Learning with Cases

INTRODUCTION

The case study method of teaching used in management education is quite different
from most of the methods of teaching used at the school and undergraduate course
levels. Unlike traditional lecture-based teaching where student participation in the
classroom is minimal, the case method is an active learning method, which requires
participation and involvement from the student in the classroom. For students who
have been exposed only to the traditional teaching methods, this calls for a major
change in their approach to learning.
This introduction is intended to provide students with some basic information about
the case method, and guidelines about what they must do to gain the maximum benefit
from the method. We begin by taking a brief look at what case studies are, and how
they are used in the classroom. Then we discuss what the student needs to do to
prepare for a class, and what she can expect during the case discussion. We also
explain how student performance is evaluated in a case study based course. Finally,
we describe the benefits a student of management can expect to gain through the use
of the case method.

WHAT IS A CASE STUDY?

There is no universally accepted definition for a case study, and the case method
means different things to different people. Consequently, all case studies are not
structured similarly, and variations abound in terms of style, structure and approach.
Case material ranges from small caselets (a few paragraphs to one-two pages) to short
cases (four to six pages) and from 10 to 18 page case studies to the longer versions (25
pages and above).
A case is usually a “description of an actual situation, commonly involving a decision,
a challenge, an opportunity, a problem or an issue faced by a person or persons in an
organization.”1 In learning with case studies, the student must deal with the situation
described in the case, in the role of the manager or decision maker facing the situation.
An important point to be emphasized here is that a case is not a problem. A problem
usually has a unique, correct solution. On the other hand, a decision-maker faced with
the situation described in a case can choose between several alternative courses of
action, and each of these alternatives may plausibly be supported by logical argument.
To put it simply, there is no unique, correct answer in the case study method.
The case study method usually involves three stages: individual preparation, small
group discussion, and large group or class discussion. While both the instructor and
the student start with the same information, their roles are clearly different in each of
these stages, as shown in Table 1.

1
Michiel R. Leeenders, Louise A. Mauffette-Launders and James Erskine, Writing Cases,
(Ivey Publishing, 4th edition) 3.
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Table 1
Teacher and Student Roles in a Regular Case Class
When Teacher Student or Participant
Before Assigns case and often readings Receives case and assignment
Class
Prepares for class Prepares individually
May consult colleagues Discusses case in small group
During Deals with readings Raises questions regarding readings
Class
Leads case discussion Participates in discussion
After Evaluates and records student Compares personal analysis with
Class participation colleagues’ analysis.
Evaluates materials and updates Reviews class discussion for major
teaching note concepts learned.
Source: Michiel R. Leeenders, Louise A. Mauffette-Launders and James Erskine,
Writing Cases, (Ivey Publishing 4th edition) 3.

CASE STUDIES IN THE CLASSROOM

Case studies are usually discussed in class, in a large group. However, sometimes,
instructors may require individuals or groups of students to provide a written analysis
of a case study, or make an oral presentation on the case study in the classroom.

Preparing for a Case Discussion

Unlike lecture-based teaching, the case method requires intensive preparation by the
students, before each class. If a case has been assigned for discussion in the class, the
student must prepare carefully and thoroughly for the case discussion.
The first step in this preparation is to read the case thoroughly. To grasp the situation
described in a case study, the student will need to read it several times. The first
reading of the case can be a light one, to get a broad idea of the story. The subsequent
readings must be more focused, to help the student become familiar with the facts of
the case, and the issues that are important in the situation being described in the case –
the who, what, where, why and how of the case.
However, familiarity with the facts described in the case is not enough. The student
must also acquire a thorough understanding of the case situation, through a detailed
analysis of the case. During the case analysis process, she must to attempt to identify
the main protagonists in the case study (organizations, groups, or individuals
described in the case) and their relationships.
The student must also keep in mind that different kinds of information are presented
in the case study2. There are facts, which are verifiable from several sources. There
are inferences, which represent an individual’s judgment in a given situation. There is
speculation, which is information which cannot be verified. There are also
assumptions, which cannot be verified, and are generated during case analysis or
discussion. Clearly, all these different types of information are not equally valuable

2
Michael A. Hitt, R. Duane Ireland and Robert E. Hoskisson, Strategic Management
(Thomson Southwestern, 6th Edition) Civ
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 Learning with Cases

for managerial decision-making. Usually, the greater your reliance on facts (rather
than speculation or assumptions), the better the logic and persuasiveness of your
arguments and the quality of your decisions.
Broadly speaking, the different stages in the case analysis process could be as
follows3:
1. Gaining familiarity with the case situation (critical case facts, persons, activities,
contexts)
2. Recognizing the symptoms (what are the things that are not as expected, or as
they should be?)
3. Identifying goals/objectives
4. Conducting the analysis
5. Making the diagnosis (identifying problems, i.e., discrepancies between goals and
performance, prioritizing problems etc.)
6. Preparing the action plan (identifying feasible action alternatives, selecting a
course of action, implementation planning, plan for monitoring implementation)

