2/13/2016Copyright © 2015 Robert D. Austin.1 Writing Cases Robert D. Austin.

05/04/23 Copyright © 2015 Robert D. Austin. 1

Writing Cases

Robert D. Austin

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The Case Method Challenges and Refines Personal Theories

ExperiencesPersonal Theories

Predictions about Consequences(DEDUCTION)

Revision of TheoriesCreation of New Theories(INDUCTION)

What a case does not include…

• Analysis of the problem it describes• Conclusions that provide an “answer” for the problem it presents• If it does include analysis or conclusions, they might be

conflicting ones presented by different parties; you evaluate • The Teaching Note includes recommended analysis, learning

objectives, conclusions, a plan for leading students through discussion

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A Teaching Note

• Case Synopsis and Case Issues• Suggested Background Reading• Case Purpose and Learning Objectives• Assignment Questions

• Questions you ask students to consider while reading the case• Analysis

• Any detailed analyses or theoretical content you intend the case to lead to in discussion; also, material you want to provide as background to make instructors more comfortable teaching the case

• Teaching Suggestions• An actual plan for teaching, mapped out in roughly timed segments• Suggested orchestration for a journey of discovery (you are the tour guide)

• Board Plan • What the boards will look like at class end

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Organization Options for Teaching Plans

• Sequential: Set up (context), walk through list of issues, wrap ups and takeaways • Hierarchical: Start with big, central question, realize can’t answer that yet; what

little questions must we confront to get an answer to big question? Work through these, then return to big question

• Reverse hierarchical: Start with a small question, get a range of ideas out, step back to bigger issues that must be answered before the smaller issues can be guided sufficiently

• A, B, C: Start with A case, get students to take positions; add info with B, C, etc. handed out in class; see if students change positions

• Almost any path that works through main issues in a way that flows in your mind can work

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2/13/2016Copyright © 2015 Robert D. Austin.1 Writing Cases Robert D. Austin.

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