How the HBS case method works?

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.

How do you teach a case to Harvard?

How the Case Method Works

1. Read and analyze the case. Each case is a 10-20 page document written from the viewpoint of a real person leading a real organization.
2. Discuss the case.
3. Engage in class.
4. Reflect.

What is Harvard style teaching?

The case method evolved from the casebook method, a mode of teaching based on Socratic principles pioneered at Harvard Law School by Christopher C. Langdell. Like the casebook method the case method calls upon students to take on the role of an actual person faced with a difficult problem.

How do you teach the case method?

What are some ways to use the case method appropriately?

1. Choose an appropriate case. Cases can be any of the following (Indiana University Teaching Handbook, 2005):
2. Develop effective questions.
3. Get students prepared.
4. Set ground rules with your students.
5. Other suggestions.

How does the HBS Case Study method work?

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.

Is there a case method at Harvard Business School?

If you are interested in a broader look at teaching at the Harvard Business School, Inside the HBS Case Method brings together both faculty and student experiences and showcases our approach to participant-centered learning. An edited video from Professor Garvin’s R. R. Donnelley & Sons case class.

How is the case method used in teaching?

Chris Christensen described case method teaching as “the art of managing uncertainty”—a process in which the instructor serves as “planner, host, moderator, devil’s advocate, fellow-student, and judge,” all in search of solutions to real-world problems and challenges. Unlike lectures, case method classes unfold without a detailed script.

How many cases are written per year by HBS faculty?

Over 80 percent of cases sold throughout the world are written by HBS faculty, who produce approximately 350 new cases per year. Simply put, we believe the case method is the best way to prepare students for the challenges of leadership.