Exhibit 1
Components of a Situation Analysis
1. Corporate level situation analysis
- Corporate mission and objectives
- Resources and competencies
- Environmental problems and opportunities
- Demographic
- Social-cultural
- Economic
- Technological
- Legal and regulatory
- Competition
- Portfolio analysis
2. Product level situation analysis
- Market analysis
- Describe the product-market structure
- Find out who buys
- Assess why buyers buy
- Determine how buyers make choices
- Determine bases for market segmentation

3
Adapted from: 1993, C. C. Lundberg and C. Enz, ‘A framework for student case
preparation’, Case Research Journal, 13 (Summer):144/Michael A. Hitt, R. Duane Ireland
and Robert E. Hoskisson, Strategic Management (Thomson Southwestern, 6th Edition) Ciii
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- Identify potential target markets

- Competitive analysis
- Identify direct competitors
- Assess likelihood of new competitors
- Determine stage in product life cycle
- Assess pioneer advantages
- Assess intensity of competition
- Determine the competitors’ advantages and disadvantages
- Market measurement
- Estimate market potential
- Determine relative potential of each geographic area
- Track industry sales trends
- Assess company or brand trends in sales and market share
- Make forecasts
- Profitability and productivity analysis
- Determine the cost structure
- Identify cost-volume-profit relationships
- Perform break-even and target profit analysis
- Make projections of sales or market share impact of marketing
expenditures
3. Summary
- Assess performance (identification of symptoms)
- Define problems and opportunities

Source: Developed from Joseph Guiltinan and Gordon Paul, ‘Marketing

Management: Strategies and Programs’, Fourth Edition (New York: McGraw-Hill,
1990), Chapters 2-6/ Joseph Guiltinan and Gordon Paul, Cases in Marketing
Management (McGraw-Hill, International Edition 1992) 2.
The components of a situation analysis for a typical marketing case are given
in Exhibit 1. This consists of situation analyses at the corporate and product
levels and a summary of the results of the analysis. Cases in other functional
areas such as strategy can also be analyzed using similar frameworks. As
mentioned earlier, the situation analysis should be followed by problem
diagnosis and action plan recommendations.
While preparing for the case discussion, the student can also make notes with respect
to the key aspects of the situation and the case analysis. These could include points
such as the following:
x Which company (or companies) is being talked about? Which industry is referred
to?
x What are the products/services mentioned?
x How/Why did the company land in problems (or became successful)?
x What decision issues/problems/challenges are the decision makers in the case
faced with?

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Case Discussions in the Classroom

A classroom case discussion is usually guided by the instructor. Students are expected
to participate in the discussion and present their views. In some cases, the instructor
may adopt a particular view, and challenge the students to respond. During the
discussion, while a student presents his point of view, others may question or
challenge him. Case instructors usually encourage innovative ways of looking at and
analyzing problems, and arriving at possible alternatives.
The interaction among students, and between the students and the instructor, must
take place in a constructive and positive manner. Such interactions help to improve
the analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills of the students.
Students must be careful that the contributions they make to the discussion are
relevant, and based on a sound analysis of the information presented in the case.
Students can also refer to the notes they have prepared during the course of their
preparation for the case discussion.
The instructor may ask questions to the class at random about the case study itself or
about the views put forward by an individual student. If a student has some new
insights about the issues at hand, she is usually encouraged to share them with the
class.
Students must respond when the instructor asks some pertinent questions. The
importance of preparing beforehand cannot be emphasized enough – a student will be
able to participate meaningfully in the case discussion only if he is knowledgeable
about the facts of the case, and has done a systematic case analysis. A case discussion
may end with the instructor (or a student) summarizing the key learning points (or
‘takeaways’) of the session.
Student performance in case discussions is usually evaluated, and is a significant
factor in assessing overall performance in the course. The extent of participation is
never the sole criterion in the evaluation – the quality of the participation is an equally
(or more) important criterion.
Working in a Group
If a group of students is asked to analyze a case, they must ensure that they meet to
discuss and analyze the case, by getting together for a group meeting at a suitable time
and location. Before the meeting, all the team members must read the case and come
with their own set of remarks/observations.
The group must ensure that all the group members contribute to the preparation and
discussion. It is important that the group is able to work as a cohesive team –
problems between team members are likely to have an adverse impact on the group’s
overall performance.

PREPARING A WRITTEN CASE ANALYSIS

Quite often, a written analysis of the case may be a part of the internal evaluation
process. When a written analysis of a case is required, the student must ensure that the
analysis is properly structured.
An instructor may provide specific guidelines about how the analysis is to be
structured. However, when submitting an analysis, the student must ensure that it is
neat and free from any factual, language and grammar errors. In fact, this is a
requirement for any report that a student may submit – not just a case analysis.

