well-planned and executed, they can also deliver fantastic ROI. While we’d all love to have a Hollywood budget to work with, however, that’s simply not the reality. Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to bring down your costs.

Planning well will always be your first step. Create a clear video marketing strategy and plan ahead to avoid any last-minute expenses or delays. This can help you identify areas where you can save costs, such as filming in one location or using a smaller crew. We’ll look at the right sort of footage for a video case study in a moment.

Ensuring you use the equipment at your disposal smartly helps, too. A good camera, tripod, and lighting equipment can go a long way in creating great videos, even without the fancy bells and whistles.

You may also be able to repurpose existing footage from previous projects, events, or other marketing campaigns to create new videos, helping to save time and money on filming and editing. Chances are you already have great promo footage to use in your case study video, so don’t reinvent the wheel needlessly.

While professional editing can be worth every penny, it’s also not always needed- especially for ‘behind the scenes’, personality-driven content like this. There are many affordable video editing software programs available that can help you create professional-looking videos.

Don’t forget the StoryXpress suite of tools, available at your fingertips! For example, our screen-grab tool could help you create data-backed visuals.

AI Offers Quicker, More Cost-Effective Case Studies

But what about ‘talent’? Well, for starters, in this specific format, real is always best. Why blow your budget on fake actors, when you can get the real Johnny and Jane on-camera to talk about their experience, and your real team to talk about the product?

You can also leverage the powerful abilities of text to video conversion to both speed up production time and reduce your costs substantially. All that’s needed is the script for your footage. It is uploaded to the program, and within minutes you’ll have realistic artificial humans, easily adaptable to speak compellingly to any demographic or need you have, to narrate the script for you.

You can even easily create multiple versions of the same script, better suited to niche aspects of your audience. The more powerful options on the market even allow you to add value by converting PowerPoint slides and other visual media to incorporate into the narrative.  

If you’re looking for a way to make video content faster and more cost-effective to generate, using AI video generators should definitely be on your to-do list.

By being strategic and creative with your video marketing efforts, you can reduce costs while still producing high-quality and effective videos.

What Makes a Successful Case Study Video?

Obviously, the aim of using video case studies in your marketing efforts isn’t to drone on like a research scientist and bore the pants off your audience! As with all effective video marketing, you need to create an attention-grabbing, compelling narrative that pulls the viewer in. Here are some components every successful case study video should have:

• Think like the customer, not the creator. Answer questions that matter to them, and demonstrate the value of your product or service.
• Tell a compelling story that engages the viewer and highlights the key elements of the case study. It should have a clear beginning, middle, and end, and should showcase the challenges, solutions, and outcomes of the case study. Going back to our earlier example, the focus of your new case study video isn’t how great your product is, but rather the heart-tugging power of how it could help bring Johnny, Jane, and Fido together for their happily ever after. To your viewers, a vacuum is a vacuum- but a touching story of overcoming difficulties together is what will make people keep watching to learn about yours.
• Leverage the power of customer testimonials, where the customer shares their experience and how the product or service helped them to achieve their goals. This helps to build credibility and trust with the audience. Don’t tell us about Johnny and Jane- let them speak directly to your audience for added impact.
• Show how you solve a specific problem. Your product may do many things well, but use your video case study to hone in on a specific unique selling proposition and elaborate on that. Don’t muddy the water with other things unrelated to the core.
• Instead of making this all about your product's features, emphasize the benefits it brings to the table.
• Include a mix of visuals such as graphics, charts, and animations to help illustrate the key points and make the video more engaging. Appealing to as many ‘learning styles’ as possible is always smart.
• Use stats, figures, and data to back up your claims. For all we are trying to appeal to the watcher, you don’t want to be making false claims, and you want to be able to demonstrate exactly what your unique selling propositions bring to the table.
• The messaging in a case study video should be clear and concise. It should highlight the key benefits and outcomes of the product or service, and how it can help the viewer solve their challenges. Don’t waffle- make the facts work for you.

Of course, your video should be well-produced with high-quality visuals and audio. A successful case study video should also include a clear call to action , such as visiting your website, signing up for a free trial, or contacting your company for more information.

Where Can I Use My Video?

Now you have this powerful marketing tool in the bag, what can you do with it? Rather ask yourself what you can’t, because the potential for your new case study is huge. Of course, it should make it to your website and socials, but can also be easily added to marketing emails, sales pitches, presentations , and digital ad campaigns.

