Introductory business OR cases: successful use of cases in introductory undergraduate business college operational research courses

Abstract

A case methodology for developing the modelling skills of students in introductory operational research courses taught in undergraduate business programmes is presented. Motivated by a desire to develop such skills in students when the primary objective of such courses was to expose these students to various solution techniques, the approach takes on greater relevance now that many instructors of such courses have shifted their focus to the development of modelling skills. Example case scenarios that have been used by the author in the classroom are presented, and a comparison of the results achieved by the author after implementation of the case methodology is made with those achieved by the author prior to implementation.