Campus Courses

Introduced by the Harvard Business School in 1910, the case study method has been gaining long-lasting popularity in management classrooms worldwide. As “a snapshot of reality”, the case study method provides real-life experience to the students, and therefore can motivate students to apply what they have previously learned to actual managerial problems. Also, the case study classroom can free students from traditional teacher-led lectures and allow them to discuss and exchange insights with their peers. Such a method increases their class involvement and participation. It often happens that the sharing of ideas inspires new and thoughtful solutions to the problems presented by a case.

In a case study class, students are encouraged to discuss the case and share their understandings within their groups and eventually with the whole class. Therefore, it is important that they come to the class well-prepared. Case instructors can divide the class into small study groups and distribute the case reading material a few weeks ahead of time. This allows students to have enough time to familiarize themselves with the company, the circumstances and the challenges. Once the class begins, a case instructor can steer the discussion and oversee the class by the provided teaching notes. Instructors can utilize dynamic class activities such as role-playing or inviting company representatives from the case to actively involve the students. After the discussion, students can exchange their ideas with classmates. For a case study, there is no right or wrong answer. The evaluation of the effectiveness of a case study class is based on students’ participation, contribution, and the quality of their answers.

Our cases serve as teaching material in EMBA and further education classes of leading universities and Universities of Applied Sciences in Switzerland and China.  The immersive experience of the case study method has successfully engaged students’ active participation.

Our published cases are available on the website of sage businesscases as well as the case center. Class instructors can purchase and download our newest business cases focusing on China and Swiss business relations from these websites. We also provide comprehensive teaching notes to facilitate the teaching procedures.