With the power of video case studies at your fingertips, and StoryXpress to power up your creation game, you can take your video marketing to a whole new level- and reap the returns for your hard work, too.

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6 Best Case Study Video Examples You Should Watch To Seek Inspiration

Table of Contents

Suppose you’re a customer, and in this instance, we ask you to describe your favorite brand. How would you do that?

You might start off by highlighting their core products or services. You can also talk about your experience with them. That’s all you can do.

But have you ever thought that you leave a lot of things behind you and nobody, including you, pays attention to those?

And we honestly don’t blame you or others for it.

In this era, when almost all businesses look and feel the same, it becomes a necessity to shape your brand in a way that it gets instantly recognized by your potential customers in order to succeed.

For some of you, this might be a challenging task, but believe us; it’s not!

To do this, you first need to comprehend how you can make an emotional connection with your target audience.

One of the best and the easiest way to do this is narrating a tale, or you can call it storytelling.

From our childhood, we have loved reading and listening to stories.

This is the one habit that stays with us forever, and you can take leverage of it to succeed.

When you tell stories of your brand, it helps in plenty of areas like:

• Understanding the origin of your company/brand.
• What motivated you to provide this specific solution?
• What sets you apart from your competitors?

As you know, many businesses are turning towards this new emerging content marketing strategy -Video.

It is becoming increasingly popular among organizations as a means to tell their company’s narrative and promote their core values.

To provide more insights, now that they’ve started using case study videos to showcase how their brand stands out from the crowd as something truly exceptional, one that customers feel a part of and proud to support with every purchase.

And guess what? This strategy is working pretty well.

In one of our blogs on video marketing , we stated that videos can easily boost conversions by as much as 134% on websites and bring in more targeted visitors on social media at a lesser cost.

Pretty impressive, right?

So, how would you apply this new marketing tactic to bring in similar results?

Don’t think too much because we are here to help.

Let’s dive in together to take a deeper look.

What is a Case Study Video? – An Irresistible Introduction

To begin, the purpose of a case study video is to provide a platform for a business to introduce itself to a wider audience in a more personable and genuine manner.

You let people go behind the scenes of your business and uncover the human aspect of your organization in a superb case study video.

The video tone should be raw and unedited, and the ultimate aim should be to evoke strong feelings.

Rather than making a safe, generic business statement, you should want to stand out.

You’ll hit closer to home if you’re vulnerable and open up about your flaws with honesty in front of your audience – after we all have some flaws, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Indeed, the more you relax and reveal your struggles, the more people will identify with you and view you as more than just another faceless corporation.

Bear in mind that a case study is not always an advertisement.

Although both might share elements, advertisements are often more financially motivated and designed to compel the audience to act immediately.

The purpose of a case study is more like that of a branding exercise, in which the audience’s impression of the firm or product is shaped.

Here, you want to create trust gradually and not pressure the audience to take any kind of instant action.

A marketing firm, for instance, may like to provide a case study on its website outlining its process of working with clients, praising the strong relationships they establish with its partners, and lauding the successful outcomes they achieve.

Unfortunately, there was no encouragement to take any action.

The perfect case study would leave a lasting impact on the reader and persuade them of the agency’s superior quality.

When the moment is perfect, the customer won’t need much persuading because the agency will become the clear favorite.

The Elements of an Incredible Case Study Video Should Encompass

Well, a case study video should persuade the audience that your company is the best option for a certain service or product by altering their initial impression of it.

How can you make it happen?

Start off by establishing rapport with the audience first.

Your video should not have a “business” or “bland” vibe but rather a personal one so that viewers can identify and connect with you on a personal note.

If you want to help people with an issue, you can’t act like a faceless company. You’re not looking to make a quick buck but rather establish a long-term working relationship.

I guess I have made my point.

Next, it should go without saying that your video should be interesting to the viewer.

Don’t use tired expressions – we have enough negative in our lives, and we are dealing with it, so no more, please.

Be irreverent and make up spontaneous bits that shock and entertain your viewers.

Is your company’s CEO, once again, making a budget speech to the press in his office? If you want to showcase that your firm is more than simply accountancy, why not perform the same thing while surrounded by employees or while wandering around your factory?

You know everything, and anything is possible. The only limit is in one’s imagination.

