What is the Case Study Method?

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

... HBS Experience The Learning Experience Case Study Method

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.

Overview

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 All Collapse All

In self-reflection 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 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 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 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.

How the Case Method Creates Value

Case Discussion Preparation Details

In self-reflection

In a small group setting

In the classroom

Beyond the classroom

Faculty Reflections

Introducing the Case Method Centennial

Working with colleagues on the case method pedagogy has been a treasured part of my HBS tenure.

Cases shared with high school teachers increase student engagement in politics, government, & more.

Unexpected insights in case method teaching and writing often grow into a new stream of research.

The case method is an ideal vehicle to teach the importance of active problem-solving discussions.

Writing and teaching her case has put her psychological safety research into a broader context.

The role the case method has played in the life and career of CV Ingenuity CEO, Duke Rohlen

Cases define the problem, describe possible outcomes, and end with the next steps.

They agree that a great case often raises more questions than answers.

The most powerful aspect of the case method is the engagement it generates in the classroom

The complexities of entrepreneurial management and finance come to light

Case method teaching means letting go and trusting students to find the answers

The case method provides an integrated experience between research and teaching.

Collaborating on an issue close to their hearts could bring useful lessons to the classroom.

Teaching by the case method is like conducting an orchestra—it has a symphonic quality.

Case method research enables a framework to emerge and then be taken into the classroom.

Kaplan discusses how innovations in measurement have their origins in cases.

How social entrepreneurs zig-zag their way through the system in order to scale and achieve impact.

An innate curiosity to learn every day and dig deep into the ideas and people she studies.

The case method as experiential learning at its best.

How storytelling brings cases to life in the classroom.

The joy of teaching the case 50 years after it was written and taught.

The resilient nature of the case method, and its impact on writing his case.

The strong synergy between the case method and teaching and research.

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.

How Cases Unfold In the Classroom

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 All Collapse All

Read the professor's assignment or discussion questions 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 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 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 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?

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 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 All Collapse All

Prepare 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 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 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 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 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 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 Understand

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

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?

What happens in class if nobody talks?

Does everyone take part in "role-playing"?

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Overview

Celebrating 100 Years of the Case Method at HBS

Case Discussion Preparation DetailsExpand AllCollapse All

In self-reflectionIn self-reflection Dropdown down

In a small group setting In a small group setting Dropdown down

In the classroomIn the classroom Dropdown down

Beyond the classroomBeyond the classroom Dropdown down

In self-reflection

In a small group setting

In the classroom

Beyond the classroom

How Cases Unfold In the Classroom

Preparation GuidelinesExpand AllCollapse All

Read the professor's assignment or discussion questionsRead the professor's assignment or discussion questions Dropdown down

Read the first few paragraphs and then skim the caseRead the first few paragraphs and then skim the case Dropdown down

Reread the case, underline text, and make margin notesReread the case, underline text, and make margin notes Dropdown down

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 Dropdown down

Read the professor's assignment or discussion questions

Read the first few paragraphs and then skim the case

Reread the case, underline text, and make margin notes

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

Case Study Best PracticesExpand AllCollapse All

PreparePrepare Dropdown down

DiscussDiscuss Dropdown down

ParticipateParticipate Dropdown down

RelateRelate Dropdown down

ApplyApply Dropdown down

NoteNote Dropdown down

UnderstandUnderstand Dropdown down

Prepare

Discuss

Participate

Relate

Apply

Note

Understand

What can I expect on the first day? Dropdown down

What happens in class if nobody talks? Dropdown down

Does everyone take part in "role-playing"? Dropdown down

Case Discussion Preparation DetailsExpand All Collapse All

In self-reflection In self-reflection

In a small group setting In a small group setting

In the classroom In the classroom

Beyond the classroom Beyond the classroom

Preparation GuidelinesExpand All Collapse All

Read the professor's assignment or discussion questions Read the professor's assignment or discussion questions

Read the first few paragraphs and then skim the case Read the first few paragraphs and then skim the case

Reread the case, underline text, and make margin notes Reread the case, underline text, and make margin notes

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

Case Study Best PracticesExpand All Collapse All

Prepare Prepare

Discuss Discuss

Participate Participate

Relate Relate

Apply Apply

Note Note

Understand Understand

What can I expect on the first day?

What happens in class if nobody talks?

Does everyone take part in "role-playing"?