harvard case study class

What is the Case Study Method?

Overview Dropdown up

Overview dropdown down, celebrating 100 years of the case method at hbs.

The 2021-2022 academic year marks the 100-year anniversary of the introduction of the case method at Harvard Business School. Today, the HBS case method is employed in the HBS MBA program, in Executive Education programs, and in dozens of other business schools around the world. As Dean Srikant Datar's says, the case method has withstood the test of time.

Case Discussion Preparation Details Expand All Collapse All

In self-reflection in self-reflection dropdown down, in a small group setting in a small group setting dropdown down, in the classroom in the classroom dropdown down, beyond the classroom beyond the classroom dropdown down, how the case method creates value dropdown up, how the case method creates value dropdown down, in self-reflection, in a small group setting, in the classroom, beyond the classroom.

How Cases Unfold In the Classroom

How cases unfold in the classroom dropdown up, how cases unfold in the classroom dropdown down, preparation guidelines expand all collapse all, read the professor's assignment or discussion questions read the professor's assignment or discussion questions dropdown down, read the first few paragraphs and then skim the case read the first few paragraphs and then skim the case dropdown down, reread the case, underline text, and make margin notes reread the case, underline text, and make margin notes dropdown down, note the key problems on a pad of paper and go through the case again note the key problems on a pad of paper and go through the case again dropdown down, how to prepare for case discussions dropdown up, how to prepare for case discussions dropdown down, read the professor's assignment or discussion questions, read the first few paragraphs and then skim the case, reread the case, underline text, and make margin notes, note the key problems on a pad of paper and go through the case again, case study best practices expand all collapse all, prepare prepare dropdown down, discuss discuss dropdown down, participate participate dropdown down, relate relate dropdown down, apply apply dropdown down, note note dropdown down, understand understand dropdown down, case study best practices dropdown up, case study best practices dropdown down, participate, what can i expect on the first day dropdown down.

Most programs begin with registration, followed by an opening session and a dinner. If your travel plans necessitate late arrival, please be sure to notify us so that alternate registration arrangements can be made for you. Please note the following about registration:

HBS campus programs – Registration takes place in the Chao Center.

India programs – Registration takes place outside the classroom.

Other off-campus programs – Registration takes place in the designated facility.

What happens in class if nobody talks? Dropdown down

Professors are here to push everyone to learn, but not to embarrass anyone. If the class is quiet, they'll often ask a participant with experience in the industry in which the case is set to speak first. This is done well in advance so that person can come to class prepared to share. Trust the process. The more open you are, the more willing you’ll be to engage, and the more alive the classroom will become.

Does everyone take part in "role-playing"? Dropdown down

Professors often encourage participants to take opposing sides and then debate the issues, often taking the perspective of the case protagonists or key decision makers in the case.

View Frequently Asked Questions

Subscribe to Our Emails

• Business Essentials
• Leadership & Management
• Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB)
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation
• Digital Transformation
• Finance & Accounting
• Business in Society
• For Organizations
• Support Portal
• Media Coverage
• Founding Donors
• Leadership Team

• Harvard Business School →
• HBS Online →
• Business Insights →

Business Insights

Harvard Business School Online's Business Insights Blog provides the career insights you need to achieve your goals and gain confidence in your business skills.

• Career Development
• Communication
• Decision-Making
• Earning Your MBA
• Negotiation
• News & Events
• Productivity
• Staff Spotlight
• Student Profiles
• Work-Life Balance
• AI Essentials for Business
• Alternative Investments
• Business Analytics
• Business Strategy
• Business and Climate Change
• Design Thinking and Innovation
• Digital Marketing Strategy
• Disruptive Strategy
• Economics for Managers
• Entrepreneurship Essentials
• Financial Accounting
• Global Business
• Launching Tech Ventures
• Leadership Principles
• Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability
• Leading Change and Organizational Renewal
• Leading with Finance
• Management Essentials
• Negotiation Mastery
• Organizational Leadership
• Power and Influence for Positive Impact
• Strategy Execution
• Sustainable Business Strategy
• Sustainable Investing
• Winning with Digital Platforms

5 Benefits of Learning Through the Case Study Method

• 28 Nov 2023

While several factors make HBS Online unique —including a global Community and real-world outcomes —active learning through the case study method rises to the top.

In a 2023 City Square Associates survey, 74 percent of HBS Online learners who also took a course from another provider said HBS Online’s case method and real-world examples were better by comparison.

Here’s a primer on the case method, five benefits you could gain, and how to experience it for yourself.

Access your free e-book today.

What Is the Harvard Business School Case Study Method?