Moreover, for your video to be successful, it must persuade its intended viewers. Furthermore, nothing is more persuasive than testimonials from actual consumers.

Instead of praising yourself, have your clients do it for you by telling the tale from their perspective. If a business were to do all the talking, most consumers would tune out, but they would likely pay close attention if the same message were provided by actual customers.

So, after reading a thousand reviews, which do you think gives a more accurate portrayal of the product?

Creating a video case study also gives you the chance to speak directly to each of your niche markets.

Indeed, it is crucial to tailor your messaging, so it corresponds to the unique pain concerns of your various customer categories (students, families, homeowners, retirees, etc.).

Don’t be afraid to tailor your message to different groups of people by creating several case study videos; the more specific your videos are, the more likely they are to pique people’s interest and ultimately win them over.

Last but not least, while thinking about how to organize your case study, there’s no need to start from scratch when you have the whole flowchart in your hand.

The tried-and-true method of Problem > Solution > Outcome is usually effective. You start by outlining the problems your customers are experiencing.

Once you’ve found the key to the problem, you have to prove it. To wrap things up, you stress the enhanced quality of life your product or service has brought to the consumer. It’s as simple as that.

Okay, enough of the procedure.

We believe when we are writing about a how-to blog, it’s necessary to show real-life experiences.

So, let’s move to that.

Case Study Video Examples That Will Put You in Trance

Well, if you search on YouTube, you’ll find innumerable case study videos. However, not every video met the standards we had set. Plus, we wanted to set the benchmark up high so you can achieve your goals faster.

So, let’s take a look at some of the best case study videos created by industry giants for their businesses.

Do you have any idea why this case video works so well?

Even though PayPal is a million-dollar enterprise, still it’s supporting small businesses and helping them to succeed.

Pretty amazing, right? After all, who does that today?

Moreover, it’s not them who tell tales of their success. They let their customers do the talking and praising – a great tactic to prove your credibility.

This video does a great job of summing up the difficulties encountered by the company and showing how Paypal’s payment services provided a simple solution.

When we were watching the video on YouTube, we saw comments saying good things about it.

The opening scene is riveting and effective in setting the tone for the GoPro narrative to follow. The audience is taken on a trip down memory lane through flashbacks as several workers discuss the significance of GoPro and its effects.

The viewers of this video can be inspired to follow in the footsteps of the company by realizing that their own consumers are at the heart of its success.

3. LaunchHub

In order to ensure the success of your mobile app’s marketing strategy and take it to the next level, you need to know what you’re doing.

The future success of your app is very important, given the current climate of uncertainty. This is why you need LaunchHub

LaunchHub opted for an animated video style to explain its product. They take a narrative approach and their expertise in the field to choose the most effective means of explaining their work to others.

The LaunchHub crew knows their stuff, and it shows in the animated video case study they created to present their predictive mobile analytics technology to mobile marketers.

If you want to create a video like this, get in touch with any of the video animation studios we have listed in our blog, top-rated Houston-based animation studios , you should hire for your animated video projects.

4.  Hyatt

Probably, this is one video that’s entertaining apart from being informative.

In this video, Hyatt takes the safe route while yet sending a powerful statement. Watch how the video pivots to talking about Google and their new video ad distribution option at the midway point.

Google sees this strategy as a wonderful method to establish trust before introducing its own brand narrative to the world.

5.  Slack

Why it works: Pretend to be interested in your goods if you can’t (or won’t) use genuine ones.

Here, Slack has gone above and above in terms of imagination by providing a completely made-up scenario to show what can be expected when a tech business begins using Slack.

You can also show in great detail how to utilize the product and how it helps with a variety of difficulties while still being witty and irreverent in this approach.

6.  Cool Paal Flex

It’s pretty surprising to see how pharmaceutical product manufacturers are now investing in animated case study videos to connect with their potential customers and build the credibility of their brand.

The case study video narrates the story of how MissionPharma was requested to deliver insulins to their warehouse in Goma Democratic.

Due to some circumstances, they had to change their destination, which brought the issue of keeping the products at the right temperature while they were transported.

It was a pretty challenging task, but Cool Paal Flex stepped to the rescue – arrange high-performing bulk shippers.

The video showcases how the solution the company proposed to their client helped them in safely delivering their products.

