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Executive Education
Harvard Business School Right arrow Executive Education Right arrow HBS Experience Right arrow The Learning Experience Right arrow Case Study Method
... Right arrow Harvard Business School Right arrow Executive Education Right arrow HBS Experience Right arrow The Learning Experience Right arrow Case Study Method

What is the Case Study Method?

What is the Case Study Method?
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Case Study Method
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Overview

Simply put, the case method is a discussion of real-life situations that business executives have faced. On average, you'll attend three to four different classes a day, for a total of about six hours of class time (schedules vary). To prepare, you'll work through problems with your peers.
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As you review each case, you'll put yourself in the shoes of the key decision maker, analyze the situation, and decide what you would do to address the challenges. Then you'll meet with your discussion group—sometimes referred to as a "living group"—a diverse mix of seven or eight peers who spend time each day discussing the cases. Finally, you'll have the opportunity to present and support your conclusions in the classroom.

Overview Dropdown up

Overview Dropdown down

Simply put, the case method is a discussion of real-life situations that business executives have faced. On average, you'll attend three to four different classes a day, for a total of about six hours of class time (schedules vary). To prepare, you'll work through problems with your peers.
As you review each case, you'll put yourself in the shoes of the key decision maker, analyze the situation, and decide what you would do to address the challenges. Then you'll meet with your discussion group—sometimes referred to as a "living group"—a diverse mix of seven or eight peers who spend time each day discussing the cases. Finally, you'll have the opportunity to present and support your conclusions in the classroom.

Celebrating 100 Years of the Case Method at HBS

The 2021-2022 academic year marks the 100-year anniversary of the introduction of the case method at Harvard Business School. Today, the HBS case method is employed in the HBS MBA program, in Executive Education programs, and in dozens of other business schools around the world. As Dean Srikant Datar's says, the case method has withstood the test of time.

How the Case Method Creates Value
Often, executives are surprised to discover that the objective of the case study is not to reach consensus, but to understand how different people use the same information to arrive at diverse conclusions. When you begin to understand the context, you can appreciate the reasons why those decisions were made. You can prepare for case discussions in several ways.

Case Discussion Preparation DetailsExpand AllCollapse All

In self-reflectionIn self-reflection
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The time you spend here is deeply introspective. You're not only working with case materials and assignments, but also taking on the role of the case protagonist—the person who's supposed to make those tough decisions. How would you react in those situations? We put people in a variety of contexts, and they start by addressing that specific problem.
In a small group setting In a small group setting
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The discussion group is a critical component of the HBS experience. You're working in close quarters with a group of seven or eight very accomplished peers in diverse functions, industries, and geographies. Because they bring unique experience to play you begin to see that there are many different ways to wrestle with a problem—and that’s very enriching.
In the classroomIn the classroom
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The faculty guides you in examining and resolving the issues—but the beauty here is that they don't provide you with the answers. You're interacting in the classroom with other executives—debating the issue, presenting new viewpoints, countering positions, and building on one another's ideas. And that leads to the next stage of learning.
Beyond the classroomBeyond the classroom
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Once you leave the classroom, the learning continues and amplifies as you get to know people in different settings—over meals, at social gatherings, in the fitness center, or as you are walking to class. You begin to distill the takeaways that you want to bring back and apply in your organization to ensure that the decisions you make will create more value for your firm.

How the Case Method Creates Value Dropdown up

How the Case Method Creates Value Dropdown down

Often, executives are surprised to discover that the objective of the case study is not to reach consensus, but to understand how different people use the same information to arrive at diverse conclusions. When you begin to understand the context, you can appreciate the reasons why those decisions were made. You can prepare for case discussions in several ways.
Case Discussion Preparation Details

In self-reflection

The time you spend here is deeply introspective. You're not only working with case materials and assignments, but also taking on the role of the case protagonist—the person who's supposed to make those tough decisions. How would you react in those situations? We put people in a variety of contexts, and they start by addressing that specific problem.

In a small group setting

The discussion group is a critical component of the HBS experience. You're working in close quarters with a group of seven or eight very accomplished peers in diverse functions, industries, and geographies. Because they bring unique experience to play you begin to see that there are many different ways to wrestle with a problem—and that’s very enriching.

In the classroom

The faculty guides you in examining and resolving the issues—but the beauty here is that they don't provide you with the answers. You're interacting in the classroom with other executives—debating the issue, presenting new viewpoints, countering positions, and building on one another's ideas. And that leads to the next stage of learning.

