Merits of case-based learning in management education
Recruiters often complain that most B-School students may have great theoretical knowledge but are very weak in application and problem solving. To be a successful manager you need a sound understanding of the theory coupled with the knowhow on its applications, But, is this the way B-Schools of today impart education?
There are three ways management education is imparted across B-Schools. First is conceptual learning, which is followed by most B-Schools. This method provides only the theoretical aspects and exposes its short comings when it comes to application. The second is contextual learning. Many successful businessmen/managers who do not have formal management training talk about how they learnt the hard way and acquired the skills. However, this is more of an exception than the norm. The problem with this method is, once you are on the job you hardly get the time or motivation to read theoretical concepts. Thus, it's the third way, the case-based learning methodology - a combination of conceptual and contextual learning - that comes in handy. A ‘Case' is a written description of a problem situation in an organization.
Case-based learning provides a ‘Socratic' method of learning where the focus is on understanding the problem, its implications on the business, and the process of finding a solution. It helps students inculcate the thinking process of practical decision-making using conceptual knowledge in which the solution per se is less important, as in many such situations there is no universal right or wrong answer. The method is participant-centric wherein every student contributes. The faculty only channelizes the discussion, highlighting important points and asking probing questions. Also the ‘Case' is never bound by syllabus or functions of management. Issues related to Managerial Finance, Operations or HR crop up in a single ‘case' and would need to be addressed and discussed simultaneously. The power of this method lies in students getting practice in decision making in near-life situations. It helps in developing skills of analysis, logical arguments, learning from others' view point, creative ideas, tolerance for ambiguity, and decision making under imperfect information and so on. This method deserves its share of attention in training our management students to be industry ready.
Many universities conducting MBA programs have realized the importance of case based learning but are unable to implement it the way it should be. One reason could be difficulty in providing expert/industry experienced teachers across all institutes besides examination oriented assessment rather than a continuous evaluation required for the case based method.
Although, by far the best method to learn management subjects, it is used by very few ivy business schools, among them being Harvard Business School (who developed this methodology), many Business schools in US and IIMs. The MIT School of Business, Pune, switched over to the ‘case-based methodology' in 2005. To be successful, this methodology demands focus on knowledge gathering rather than on final examination marks and needs faculty with sound experience who can relate theory to practice through continuous updating and keeping oneself abreast with current developments. In this methodology, student assessment is far more process oriented and continuous as the learning is internalized and not expressed in written or oral reproduction of memorized information.
This article is authored by Professor (Group Captain) D.P. Apte. He is director, MIT School of Business, Pune.