This video has a great storyline, great use of color, and is visually appealing, which is why we thought it deserves a spot in our blog.

Helpful resources for readers looking for animation studios:

• Reputable 3D animation agencies you can work with.

Creating Case Study Videos – Hiring the Video Experts

Well, the heading says it all.

Video production is not an easy task at all. You might not know or have a clue about the fact that a video goes through three processes (pre-production, production, and post-production), then you get the final results.

No matter what video style you choose, like live-action or animation, the process is the same.

If you don’t have the right set of skills, then outsource your video to any video production studio. If live-action video style works for you, then give a read to our listicle blog, video production companies NYC serving people across the globe.

Or, if you like the animated video style more, which is pretty evident why you can also hire video animation experts.

Animation is something that not everyone can do. If you find a company that offers video production services, it’s not necessary that they can offer animation services, too, like cel-animation 2D animation or 3D animation services .

There are some other studios who are solely providing top-notch video animation services like us. Not bragging, but our work speaks volumes.

You can go and check out our portfolio to witness our work yourself.

Go One Step Ahead with Case Study Videos

As you know, using case studies for marketing is a common practice in the digital world because it’s proven case studies help in spreading awareness and building credibility.

If you already have a massive number of loyal customers in your hand, you can ask them out to join hands with you, stand in front of the camera and tell the world how amazing you are.

If they truly value and trust you, you’ll get an unbelievable response.

If you’re camera shy and not ready to do it yourself, then, BuzzFlick is here all set to jump in and help you produce impeccable case study videos.

An animation enthusiast who enjoys explaining complex animation techniques, mediums, and videos. Her love for animated films drives her. In her spare time, she enjoys watching animated films from Pixar, Disney, and Illumination productions.

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Please note you do not have access to teaching notes, quality of life case studies for university teaching in sustainable development.

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

ISSN : 1467-6370

Article publication date: 1 June 2001

The teaching of subjects such as quality of life and sustainable development presents tremendous challenges because of the nebulous and multifaceted nature of the subject matter. An important advantage of the case‐study approach to teaching is its capacity for understanding complexity in particular contexts. The purpose of this article is to examine quality of life and the use of its case studies for teaching and learning. It will discuss some issues on quality of life research and their difficulties in definition and evaluation, illustrated with actual case studies.

• Case studies
• Sustainable development

Lan Yuan, L. (2001), "Quality of life case studies for university teaching in sustainable development", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education , Vol. 2 No. 2, pp. 127-138. https://doi.org/10.1108/14676370110388345

Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited

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Sustainable innovative project management: response to improve livability and quality of life: case studies: iran and germany.

1. Introduction

2. background, 2.1. innovation, 2.2. innovation models, 2.3. innovation management models.

• The Aachen Innovation Management Model AIM:
• Innovation Portfolio:
• Aachen Strategy Model for Product Innovation [ 10 ]
• Developing the innovative product or service
• Building the business to market the product or service
• Developing new business models to create new sources of income
• Improving internal processes to enhance company form within or to save and reduce costs
• Innovation strategy: This is concerned with strategic decision. Innovating strategy needs to make balances among value capture and creativity, incremental innovation and radical innovation, technological innovation and business innovation, internal innovation and external innovation.
• Innovation organization: This is concerned with organizational approaches such as linear innovation, systematic innovation, and dedicated innovation centers. In this step some questions should be answered: ✓ Where is innovation generated? ✓ Where could generation be generated? ✓ Where could each type of innovation be generated? ✓ How can innovations increase their chances to get through?
• Innovation systems: This contains the processes, teams, and networks. Innovation systems must be designed in order to perform the innovation strategy. Fundamentally, innovation systems expand the innovation culture. Innovation processes enable effective and efficient management of innovation in order to continue the improvement cycle. Idea management, innovation portfolio management, and innovation strategy follow up are introduced as main innovation processes. Innovation systems include innovation process teams, innovation project teams, internal innovation ecosystems, and external networks [ 11 ].

2.4. Sustainable Development and High Sustainability

2.5. sustainable project management, 2.6. quality of life, 2.7. livability.

• Provide more transportation choices;
• Promote equitable, affordable housing;
• Enhance economic competitiveness;
• Support existing communities;
• Coordinate and leverage federal policies and investments;
• Value communities and neighborhoods [ 26 ].