The case study method , or case method , is a learning technique in which you’re presented with a real-world business challenge and asked how you’d solve it. After working through it yourself and with peers, you’re told how the scenario played out.

HBS pioneered the case method in 1922. Shortly before, in 1921, the first case was written.

“How do you go into an ambiguous situation and get to the bottom of it?” says HBS Professor Jan Rivkin, former senior associate dean and chair of HBS's master of business administration (MBA) program, in a video about the case method . “That skill—the skill of figuring out a course of inquiry to choose a course of action—that skill is as relevant today as it was in 1921.”

Originally developed for the in-person MBA classroom, HBS Online adapted the case method into an engaging, interactive online learning experience in 2014.

In HBS Online courses , you learn about each case from the business professional who experienced it. After reviewing their videos, you’re prompted to take their perspective and explain how you’d handle their situation.

You then get to read peers’ responses, “star” them, and comment to further the discussion. Afterward, you learn how the professional handled it and their key takeaways.

HBS Online’s adaptation of the case method incorporates the famed HBS “cold call,” in which you’re called on at random to make a decision without time to prepare.

“Learning came to life!” said Sheneka Balogun , chief administration officer and chief of staff at LeMoyne-Owen College, of her experience taking the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program . “The videos from the professors, the interactive cold calls where you were randomly selected to participate, and the case studies that enhanced and often captured the essence of objectives and learning goals were all embedded in each module. This made learning fun, engaging, and student-friendly.”

If you’re considering taking a course that leverages the case study method, here are five benefits you could experience.

5 Benefits of Learning Through Case Studies

1. take new perspectives.

The case method prompts you to consider a scenario from another person’s perspective. To work through the situation and come up with a solution, you must consider their circumstances, limitations, risk tolerance, stakeholders, resources, and potential consequences to assess how to respond.

Taking on new perspectives not only can help you navigate your own challenges but also others’. Putting yourself in someone else’s situation to understand their motivations and needs can go a long way when collaborating with stakeholders.

2. Hone Your Decision-Making Skills

Another skill you can build is the ability to make decisions effectively . The case study method forces you to use limited information to decide how to handle a problem—just like in the real world.

Throughout your career, you’ll need to make difficult decisions with incomplete or imperfect information—and sometimes, you won’t feel qualified to do so. Learning through the case method allows you to practice this skill in a low-stakes environment. When facing a real challenge, you’ll be better prepared to think quickly, collaborate with others, and present and defend your solution.

3. Become More Open-Minded

As you collaborate with peers on responses, it becomes clear that not everyone solves problems the same way. Exposing yourself to various approaches and perspectives can help you become a more open-minded professional.

When you’re part of a diverse group of learners from around the world, your experiences, cultures, and backgrounds contribute to a range of opinions on each case.

On the HBS Online course platform, you’re prompted to view and comment on others’ responses, and discussion is encouraged. This practice of considering others’ perspectives can make you more receptive in your career.

“You’d be surprised at how much you can learn from your peers,” said Ratnaditya Jonnalagadda , a software engineer who took CORe.

In addition to interacting with peers in the course platform, Jonnalagadda was part of the HBS Online Community , where he networked with other professionals and continued discussions sparked by course content.

“You get to understand your peers better, and students share examples of businesses implementing a concept from a module you just learned,” Jonnalagadda said. “It’s a very good way to cement the concepts in one's mind.”

4. Enhance Your Curiosity

One byproduct of taking on different perspectives is that it enables you to picture yourself in various roles, industries, and business functions.

“Each case offers an opportunity for students to see what resonates with them, what excites them, what bores them, which role they could imagine inhabiting in their careers,” says former HBS Dean Nitin Nohria in the Harvard Business Review . “Cases stimulate curiosity about the range of opportunities in the world and the many ways that students can make a difference as leaders.”

Through the case method, you can “try on” roles you may not have considered and feel more prepared to change or advance your career .

5. Build Your Self-Confidence

Finally, learning through the case study method can build your confidence. Each time you assume a business leader’s perspective, aim to solve a new challenge, and express and defend your opinions and decisions to peers, you prepare to do the same in your career.

According to a 2022 City Square Associates survey , 84 percent of HBS Online learners report feeling more confident making business decisions after taking a course.

“Self-confidence is difficult to teach or coach, but the case study method seems to instill it in people,” Nohria says in the Harvard Business Review . “There may well be other ways of learning these meta-skills, such as the repeated experience gained through practice or guidance from a gifted coach. However, under the direction of a masterful teacher, the case method can engage students and help them develop powerful meta-skills like no other form of teaching.”

