Case method
Encyclopedia
The case method is a teaching approach
that consists in presenting the students with a case, putting them in the role of a decision maker facing a problem . The case method overlaps with the case study
method, but the two are not identical.
The case method is a teaching method that is largely used in business schools.
For instance it was used at the Harvard Business School
since the founding of the school in 1908 .
, or through professional writing and publishing centers, such as Globalens at the University of Michigan
.
Teaching case studies, and to a lesser extent writing them, is a central function performed at the top business schools
worldwide. Some organizations, such as European Case Clearing House
and GlobaLens, run competitions to identify the best new teaching cases. Some of the institutions that are the most active at writing teaching cases (as determined by the quantity and quality validated by awards) are: Harvard Business School
, IESE
, the Darden School at the University of Virginia
, University of Michigan
Ross School of Business
(through Globalens, INSEAD
, Richard Ivey School of Business
, the Asian Institute of Management
, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and Asian Case Research Centre at the University of Hong Kong.
A business case is a document that illustrates a business or policy situation to be solved and includes
information for classroom discussion and other study. The situation does not have an obvious solution. The
case provides information to stimulate an educated conversation concerning possible outcomes.
Each case has one central decision point, dilemma, or angle. The nature of the situation is clearly
apparent within the first two paragraphs.
The writing in a case is precise and nuanced, yet always clear and concise. It is neither colloquial nor
stuffily formal. It is also engaging and interesting to the reader. It is imperative for a case writer to always
be objective—a case is not a marketing pamphlet for the featured organization, though the writer may
portray biases that the protagonist may have.
employs the following structure:
• Within the first paragraph, identify the case’s central person and business or organization, and provide
a sense of the situation the person is in.
• Within the first two paragraphs, present, from her or his point of view, what the central person sees
as the decision point or dilemma. Identify other major players if relevant.
• In this section, provide the context for the situation. Include the situation’s time frame (at least the
year), the location and purpose of the company or organization, relevant important business factors,
and the goal or aim of the central person.
one subhead within the section to organize separate aspects.
• Often the best method for writing this section is to organize the information chronologically, with a
very brief history of the company or organization.
• Provide the essential company, organization, competitor, and/or industry information that the central
person had at the time of the case. What and where are the major products or services and their
customers?
• Include enough background information for the reader to analyze the decision point presented in the
introduction. Revenues, profits and losses, and other financial valuations may be crucial.
• Do not simplify or weight the background section to lead students to an easy decision.
• Include, as appropriate, historical information, trends, direct quotations from participants and
analysts, and simple and/or essential tables and figures. The section can also include references to
exhibits placed in the appendix, though the references should be clear and complete enough that the
reader can continue without having to turn immediately to the exhibits.
• Consider depicting the culture of the company or organization if relevant.
• What are the important challenges and responsibilities of the central person?
• Are certain portions of the person’s career particularly important to the current situation?
• Connect the background in this section to the current situation, including underlying causes and
current results.
• Go more deeply into the context and possible consequences of the decision point, dilemma or central
angle. Include the consequences for the career of the central person as well as for the person’s
company or organization.
• Show, if true, how the decision point or dilemma differs from the one initially perceived.
• Include the degree of urgency involved in the decision-making, or the timeline for the decision to be
made.
• Conclude the text with alternatives available to the central person.
exhibit, beginning “Exhibit 1:”
Exhibits can include financial statements, time lines, diagrams, charts, tables, pictures, and graphs. In
some cases it is possible to include or link to multimedia supplements such as an interview video with the
case’s central person.
An endnote is needed for anything mentioned in the text for which a reasonable reader would want to
know the source of the assertion, quotation, or apparent fact. The endnotes are referred to by number in
the text and the notes themselves appear in order, all together, after the exhibits. An exhibit can have an
endnote or its sourcing can appear as part of the exhibit.
More information is available on How to Write a Case Study.
Teaching method
A teaching method comprises the principles and methods used for instruction. Commonly used teaching methods may include class participation, demonstration, recitation, memorization, or combinations of these...
that consists in presenting the students with a case, putting them in the role of a decision maker facing a problem . The case method overlaps with the case study
Case study
A case study is an intensive analysis of an individual unit stressing developmental factors in relation to context. The case study is common in social sciences and life sciences. Case studies may be descriptive or explanatory. The latter type is used to explore causation in order to find...
method, but the two are not identical.
The case method is a teaching method that is largely used in business schools.
For instance it was used at the Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
since the founding of the school in 1908 .
Teaching cases
Teaching cases are available through clearing repositories such as the Caseplace and European Case Clearing HouseEuropean Case Clearing House
The European Case Clearing House is said to be the world's largest repository of case studies and articles on various facets of business management...
, or through professional writing and publishing centers, such as Globalens at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
Teaching case studies, and to a lesser extent writing them, is a central function performed at the top business schools
Business school
A business school is a university-level institution that confers degrees in Business Administration. It teaches topics such as accounting, administration, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems, marketing, organizational behavior, public relations, strategy, human resource...
worldwide. Some organizations, such as European Case Clearing House
European Case Clearing House
The European Case Clearing House is said to be the world's largest repository of case studies and articles on various facets of business management...
and GlobaLens, run competitions to identify the best new teaching cases. Some of the institutions that are the most active at writing teaching cases (as determined by the quantity and quality validated by awards) are: Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
, IESE
IESE
IESE Business School is the graduate business school of the University of Navarra. IESE has campuses in Barcelona, Madrid, and New York City and teaching facilities in Munich and Sao Paulo...
