Two months ago, I wrote an article on the beginning of my journey at the Namibia Business School. As I delved deeper into my studies, one skill I am the happiest to have developed is the analysis of business case studies.
Beyond the assignments given in class, I began exploring a selection of popular case studies on my own and simply fell in love with the practice. Subscribe to my newsletter, where I occasionally share my reflections on them.
Four days ago, an Instagram post by Harvard Business School (@harvardhbs) caught my attention, leaving me astounded. It featured an interview where the MBA Class of 2023 revealed that they had read about five hundred case studies over their two-year program!
Wait, what? Did you realize that's at least one case study every two days?
This inspired me to read further about Harvard's approach, and I'm thrilled to share my findings below.
Harvard's Case Method
The Harvard Case Method is a superstar among teaching approaches used at Harvard Business School (HBS) and other top business schools worldwide. Introduced in 1921, it has become a cornerstone of HBS's pedagogy, renowned for its ability to nourish critical thinking, decision-making skills, and real-world business acumen.
From an analytical standpoint, case studies hold immense value. They empower students to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and real-life scenarios. Moreover, they offer business professionals the opportunity to learn from the strategies and solutions employed by companies tackling diverse business challenges.
Classroom sessions are centered around case discussions, often facilitated by the Professors, where students are expected to meticulously analyze each case, explore multiple perspectives, and propose well-supported solutions. Rather than seeking consensus between participants, the focus is on developing a deep understanding of the nuances, uncertainties, and trade-offs inherent in business decision-making.
Oh, and forget snoozefest lectures. The case discussions appear to be vibrant and interactive, with students actively participating in the analysis and engaging in lively debates.
What Are They Teaching?
In an enlightening article by Nitin Nohria in the Harvard Business Review, he shared that the various conversations with Harvard alumni over his decade as dean revealed a prominent trend: case studies played a pivotal role in shaping what their perceived to be their most important qualities and skills.
Natin shared, “Cases teach students how to apply theory in practice and how to induce theory from practice. The case method cultivates the capacity for critical analysis, judgment, decision-making, and action.”
What Can We Learn?
In the article, Nitin Nohria concludes that the biggest value of the Case Method is in the development of meta-skills: a collection of essential abilities that empower individuals to learn and adapt to new things quicker.
While the experience of studying case studies on your own may differ from a live class at HBS, the beauty of case studies lies in their universal applicability and therefore, we can all build those skills over time.
Ready to start? Here's a list of my all-time favourite case studies.
Reference(s):
Harvard Business School. (2021, January 21). The HBS Case Method Defined [Video]. YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=h80hmEAGBbM
Harvard Business School. (n.d.). What is the Case Study Method? Retrieved from www.exed.hbs.edu/hbs-experience/learning-experience/case-study-method
Harvard Business Review. (2021, December 21). What the Case Study Method Really Teaches Retrieved from www.hbr.org/2021/12/what-the-case-study-method-really-teaches
Lectera. (2023, March 21). What are meta-skills, and what is their purpose? Retrieved from www.lectera.com/magazine/articles/what-are-meta-skills-and-what-is-their-purpose