Unravelling the transformational power of the case study method in advanced management education: learning from the Harvard Business School model

Abstract

In this paper, the Harvard Business School (HBS) model is used as the platform to unravel the drivers that would render the case study method (CSM) a powerful learning tool in advanced management education. The analysis is based on interpretative investigation using primary data by means of semi-structured interviews with MBA and faculty members of HBS. It is posited that two sine-qua-non conditions are warranted to activate the CSM transformational power: 1) a carefully designed process that conditions students for pre-class learning and in-class participation; 2) a distinctive instructional delivery style in the classroom that elevate the intellectual inquisitiveness and emotional interaction of the participants to new heights. In the absence of a systematic planning process and a superior execution strategy, the CSM would be devoid of its core substance and, as such, would be nothing more than a futile exercise of limited utility to those who experiment with it.