Beyond the classroom

Once you leave the classroom, the learning continues and amplifies as you get to know people in different settings—over meals, at social gatherings, in the fitness center, or as you are walking to class. You begin to distill the takeaways that you want to bring back and apply in your organization to ensure that the decisions you make will create more value for your firm.
Faculty Reflections
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Dean Srikant DatarDean Srikant Datar
Introducing the Case Method Centennial
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Emeritus Professor Jim Austin: InvigoratingEmeritus Professor Jim Austin: Invigorating
Working with colleagues on the case method pedagogy has been a treasured part of my HBS tenure.
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Professor David Moss: StrengthenProfessor David Moss: Strengthen
Cases shared with high school teachers increase student engagement in politics, government, & more.
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Professor Cynthia A. Montgomery: PivotsProfessor Cynthia A. Montgomery: Pivots
Unexpected insights in case method teaching and writing often grow into a new stream of research.
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Professor Jay W. Lorsch: ListeningProfessor Jay W. Lorsch: Listening
The case method is an ideal vehicle to teach the importance of active problem-solving discussions.
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Professor Amy C. Edmondson: MemorableProfessor Amy C. Edmondson: Memorable
Writing and teaching her case has put her psychological safety research into a broader context.
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Professor Regina E. Herzlinger: InnovatingProfessor Regina E. Herzlinger: Innovating
The role the case method has played in the life and career of CV Ingenuity CEO, Duke Rohlen
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Professor Rosabeth M. Kanter: NarrativeProfessor Rosabeth M. Kanter: Narrative
Cases define the problem, describe possible outcomes, and end with the next steps.
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Assistant Professors Rigol and Roth: EmpowerAssistant Professors Rigol and Roth: Empower
They agree that a great case often raises more questions than answers.
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Professor Robert Dolan: EngagementProfessor Robert Dolan: Engagement
The most powerful aspect of the case method is the engagement it generates in the classroom
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Professors Lerner and Bernstein: ComplexityProfessors Lerner and Bernstein: Complexity
The complexities of entrepreneurial management and finance come to light
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Professor Arthur Segel: UnexpectedProfessor Arthur Segel: Unexpected
Case method teaching means letting go and trusting students to find the answers
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Professor Krishna Palepu: IntegratedProfessor Krishna Palepu: Integrated
The case method provides an integrated experience between research and teaching.
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Professors Gino and Sadun: PerspectivesProfessors Gino and Sadun: Perspectives
Collaborating on an issue close to their hearts could bring useful lessons to the classroom.
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Professor Debora Spar: SymphonicProfessor Debora Spar: Symphonic
Teaching by the case method is like conducting an orchestra—it has a symphonic quality.
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Professor Sunil Gupta: FrameworkProfessor Sunil Gupta: Framework
Case method research enables a framework to emerge and then be taken into the classroom.
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Professor Bob Kaplan: OriginsProfessor Bob Kaplan: Origins
Kaplan discusses how innovations in measurement have their origins in cases.
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Professor Kash Rangan: EnlighteningProfessor Kash Rangan: Enlightening
How social entrepreneurs zig-zag their way through the system in order to scale and achieve impact.
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Professor Linda Hill: CuriosityProfessor Linda Hill: Curiosity
An innate curiosity to learn every day and dig deep into the ideas and people she studies.
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Senior Lecturer Kristin Mugford: ExperientialSenior Lecturer Kristin Mugford: Experiential
The case method as experiential learning at its best.
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Professor Anita Elberse: StorytellingProfessor Anita Elberse: Storytelling
How storytelling brings cases to life in the classroom.
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Professors Earl Sasser & Ryan Buell: FoundationalProfessors Earl Sasser & Ryan Buell: Foundational
The joy of teaching the case 50 years after it was written and taught.
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Professor Mihir Desai: ResilientProfessor Mihir Desai: Resilient
The resilient nature of the case method, and its impact on writing his case.
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Professor VG Narayanan: SynergyProfessor VG Narayanan: Synergy
The strong synergy between the case method and teaching and research.
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How Cases Unfold In the Classroom

Pioneered by HBS faculty, the case method puts you in the role of the chief decision maker as you explore the challenges facing leading companies across the globe. Learning to think fast on your feet with limited information sharpens your analytical skills and empowers you to make critical decisions in real time.
Read More
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To get the most out of each case, it's important to read and reflect, and then meet with your discussion group to share your insights. You and your peers will explore the underlying issues, compare alternatives, and suggest various ways of resolving the problem.

How Cases Unfold In the Classroom Dropdown up

How Cases Unfold In the Classroom Dropdown down

Pioneered by HBS faculty, the case method puts you in the role of the chief decision maker as you explore the challenges facing leading companies across the globe. Learning to think fast on your feet with limited information sharpens your analytical skills and empowers you to make critical decisions in real time.
To get the most out of each case, it's important to read and reflect, and then meet with your discussion group to share your insights. You and your peers will explore the underlying issues, compare alternatives, and suggest various ways of resolving the problem.
How to Prepare for Case Discussions
There's more than one way to prepare for a case discussion, but these general guidelines can help you develop a method that works for you.