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MAKING A CASE PRESENTATION

The instructor may ask a group of students to present their analysis and
recommendations to the class. Alternatively, an individual student can also be asked
to make a presentation.
The key to a good presentation is good preparation. If the case has been studied and
analyzed thoroughly, the content of the presentation should present no problems.
However, a presentation is more than the content. Some of points that need to be kept
in mind when making a case presentation are:
x As far as possible, divide the content uniformly so that each team member gets an
opportunity to speak.
x Use visual aids such as OHP slides, Power Point presentations,
advertisement/press clippings etc., as much as possible.
x Be brief and to-the-point. Stick to the time limits set by the instructor.
x Be well prepared.

EVALUATING STUDENT PERFORMANCE

The evaluation of a student’s performance in a case-driven course can be based on
some or all of the following factors:
x Written case analyses (logical flow and structuring of the content, language and
presentation, quality of analysis and recommendations, etc.).
x Case presentations (communication skills, logical flow and structuring of the
content, quality of analysis and recommendations, etc.).
x Participation in classroom case discussions (quality and extent of participation).
x Case writing assignments or similar projects.
x Case-based examinations.

BENEFITS FROM THE CASE METHOD

The case benefit has several advantages over traditional teaching methods. The skills
that students develop by being exposed to this method are listed in Exhibit 2. The
consequences to the student from involvement in the method are listed in Exhibit 3.
Some of the advantages of using case studies are given below:
x Cases allow students to learn by doing. They allow students to step into the shoes
of decision-makers in real organizations, and deal with the issues managers face,
with no risk to themselves or the organization involved.
x Cases improve the students ability to ask the right questions, in a given problem
situation. Their ability to identify and understand the underlying problems rather
than the symptoms of the problems is also enhanced.
x Case studies expose students to a wide range of industries, organizations,
functions and responsibility levels. This provides students the flexibility and
confidence to deal with a variety of tasks and responsibilities in their careers. It
also helps students to make more informed decisions about their career choices.

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Exhibit 2
Inventory of Skills Developed by the Case Method
1. Qualitative and quantitative analytical skills, including problem identification
skills, data handling skills and critical thinking skills.
2. Decision making skills, including generating different alternatives, selecting
decision criteria, evaluating alternatives, choosing the best one, and
formulating congruent action and implementation plans.
3. Application skills, using various tools, techniques and theories.
4. Oral communication skills, including speaking, listening and debating skills.
5. Time management skills, dealing with individual preparation, small group
discussion and class discussion.
6. Interpersonal or social skills, dealing with peers, solving conflicts and
practicing the art of compromise, in small or large groups.
7. Creative skills, looking for and finding solutions geared to the unique
circumstances of each case.
8. Written communications skills, involving regular and effective note-taking,
case reports and case exams.

Source: Michiel R. Leeenders, Louise A. Mauffette-Launders and James Erskine,

Writng Cases (Ivey Publishing, 4th edition) 7.

Exhibit 3
Consequences of Student Involvement with the Case Method
1. Case analysis requires students to practice important managerial skills-
diagnosis, making decisions, observing, listening, and persuading – while
preparing for a case discussion.
2. Cases require students to relate analysis and action, to develop realistic and
concrete actions despite the complexity and partial knowledge characterizing
the situation being studied.
3. Students must confront the intractability of reality-complete with absence of
needed information, an imbalance between needs and available resources,
and conflicts among competing objectives.
4. Students develop a general managerial point of view – where responsibility is
sensitive to action in a diverse environmental context.

Source: 1993, C. C. Lundberg and C. Enz, ‘A framework for student case

preparation’, Case Research Journal, 13 (Summer) 134/ Michael A. Hitt, R. Duane
Ireland and Robert E. Hoskisson, Strategic Management (Thomson Southwestern, 6th
Edition) Cii.
x Cases studies strengthen the student’s grasp of management theory, by providing
real-life examples of the underlying theoretical concepts. By providing rich,
interesting information about real business situations, they breathe life into
conceptual discussions.

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x Cases provide students with an exposure to the actual working of business and
other organizations in the real world.
x Case studies reflect the reality of managerial decision-making in the real world, in
that students must make decisions based on insufficient information. Cases reflect
the ambiguity and complexity that accompany most management issues.
x When working on a case study in a group, students must also be able to
understand and deal with the different viewpoints and perspectives of the other
members in their team. This serves to improve their communication and
interpersonal skills.
x Case studies provide an integrated view of management. Managerial decision-
making involves integration of theories and concepts learnt in different functional
areas such as marketing and finance. The case method exposes students to this
reality of management.