3. Methodology

• How would sustainable project management improve quality of life and livability?
• How would quality of life and livability be threatened?
• What are the roles of innovation models in achieving goals of a project?
• Why is innovation sustainable project management vital for the world in these decades?

4. Case Studies

4.1. germany, 6. discussion, 6.1. human’s needs, livability, and quality of life, 6.2. sustainability and human needs, 6.3. innovative sustainable project management, 6.4. towards sustainable livable urban settings, 6.5. challenges and solutions, 7. conclusions and future studies, author contributions, conflicts of interest.

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Doost Mohammadian, H.; Rezaie, F. Sustainable Innovative Project Management: Response to Improve Livability and Quality of Life: Case Studies: Iran and Germany. Inventions 2019 , 4 , 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions4040059

Doost Mohammadian H, Rezaie F. Sustainable Innovative Project Management: Response to Improve Livability and Quality of Life: Case Studies: Iran and Germany. Inventions . 2019; 4(4):59. https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions4040059

Doost Mohammadian, Hamid, and Fatemeh Rezaie. 2019. "Sustainable Innovative Project Management: Response to Improve Livability and Quality of Life: Case Studies: Iran and Germany" Inventions 4, no. 4: 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions4040059

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Digital editions.

Total quality management: three case studies from around the world

With organisations to run and big orders to fill, it’s easy to see how some ceos inadvertently sacrifice quality for quantity. by integrating a system of total quality management it’s possible to have both.

Top 5 ways to manage the board during turbulent times Top 5 ways to create a family-friendly work culture Top 5 tips for a successful joint venture Top 5 ways managers can support ethnic minority workers Top 5 ways to encourage gender diversity in the workplace  Top 5 ways CEOs can create an ethical company culture Top 5 tips for going into business with your spouse Top 5 ways to promote a healthy workforce Top 5 ways to survive a recession Top 5 tips for avoiding the ‘conference vortex’ Top 5 ways to maximise new parents’ work-life balance with technology Top 5 ways to build psychological safety in the workplace Top 5 ways to prepare your workforce for the AI revolution Top 5 ways to tackle innovation stress in the workplace Top 5 tips for recruiting Millennials

There are few boardrooms in the world whose inhabitants don’t salivate at the thought of engaging in a little aggressive expansion. After all, there’s little room in a contemporary, fast-paced business environment for any firm whose leaders don’t subscribe to ambitions of bigger factories, healthier accounts and stronger turnarounds. Yet too often such tales of excess go hand-in-hand with complaints of a severe drop in quality.

Food and entertainment markets are riddled with cautionary tales, but service sectors such as health and education aren’t immune to the disappointing by-products of unsustainable growth either. As always, the first steps in avoiding a catastrophic forsaking of quality begins with good management.

There are plenty of methods and models geared at managing the quality of a particular company’s goods or services. Yet very few of those models take into consideration the widely held belief that any company is only as strong as its weakest link. With that in mind, management consultant William Deming developed an entirely new set of methods with which to address quality.

Deming, whose managerial work revolutionised the titanic Japanese manufacturing industry, perceived quality management to be more of a philosophy than anything else. Top-to-bottom improvement, he reckoned, required uninterrupted participation of all key employees and stakeholders. Thus, the total quality management (TQM) approach was born.

All in Similar to the Six Sigma improvement process, TQM ensures long-term success by enforcing all-encompassing internal guidelines and process standards to reduce errors. By way of serious, in-depth auditing – as well as some well-orchestrated soul-searching – TQM ensures firms meet stakeholder needs and expectations efficiently and effectively, without forsaking ethical values.

By opting to reframe the way employees think about the company’s goals and processes, TQM allows CEOs to make sure certain things are done right from day one. According to Teresa Whitacre, of international consulting firm ASQ , proper quality management also boosts a company’s profitability.

“Total quality management allows the company to look at their management system as a whole entity — not just an output of the quality department,” she says. “Total quality means the organisation looks at all inputs, human resources, engineering, production, service, distribution, sales, finance, all functions, and their impact on the quality of all products or services of the organisation. TQM can improve a company’s processes and bottom line.”

Embracing the entire process sees companies strive to improve in several core areas, including: customer focus, total employee involvement, process-centred thinking, systematic approaches, good communication and leadership and integrated systems. Yet Whitacre is quick to point out that companies stand to gain very little from TQM unless they’re willing to go all-in.

