‘Ripped from the Headlines:’ Re-imagining Case Study Methodology to Increase Student Engagement and Target Soft Skills

Case studies have been used effectively for almost a century, however the practice has been criticized recently for failing to accurately simulate not only organizational reality, but also for not effectively assisting students in skill development. This session is designed to reinvigorate the case study by using current event scenarios that are ‘ripped from the headlines.’ The use of very current events, in conjunction with the traditional case study process, not only engages students more directly in the reality and immediacy of the organizational issue, but it also enables students to think creatively as well as critically as they seek to determine solutions and make recommendations to problems that have no known resolution.