How to Experience the Case Study Method

If the case method seems like a good fit for your learning style, experience it for yourself by taking an HBS Online course. Offerings span seven subject areas, including:

• Business essentials
• Leadership and management
• Entrepreneurship and innovation
• Finance and accounting
• Business in society

No matter which course or credential program you choose, you’ll examine case studies from real business professionals, work through their challenges alongside peers, and gain valuable insights to apply to your career.

Are you interested in discovering how HBS Online can help advance your career? Explore our course catalog and download our free guide —complete with interactive workbook sections—to determine if online learning is right for you and which course to take.

About the Author

• --> Login or Sign Up

The Case Study Teaching Method

It is easy to get confused between the case study method and the case method , particularly as it applies to legal education. The case method in legal education was invented by Christopher Columbus Langdell, Dean of Harvard Law School from 1870 to 1895. Langdell conceived of a way to systematize and simplify legal education by focusing on previous case law that furthered principles or doctrines. To that end, Langdell wrote the first casebook, entitled A Selection of Cases on the Law of Contracts , a collection of settled cases that would illuminate the current state of contract law. Students read the cases and came prepared to analyze them during Socratic question-and-answer sessions in class.

The Harvard Business School case study approach grew out of the Langdellian method. But instead of using established case law, business professors chose real-life examples from the business world to highlight and analyze business principles. HBS-style case studies typically consist of a short narrative (less than 25 pages), told from the point of view of a manager or business leader embroiled in a dilemma. Case studies provide readers with an overview of the main issue; background on the institution, industry, and individuals involved; and the events that led to the problem or decision at hand. Cases are based on interviews or public sources; sometimes, case studies are disguised versions of actual events or composites based on the faculty authors’ experience and knowledge of the subject. Cases are used to illustrate a particular set of learning objectives; as in real life, rarely are there precise answers to the dilemma at hand.

Our suite of free materials offers a great introduction to the case study method. We also offer review copies of our products free of charge to educators and staff at degree-granting institutions.

For more information on the case study teaching method, see:

• Martha Minow and Todd Rakoff: A Case for Another Case Method
• HLS Case Studies Blog: Legal Education’s 9 Big Ideas
• Teaching Units: Problem Solving , Advanced Problem Solving , Skills , Decision Making and Leadership , Professional Development for Law Firms , Professional Development for In-House Counsel
• Educator Community: Tips for Teachers

Watch this informative video about the Problem-Solving Workshop:

<< Previous: About Harvard Law School Case Studies | Next: Downloading Case Studies >>

Case collection: Harvard Business Publishing

About Harvard Business Publishing

Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Harvard Business Publishing (HBP) is the leading provider of teaching materials for management education.

HBP was founded in 1994 as a not-for-profit, wholly-owned subsidiary of Harvard University, reporting into Harvard Business School. HBP's mission is to improve the practice of management in a changing world. This mission influences how they approach what they do and what they believe is important.

With approximately 450 employees, primarily based in Boston, with offices in New York City, India, Singapore, Qatar and the United Kingdom, HBP serves as a bridge between academia and enterprises around the globe through its publications and multiple platforms for content delivery, and its reach into three markets: academic, corporate, and individual managers. HBP has a conventional governance structure comprising a  Board of Directors , an internal  Executive Committee , and Business Unit Directors.

About the collection

The Case Centre distributes a comprehensive range of materials including the complete collection of more than 7,500 Harvard Business School case studies, teaching notes, background notes, case videos, and a selection of software ancillaries.

Also included are:

• Brief Cases that are rigorous and compact with five-eight pages and three-four exhibits
• case studies that are popular for undergraduate-level courses
• executive education cases that provide rich yet efficient learning for managers at every level.

Additional top quality HBP teaching materials available from The Case Centre include:

• articles from the  Harvard Business Review  and other top management journals
• case method books from the Harvard Business School Press
• over 2,000  individual chapters  from popular Harvard Business School Press books
• newsletter articles  from Harvard Management Update, Strategy & Innovation, Negotiation, and Balanced Scorecard Report
• Core Curriculum Readings  that cover the foundational concepts, theories, and frameworks that business students must learn. Authored by faculty at Harvard Business School, each Reading includes a teaching note, related course materials, and exhibit slides. Many include test banks, practice questions, video clips, and Interactive Illustrations to enhance student comprehension of specific topics.

HBP also offer a number of free cases.  Browse here

Collection contact

For any queries related to the Harvard Business Publishing collection, please visit:

Travis Stewart e [email protected]

Browse the full collection Browse prize-winning cases

Available from the case centre.