“Companies need to consider the inputs of each department and determine which inputs relate to its governance system. Then, the company needs to look at the same inputs and determine if those inputs are yielding the desired results,” she says. “For example, ISO 9001 requires management reviews occur at least annually. Aside from minimum standard requirements, the company is free to review what they feel is best for them. While implementing TQM, they can add to their management review the most critical metrics for their business, such as customer complaints, returns, cost of products, and more.”

The customer knows best: AtlantiCare TQM isn’t an easy management strategy to introduce into a business; in fact, many attempts tend to fall flat. More often than not, it’s because firms maintain natural barriers to full involvement. Middle managers, for example, tend to complain their authority is being challenged when boots on the ground are encouraged to speak up in the early stages of TQM. Yet in a culture of constant quality enhancement, the views of any given workforce are invaluable.

AtlantiCare in numbers

5,000 Employees

$280m Profits before quality improvement strategy was implemented

$650m Profits after quality improvement strategy

One firm that’s proven the merit of TQM is New Jersey-based healthcare provider AtlantiCare . Managing 5,000 employees at 25 locations, AtlantiCare is a serious business that’s boasted a respectable turnaround for nearly two decades. Yet in order to increase that margin further still, managers wanted to implement improvements across the board. Because patient satisfaction is the single-most important aspect of the healthcare industry, engaging in a renewed campaign of TQM proved a natural fit. The firm chose to adopt a ‘plan-do-check-act’ cycle, revealing gaps in staff communication – which subsequently meant longer patient waiting times and more complaints. To tackle this, managers explored a sideways method of internal communications. Instead of information trickling down from top-to-bottom, all of the company’s employees were given freedom to provide vital feedback at each and every level.

AtlantiCare decided to ensure all new employees understood this quality culture from the onset. At orientation, staff now receive a crash course in the company’s performance excellence framework – a management system that organises the firm’s processes into five key areas: quality, customer service, people and workplace, growth and financial performance. As employees rise through the ranks, this emphasis on improvement follows, so managers can operate within the company’s tight-loose-tight process management style.

After creating benchmark goals for employees to achieve at all levels – including better engagement at the point of delivery, increasing clinical communication and identifying and prioritising service opportunities – AtlantiCare was able to thrive. The number of repeat customers at the firm tripled, and its market share hit a six-year high. Profits unsurprisingly followed. The firm’s revenues shot up from $280m to $650m after implementing the quality improvement strategies, and the number of patients being serviced dwarfed state numbers.

Hitting the right notes: Santa Cruz Guitar Co For companies further removed from the long-term satisfaction of customers, it’s easier to let quality control slide. Yet there are plenty of ways in which growing manufacturers can pursue both quality and sales volumes simultaneously. Artisan instrument makers the Santa Cruz Guitar Co (SCGC) prove a salient example. Although the California-based company is still a small-scale manufacturing operation, SCGC has grown in recent years from a basement operation to a serious business.

SCGC in numbers

14 Craftsmen employed by SCGC

800 Custom guitars produced each year

Owner Dan Roberts now employs 14 expert craftsmen, who create over 800 custom guitars each year. In order to ensure the continued quality of his instruments, Roberts has created an environment that improves with each sale. To keep things efficient (as TQM must), the shop floor is divided into six workstations in which guitars are partially assembled and then moved to the next station. Each bench is manned by a senior craftsman, and no guitar leaves that builder’s station until he is 100 percent happy with its quality. This product quality is akin to a traditional assembly line; however, unlike a traditional, top-to-bottom factory, Roberts is intimately involved in all phases of instrument construction.

Utilising this doting method of quality management, it’s difficult to see how customers wouldn’t be satisfied with the artists’ work. Yet even if there were issues, Roberts and other senior management also spend much of their days personally answering web queries about the instruments. According to the managers, customers tend to be pleasantly surprised to find the company’s senior leaders are the ones answering their technical questions and concerns. While Roberts has no intentions of taking his manufacturing company to industrial heights, the quality of his instruments and high levels of customer satisfaction speak for themselves; the company currently boasts one lengthy backlog of orders.

A quality education: Ramaiah Institute of Management Studies Although it may appear easier to find success with TQM at a boutique-sized endeavour, the philosophy’s principles hold true in virtually every sector. Educational institutions, for example, have utilised quality management in much the same way – albeit to tackle decidedly different problems.

