Rethinking The Use of Case Studies To Prepare Effective Managers

Abstract: This activity/exercise session focuses upon the continuing need for business schools to develop innovative teaching tools that facilitate experiential learning of sound management theories and effective management practices. We will note some of the strengths and weaknesses of the traditional case study method of teaching. We will describe how different teaching tools fall on a continuum from theoretical to experiential learning, and we will focus upon how to develop and use living case studies in collaboration with situated learning opportunities in the community within a wide variety of management courses to increase students’ experiential learning.