The HBP collection of over 16,000 cases, and their accompanying instructor materials, software and videos, 7,000 management articles and 2,000 individual book chapters are available from The Case Centre.

See what's available

There are restrictions on the distribution of some items. To see any restrictions login to our site (or register if you've not already done so) and use our online search to find the item you're interested in. Any restrictions will be shown alongside the product.

Materials from Harvard Business Publishing are not available to customers at corporate organisations or at organisations in China.

www.hbsp.harvard.edu/educators

Top ten bestselling cases

Browse the top ten bestselling cases from Harvard Business Publishing in 2023.

Browse the full collection

View all case collections

Learning with cases can be a challenging experience.

Our interactive study guide takes students through the process, providing practical tips, tricks and tools.

Discover more

• Social Sciences

Joint Pain Relief Workout

The exercise demonstrations in our online course can help relieve ankle, knee, hip, or shoulder pain, and help you become more active again. 

Negotiating Salary

Learn salary negotiation techniques with this free, 15-minute Harvard Business School (HBS) Online lesson taught by Mike Wheeler of Negotiation Mastery.

Resilient Leadership

Develop the skills to lead with courage and conviction through challenging times with this free, 35-minute Harvard Business School (HBS) Online lesson.

The Opioid Crisis in America

Learn about the opioid epidemic in the United States, including information about treatment and recovery from opioid addiction.

Case Studies in Functional Genomics

Perform RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq, and DNA methylation data analyses, using open source software, including R and Bioconductor.

Introduction to Bioconductor

The structure, annotation, normalization, and interpretation of genome scale assays.

Advanced Bioconductor

Learn advanced approaches to genomic visualization, reproducible analysis, data architecture, and exploration of cloud-scale consortium-generated genomic data.

High-Dimensional Data Analysis

A focus on several techniques that are widely used in the analysis of high-dimensional data.

Statistical Inference and Modeling for High-throughput Experiments

A focus on the techniques commonly used to perform statistical inference on high throughput data.

Introduction to Linear Models and Matrix Algebra

Learn to use R programming to apply linear models to analyze data in life sciences.

Statistics and R

An introduction to basic statistical concepts and R programming skills necessary for analyzing data in the life sciences.

Contract Law: From Trust to Promise to Contract

Contracts are a part of our everyday life, arising in collaboration, trust, promise and credit. How are contracts formed? What makes a contract enforceable? What happens when one party breaks a promise?

Electrochemistry

Learn the significance of electrochemistry, understanding how electrical, chemical, and mechanical energy are linked.

Energy to Electrochemistry Final Exam

Demonstrate your chemistry knowledge in the final exam.

Join our list to learn more

Current Trend of Water Hyacinth Expasion and Investigation of Possible Cause for Water Hyacinth Using Remote Sensing in the Case Study of Lake Tana, Ethiopia

• Yismaw, Alemshet Belayneh
• Workie, Wolelaw Shebabaw
• Alamirew, Dejen Gashaye
• Ayenew, Wondim Alemu

Lake Tana is facing a big problem with water hyacinth invasion since September 2011 of which it is worst for lakes in the world that invades vast area of lakes with in limited period of time if it does not control properly. Water hyacinth is an invasive and free-floating water plant that grows into large dense vegetable mats blocks transportation of boats and sun energy transmission into Lake Bottom. Since its official recognition, GPS have been used in order to delineate the infestation on the lake, but using GPS for infestation mapping is not time and cost effective, and note safe for data collectors. Considering this reason, this study focuses on mapping of water hyacinth infestation coverage area and analyzing its possible cause on Lake Tana by applying satellite imagery and nutrient level of it. In this document, Landsat 7ETM + and Landsat 8 images were used with the conversion of DN values to TOA reflectance, and TOA were used to evaluate different spectral indices like NDWI and NDVI. These indices with dynamic threshold increasing between class variance were used to map potential water hyacinth infestation area from 2011 to 2018, and NDWI used to discriminate Lake Tana from its surrounding background feature while NDVI was used to separate open water surface from aquatic vegetation coverage areas. In addition to these indices, thermal band of Landsat images were used to discriminate water hyacinth from other features. The accuracy of satellite image classification on this study was evaluated using error matrices and achieved with the best overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient (K). Total nitrogen concentration was increased from dry month to wet month and total phosphorus was increased from wet month to dry month and potential water hyacinth was greatly found where nutrient level was highly available. To reduce infestation rate of its special soil management practice applies to reduce nutrient has to implement. In addition, there has to be buffer zone for the lake and recessional agriculture has to be stopped.