Preparation GuidelinesExpand AllCollapse All

Read the professor's assignment or discussion questionsRead the professor's assignment or discussion questions
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The assignment and discussion questions help you focus on the key aspects of the case. Ask yourself: What are the most important issues being raised?
Read the first few paragraphs and then skim the caseRead the first few paragraphs and then skim the case
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Each case begins with a text description followed by exhibits. Ask yourself: What is the case generally about, and what information do I need to analyze?
Reread the case, underline text, and make margin notesReread the case, underline text, and make margin notes
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Put yourself in the shoes of the case protagonist, and own that person's problems. Ask yourself: What basic problem is this executive trying to resolve?
Note the key problems on a pad of paper and go through the case againNote the key problems on a pad of paper and go through the case again
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Sort out relevant considerations and do the quantitative or qualitative analysis. Ask yourself: What recommendations should I make based on my case data analysis?

How to Prepare for Case Discussions Dropdown up

How to Prepare for Case Discussions Dropdown down

There's more than one way to prepare for a case discussion, but these general guidelines can help you develop a method that works for you.
Preparation Guidelines

Read the professor's assignment or discussion questions

The assignment and discussion questions help you focus on the key aspects of the case. Ask yourself: What are the most important issues being raised?

Read the first few paragraphs and then skim the case

Each case begins with a text description followed by exhibits. Ask yourself: What is the case generally about, and what information do I need to analyze?

Reread the case, underline text, and make margin notes

Put yourself in the shoes of the case protagonist, and own that person's problems. Ask yourself: What basic problem is this executive trying to resolve?

Note the key problems on a pad of paper and go through the case again

Sort out relevant considerations and do the quantitative or qualitative analysis. Ask yourself: What recommendations should I make based on my case data analysis?

Case Study Best PracticesExpand AllCollapse All

PreparePrepare
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The key to being an active listener and participant in case discussions—and to getting the most out of the learning experience—is thorough individual preparation.
DiscussDiscuss
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We've set aside formal time for you to discuss the case with your group. These sessions will help you to become more confident about sharing your views in the classroom discussion.
ParticipateParticipate
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Actively express your views and challenge others. Don't be afraid to share related "war stories" that will heighten the relevance and enrich the discussion.
RelateRelate
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If the content doesn't seem to relate to your business, don't tune out. You can learn a lot about marketing insurance from a case on marketing razor blades!
ApplyApply
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Actively apply what you're learning to your own specific management situations, both past and future. This will magnify the relevance to your business.
NoteNote
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People with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skills, and styles will take away different things. Be sure to note what resonates with you, not your peers.
UnderstandUnderstand
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Being exposed to so many different approaches to a given situation will put you in a better position to enhance your management style.

Case Study Best Practices Dropdown up

Case Study Best Practices Dropdown down

Prepare

The key to being an active listener and participant in case discussions—and to getting the most out of the learning experience—is thorough individual preparation.

Discuss

We've set aside formal time for you to discuss the case with your group. These sessions will help you to become more confident about sharing your views in the classroom discussion.

Participate

Actively express your views and challenge others. Don't be afraid to share related "war stories" that will heighten the relevance and enrich the discussion.

Relate

If the content doesn't seem to relate to your business, don't tune out. You can learn a lot about marketing insurance from a case on marketing razor blades!

Apply

Actively apply what you're learning to your own specific management situations, both past and future. This will magnify the relevance to your business.

Note

People with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skills, and styles will take away different things. Be sure to note what resonates with you, not your peers.

Understand

Being exposed to so many different approaches to a given situation will put you in a better position to enhance your management style.
Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect on the first day?
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Most programs begin with registration, followed by an opening session and a dinner. If your travel plans necessitate late arrival, please be sure to notify us so that alternate registration arrangements can be made for you. Please note the following about registration:

HBS campus programs – Registration takes place in the Chao Center.

India programs – Registration takes place outside the classroom.

Other off-campus programs – Registration takes place in the designated facility.

What happens in class if nobody talks?
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Professors are here to push everyone to learn, but not to embarrass anyone. If the class is quiet, they'll often ask a participant with experience in the industry in which the case is set to speak first. This is done well in advance so that person can come to class prepared to share. Trust the process. The more open you are, the more willing you’ll be to engage, and the more alive the classroom will become.

Does everyone take part in "role-playing"?
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Professors often encourage participants to take opposing sides and then debate the issues, often taking the perspective of the case protagonists or key decision makers in the case.

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Baker library peak and cupola
Leadership Insights Blog
An inside view of Executive Education, including what's happening on-campus, faculty insights, and more!
Read More
Baker library peak and cupola
Leadership Insights Blog
An inside view of Executive Education, including what's happening on-campus, faculty insights, and more!
Read More
Program Finder

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