, the Darden School at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
Ross School of Business
Ross School of Business
The Stephen M. Ross School of Business is the business school of the University of Michigan. Numerous publications have ranked the Ross School of Business' Bachelor of Business Administration , Master of Business Administration and Executive Education programs among the top in the country and the...
(through Globalens, INSEAD
INSEAD
INSEAD is an international graduate business school and research institution. It has campuses in Europe , Asia , and the Middle East , as well as a research center in Israel...
, Richard Ivey School of Business
Richard Ivey School of Business
The Richard Ivey School of Business is located on the University of Western Ontario campus in London, Ontario, Canada, and is consistently rated as the top business school in Canada. It is offered, along with a range of other programs, by the University of Western Ontario, but is managed separately...
, the Asian Institute of Management
Asian Institute of Management
The Asian Institute of Management, or simply AIM, is a graduate school of business and a center of business and management research. It is one of the few business schools in Asia to be internationally accredited with the AACSB. It was established in partnership with Harvard Business School and uses...
, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and Asian Case Research Centre at the University of Hong Kong.
A business case is a document that illustrates a business or policy situation to be solved and includes
information for classroom discussion and other study. The situation does not have an obvious solution. The
case provides information to stimulate an educated conversation concerning possible outcomes.
Each case has one central decision point, dilemma, or angle. The nature of the situation is clearly
apparent within the first two paragraphs.
The writing in a case is precise and nuanced, yet always clear and concise. It is neither colloquial nor
stuffily formal. It is also engaging and interesting to the reader. It is imperative for a case writer to always
be objective—a case is not a marketing pamphlet for the featured organization, though the writer may
portray biases that the protagonist may have.
Structure
Writing styles may be unique to the individuals developing a case, yet almost every successful caseemploys the following structure:
Title and Introduction (½-2 pages)
• For the title, in fewer than 10 words make clear what is special about this particular case.• Within the first paragraph, identify the case’s central person and business or organization, and provide
a sense of the situation the person is in.
• Within the first two paragraphs, present, from her or his point of view, what the central person sees
as the decision point or dilemma. Identify other major players if relevant.
• In this section, provide the context for the situation. Include the situation’s time frame (at least the
year), the location and purpose of the company or organization, relevant important business factors,
and the goal or aim of the central person.
Background on the Company, Industry and Competitors (3-7 pages)
• Begin this section with the first subhead. If the section is long or relatively complex, use more thanone subhead within the section to organize separate aspects.
• Often the best method for writing this section is to organize the information chronologically, with a
very brief history of the company or organization.
• Provide the essential company, organization, competitor, and/or industry information that the central
person had at the time of the case. What and where are the major products or services and their
customers?
• Include enough background information for the reader to analyze the decision point presented in the
introduction. Revenues, profits and losses, and other financial valuations may be crucial.
• Do not simplify or weight the background section to lead students to an easy decision.
• Include, as appropriate, historical information, trends, direct quotations from participants and
analysts, and simple and/or essential tables and figures. The section can also include references to
exhibits placed in the appendix, though the references should be clear and complete enough that the
reader can continue without having to turn immediately to the exhibits.
• Consider depicting the culture of the company or organization if relevant.
• What are the important challenges and responsibilities of the central person?
• Are certain portions of the person’s career particularly important to the current situation?
• Connect the background in this section to the current situation, including underlying causes and
current results.
The Decision Point in More Detail (1-5 pages)
• Begin this section with a subhead. Within it, use more subheads if appropriate.• Go more deeply into the context and possible consequences of the decision point, dilemma or central
angle. Include the consequences for the career of the central person as well as for the person’s
company or organization.
• Show, if true, how the decision point or dilemma differs from the one initially perceived.
• Include the degree of urgency involved in the decision-making, or the timeline for the decision to be
made.
• Conclude the text with alternatives available to the central person.
Exhibits and Endnotes (4-10 pages)
Use a subhead before any exhibits and before any listing of endnotes. Use a small title with eachexhibit, beginning “Exhibit 1:”
Exhibits can include financial statements, time lines, diagrams, charts, tables, pictures, and graphs. In
some cases it is possible to include or link to multimedia supplements such as an interview video with the
case’s central person.
An endnote is needed for anything mentioned in the text for which a reasonable reader would want to
know the source of the assertion, quotation, or apparent fact. The endnotes are referred to by number in
the text and the notes themselves appear in order, all together, after the exhibits. An exhibit can have an
endnote or its sourcing can appear as part of the exhibit.
More information is available on How to Write a Case Study.
See also
- Business schools
- Case competitionCase competitionIn a case competition, participants compete for the best solution to a business case study under time pressure. Most often it is a competition at university level, but on occasions also held at other levels. The case competition is an event in which business teams deliver business presentations,...
- Casebook methodCasebook methodThe casebook method, also known as the case method, is the primary method of teaching law in law schools in the United States. It was pioneered at Harvard Law School by Christopher Columbus Langdell...
- European Case Clearing HouseEuropean Case Clearing HouseThe European Case Clearing House is said to be the world's largest repository of case studies and articles on various facets of business management...
- Experiential learningExperiential learningExperiential learning is the process of making meaning from direct experience. Simply put, Experiential Learning is learning from experience. The experience can be staged or left open. Aristotle once said, "For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them." David A...
- Teaching methodTeaching methodA teaching method comprises the principles and methods used for instruction. Commonly used teaching methods may include class participation, demonstration, recitation, memorization, or combinations of these...