The global financial crisis hit higher education harder than many might have expected, and nowhere have the odds stacked higher than in India. The nation plays home to one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for business education. Yet over recent years, the relevance of business education in India has come into question. A report by one recruiter recently asserted just one in four Indian MBAs were adequately prepared for the business world.

RIMS in numbers

9% Increase in test scores post total quality management strategy

22% Increase in number of recruiters hiring from the school

20,000 Increase in the salary offered to graduates

50,000 Rise in placement revenue

At the Ramaiah Institute of Management Studies (RIMS) in Bangalore, recruiters and accreditation bodies specifically called into question the quality of students’ educations. Although the relatively small school has always struggled to compete with India’s renowned Xavier Labour Research Institute, the faculty finally began to notice clear hindrances in the success of graduates. The RIMS board decided it was time for a serious reassessment of quality management.

The school nominated Chief Academic Advisor Dr Krishnamurthy to head a volunteer team that would audit, analyse and implement process changes that would improve quality throughout (all in a particularly academic fashion). The team was tasked with looking at three key dimensions: assurance of learning, research and productivity, and quality of placements. Each member underwent extensive training to learn about action plans, quality auditing skills and continuous improvement tools – such as the ‘plan-do-study-act’ cycle.

Once faculty members were trained, the team’s first task was to identify the school’s key stakeholders, processes and their importance at the institute. Unsurprisingly, the most vital processes were identified as student intake, research, knowledge dissemination, outcomes evaluation and recruiter acceptance. From there, Krishnamurthy’s team used a fishbone diagram to help identify potential root causes of the issues plaguing these vital processes. To illustrate just how bad things were at the school, the team selected control groups and administered domain-based knowledge tests.

The deficits were disappointing. A RIMS students’ knowledge base was rated at just 36 percent, while students at Harvard rated 95 percent. Likewise, students’ critical thinking abilities rated nine percent, versus 93 percent at MIT. Worse yet, the mean salaries of graduating students averaged $36,000, versus $150,000 for students from Kellogg. Krishnamurthy’s team had their work cut out.

To tackle these issues, Krishnamurthy created an employability team, developed strategic architecture and designed pilot studies to improve the school’s curriculum and make it more competitive. In order to do so, he needed absolutely every employee and student on board – and there was some resistance at the onset. Yet the educator asserted it didn’t actually take long to convince the school’s stakeholders the changes were extremely beneficial.

“Once students started seeing the results, buy-in became complete and unconditional,” he says. Acceptance was also achieved by maintaining clearer levels of communication with stakeholders. The school actually started to provide shareholders with detailed plans and projections. Then, it proceeded with a variety of new methods, such as incorporating case studies into the curriculum, which increased general test scores by almost 10 percent. Administrators also introduced a mandate saying students must be certified in English by the British Council – increasing scores from 42 percent to 51 percent.

By improving those test scores, the perceived quality of RIMS skyrocketed. The number of top 100 businesses recruiting from the school shot up by 22 percent, while the average salary offers graduates were receiving increased by $20,000. Placement revenue rose by an impressive $50,000, and RIMS has since skyrocketed up domestic and international education tables.

No matter the business, total quality management can and will work. Yet this philosophical take on quality control will only impact firms that are in it for the long haul. Every employee must be in tune with the company’s ideologies and desires to improve, and customer satisfaction must reign supreme.

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Content quality and reliability of YouTube videos on oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic analysis

Affiliations.

• 1 Division of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Department of Dentistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
• 2 Department of Orthodontics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
• 3 Department of Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
• 4 College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
• 5 Department of E.N.T., All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
• 6 Department of Dentistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, India.
• PMID: 38520058
• DOI: 10.1111/scd.12995

Introduction: YouTube's popularity as a health information source raises concerns about credibility due to the absence of peer review. Therefore, this study assessed the content quality and reliability of YouTube videos related to oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: Videos were systematically searched on August 20, 2023, using terms determined through Google Trends. Videos were included based on predefined criteria and independently assessed by two researchers. Video demographics were extracted. Video quality was evaluated using audio-visual (AV) quality, video information and quality index (VIQI), global quality score (GQS), and reliability using a modified DISCERN tool (mDISCERN). High and low-content videos were defined based on the customized 10-point scoring system. Inter- and intra-examiner reliability of scoring system were calculated.

