On the importance and value of case studies

Case studies provide a means for highlighting and extracting practical principles and methods for shaping and accelerating progress in solving wicked real world problems. They inform burgeoning theories such as those associated with complex systems engineering where people are considered part of the system to be conceived, developed, fielded, and operated; or extant systems targeted for improvement upgrades. This paper advocates for the value of case studies and summarizes some important examples. Motivations and ideas for increasing the use of case studies in the world's most difficult present and future systems engineering environments are suggested.