The Student Guide to the Case Method

A case analysis is an effective tool for teaching, learning, and most importantly, practising the art and science of management. The case method immerses students in real-life situations, allowing them to develop their business skills by analyzing realistic situations, applying business theories and tools, and making substantiated recommendations. However, working with cases is a pedagogical approach unfamiliar to most new business students and often inadequately understood by advanced students. The Student Guide to the Case Method introduces students to the case method and, in discrete notes, walks them through the tasks that are typically involved in case assignments: analyzing a case, discussing cases in class, writing case reports and giving presentations (individually and in groups), and writing case exams. A final note introduces students to the most common business tools used for case analysis. This guide is best used as a complete package to orient students to the case method, but each note also stands on its own and can be used to supplement other course materials.

This student guide is suitable for use in any undergraduate, graduate, or executive program using the case method. The guide<ul><li>orients students to the case method;</li><li>builds their confidence in using cases and performing case analyses;</li><li>provides students with reliable structures and tips for writing effective reports, giving engaging presentations, and writing successful exams; and</li><li>introduces students to basic business tools and their use in case analysis.</li></ul>