Results: Most videos were educational (46.3%), presented by dental sleep medicine specialists (42.6%), and aimed at laypersons (63%), with the majority originating from the United States (79.6%). The final 54 videos were categorized as high-content (n = 29, 54%) and low-content (n = 25, 46%). High-content videos had more views, comments, and longer video durations (7.07 ± 6.04 min). Significant differences (p < .05) were observed among high and low-content videos in total VIQI, mDISCERN, GQS, and TCS. Moderate correlations were found between GQS and TCS (r = 0.721), mDISCERN and VIQI (r = 0.649), GQS and VIQI (r = 0.601), and AV quality and VIQI (r = 0.531).

Conclusion: The study highlights variable content quality and reliability of YouTube videos on oral appliance therapy for OSA, emphasizing the need for guidelines to enhance their educational value and deliver reliable, evidence-based information to patients.

Keywords: YouTube; obstructive sleep apnea; oral appliances; social media.

© 2024 Special Care Dentistry Association and Wiley Periodicals LLC.

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Celebrate Juneteenth at these Maine events

The holiday is Wednesday, but events start this weekend and run through the end of the month.

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Westbrook Middle School students Bella Zollarcoffer, Priscila Nzolameso and Sarikong Oak held tables educating and informing the community on Black hair history at Westbrook’s Juneteenth celebration last year. Cullen McIntyre/Staff Photographer

Juneteenth, which became both a federal and state holiday in 2021 , celebrates the anniversary of federal troops’ arrival in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, to ensure all enslaved people had been freed. This year, the holiday falls on Wednesday, but celebrations are happening over the next two weeks.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. –  Indigo Arts Alliance presents The Welcome Table, an intergenerational symposium celebrating global cultural and culinary histories. Activities include art, movement and meditation workshops led by activists and cultural workers. 60 Cove St., Portland.  indigoartsalliance.me

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. –  Victoria Mansion is hosting a community day with free admission and a recitation of the Emancipation Proclamation by local actors. 109 Danforth St. Portland.  victoriamansion.org

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. –  Space and the Tate House Museum are putting on a Juneteenth community day with free admission and tours of Ashley Page’s “Imagining Freedom” exhibit at the museum. The historical art piece puts viewers into the shoes of an enslaved woman named Bet. 1267 Westbrook St., Portland.  space538.org Advertisement

1-6:30 p.m. –  The first event of “The City that Carries Us: Pain, Streets, and Heartbeats” will take place at the Public Theatre in Lewiston. The celebration will have a parade and a block party with performances, as well as scheduled activities and rituals throughout the day. It is hosted by the organization Maine Inside Out. 31 Maple St., Lewiston, maineinsideout.org

2-3 p.m. –  Through “Poems of Reckoning and Resilience,” the Portland Museum of Art and Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance seek to honor the legacy of Black Americans. Featured poet Nathan McClain will join local poets in the Great Hall at the museum to celebrate Black liberation and creativity. The museum is also offering free admission Saturday through Monday, in celebration of both Juneteenth and Pride Month. 7 Congress Square, Portland.  mainewriters.org

11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. –  The fifth annual Juneteenth Celebration on House Island in Casco Bay will focus on Black joy, as well as nature, health and economic opportunity. Guests can stay for one or two days, and partake in activities like camping, hiking, yoga and games, all led by BIPOC leaders. Fortland, House Island, Portland.  eventbrite.com

4:30-7 p.m. –  The Community Organizing Alliance is putting on an event with speakers, live performances, poetry readings, a voter registration drive and catering by Bab’s Table. There will also be opportunities to get involved in the racial justice movement. The Atrium at Bates Mill, 36 Chestnut St., Lewiston.  eventbrite.com

1-3 p.m. –  Riverbank Park in Westbrook will host a community event with art, poetry, music and guest speakers. There will also be a barbecue picnic, a student fashion show, hair braiding, pick-up soccer and more activities sponsored by the city. 667 Main St., Westbrook.  On Facebook.

7-8 p.m. –  The Portland Yoga Project is putting on a class called “Liberated Breath: A Juneteenth Yoga Experience” that seeks to reflect on the holiday through yoga. The class is free for BIPOC community members and is sponsored by the Portland Public Library. 7 Bedford St., Portland, allevents.in

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