Case Studies

A business case study is a narrative describing a problem, challenge, or opportunity in an organization that can be used to illustrate broader issues and generate discussion. For nearly a century, case studies have been a vital learning tool in business schools around the world and central to how many MBA (master of business administration) programs prepare managers to analyze and take action on real-world business situations. Moreover, corporate reputation research has advanced based on numerous case studies in the field. Case studies can help students develop the intellectual and analytic skills to solve problems that they have not yet encountered. This entry covers the characteristics of a business case, a description of the different types of cases, and the steps in the case-writing process.