Source: https://fosdem.org/2025/schedule/event/fosdem-2025-4474-pick-my-project-lessons-learned-from-interviewing-and-writing-20-end-user-case-studies/
example used in talk: https://cilium.io/
What is a case study
It’s a real-life account that examines a particular situation, challenge, or opportunity the company faced and how it addressed it.
Case studies are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of products, services, or methodologies, providing potential customers with insights into how the company solves problems and delivers value.
Examples would be, things like success stories of companies using your product, how they implement it, big companies that use your product, and how etc.
Why write case studies
It’s a great marketing tool
It helps new users understand your features
It helps you learn about your users and where to focus your developing efforts
It helps you understand what is working and what isn’t
How to make compelling case studies
https://github.com/cncf/foundation/blob/main/case-study-guidelines.md
Reach out
Don’t fear to reach out to companies that use your project
Make surveys (example of an anual user survey)
Ask users that report bugs
Interview
- Tell me what your company does
- What does your current infrastructure and team look like?
- What is the challenge that our software solved?
- What were you looking for when you found our software?
- What made out software the best choice?
- What does the solution actually look like?
- How did you implement it?
- What is the value that the solution now provides
- How did it change your situation for the better?
- What does the outcome for your business (money?)
- What else are you planning to do with the software?
Tips
Record the interview to relisten and pull direct quotes
Use other sources of information the company may have (blogs, videos etc.)
You need to turn it into a story that flows