• Dynamic Thresholding;
• Potential water hyacinth

• Harvard Business School →

Read posts from

• Author Alumni
• Author Career and Professional Development Staff
• Author HBS Community
• Author HBS Faculty
• Author MBA Admissions
• Author MBA Students
• 1st Year (RC)
• 2+2 Program
• 2nd Year (EC)
• Application Process
• Business & Environment
• Career Change
• Career and Professional Development
• Case Method
• Entrepreneurship
• Financial Aid
• Health Care
• Instagram Takeover
• Letters to Classmates
• MBA/MPP & MBA/MPA-ID
• MS/MBA Biotechnology: Life Sciences
• MS/MBA: Engineering Sciences
• Partners & Families
• Social Enterprise
• Student Life
• Student Loans
• Student Profile
• Sustainability
• Architecture
• Construction
• Consumer Packaged Goods
• Engineering
• Entertainment / Media
• Environment
• Family Business
• Health Care / BioTech
• Manufacturing
• Private Equity
• Real Estate
• Venture Capital
• Diverse Perspectives
• International
• Socioeconomic Inclusion

Geographies

• Middle East and North Africa
• South America
• United States

• 15 Aug 2016

Writing a Case as a Student at HBS

There is a lot to get used to during your first semester atHBS – attending class, making new friends, finding an internship, and doing homework again. While reading and preparing cases for each class may seem daunting and time-consuming at first, it becomes second nature after a semester or two. By second year , many students decide to try their hand at writing a case themselves.

Why write a case with a professor?

In case you aren’t yet familiar with HBS cases, they are the 10-30 page packets upon which almost every class discussion is based. Cases can be and are written on many topics: a person, a company, a country, an event. They are written by HBS professors, research associates, and sometimes students.

For those who are nostalgic about undergraduate or masters’ thesis writing days, and are excited about being in an academic environment again, writing a case with a professor is a great way to do independent academic research. Depending on the topic, case writing allows you to conduct primary research and meet case protagonists .

Some students have leveraged such research to find new jobs or expand their professional networks. It is also a great way to leverage pre-HBS work experience (by writing a case on a company you’ve worked with) or learn something completely new. If you are looking to dig deep into a company or topic, writing a case is one of the best ways to do it. 

Additionally, case writing is a way to form a close relationship with a professor of your choice - they become your case advisor and mentor. It also affords you a unique “inside look” into the workings of HBS and the process by which our learning curriculum is built. Being associated with a published HBS document isn’t too bad either.

How does it work?

If writing a case is something that interests you, it is very easy to get started.

1) Choose a topic of interest or a professor you are hoping to get to know better. If you choose a topic first, find a professor that either you know and like or that is particularly knowledgeable on or interested in the topic. As you will soon see, pretty much any topic goes!

2) Determine how you want to fit the case writing into your schedule. Options include replacing a class your second year with an independent project, or treating case writing like an extracurricular activity in addition to your regular class load.

3) Meet with the professor you choose; most professors are happy to have case writing help! If you chose a professor before a topic, you will want to discuss potential topics with him or her during these first meetings.

4) Get researching! Some professors provide more guidance than others. Either way, this is your project so take initiative and make the most of it.

My personal experience

During the first semester of my EC (second) year, I continued to work part-time at the company with which I interned over the summer. Once that commitment ended at year-end, I was looking for an interesting extracurricular for my last semester.

I approached a few professors in the BGIE (Business, Government, and the International Economy) department whose classes I loved. I told them I was interested in writing about either Israel or the former Soviet Eastern Europe and asked whether either of these topics would be interesting to them as well.

Luckily, one of my favorite professors was interested in writing about Eastern Europe and we immediately got started. I chose to write a case in addition to taking five classes, which I found very manageable. Students can also get credit for case writing by doing it as an independent project. As the semester wore on, I started helping with another case about a small company started by an HBS graduate in Nigeria. I ended up learning more than I had even expected and developed a closer relationship with a great professor in the process.

However you decide to structure your future HBS case writing, one thing is guaranteed: you will get to know interesting people and become more knowledgeable about a topic of your interest. I can’t think of a better way to have spent some time during my last stint in the academic world.

You Might Want to Read

• The EC Formula: MBA Class of 2024 Looks Back
• Video: MBA Moms Celebrate Mother’s Day
• From Harvard to Miss New Jersey: A Journey of Perseverance and Self-Belief

Admissions Events

Check out our upcoming webinars, prospective student days, and information sessions on campus and around the world.

→ – View Events

Recorded Virtual Events

Curious about HBS? We have prospective student virtual events, available by geography, industry and interest.

→ – Recorded Virtual Events