The Value of Case Discussion Method In Management Learning

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The value of case discussion method in management learning – musings of a first year student

23 Aug 2021
- admin
The Indian education system keeps one glued on to the traditional learning methods through classroom lectures and book learning. This is what is ingrained into the Indian student right from day one. Textbooks and references impart and fulfil the objective of concept learning and definitions. However, when you get down to the basics in applying these in real life situations, one is found wanting.

I completed my graduation in Computer Science from a tier –II engineering college a few years back. With my hard work and good luck, I managed to land up with a job in XOXOXO, one of the big four tech companies in India. No mean achievement, it had seemed at that moment. However, to my chagrin, I was rudely jolted from my swagger as I realized that there was a huge divide in what was expected on the job and what I had thought it would be like. Undoubtedly, my concepts were in place, but the on-the-job expectation was something else. I went through thorough situational learning as my employer took us through several months of training and guidance to apply the ‘concepts’ in dynamic, real-life situations. The chasm had to be bridged to make us ready for the challenges thrown in real life problems and assignments. The skills required to do the job were clearly deficient since our education relied on curricula that bordered on being theoretical than practical.

Stepping away from this role in a well recognized company and deciding to pursue an MBA was a major decision for me. And then came the research to choose a b school that would give me the best return in terms of imparting the right skills required to succeed in the corporate world. I needed to choose an MBA course that was best for me, along with a b school that would provide me with the right platform and stoke my intellect and curiosity. This search led me to SOIL Institute of Management and that is when I learnt that SOIL followed the Harvard Case method and had one of the most unique curricula and pedagogy for a b school.

Coming into the SOIL PGPM Program, in the initial months, we were taken through The Case Method OR SOIL’s hybrid model of learning – one that was based on case discussion. The classroom learning was imparted based on principles and theories of MBA, while the application of these were through discussions on situations encountered in the corporate world. This helped us to explore and apply the concepts to dynamic situations and come up with plausible solutions. This dynamic role play was interactive and the professor acted more as a guide rather than a teacher.

How does case discussion method work?

As we went through the basics of the MBA course content, we were divided into small groups. Each group was given a separate case with specific challenges. We were then asked to spend time discussing the case threadbare, analyzing the issues and coming up with decisions/ suggestions to tackle them. The final part was to make a presentation along with a suggested course of action in a classroom setting.

Key Takeaways

The process of case based learning involved us to bridge content knowledge with the issues in the case and view them from various perspectives. This was a clear shift from rote based classroom and book learning into a better understanding of concepts, improved problem-solving skills and interactive learning through peers. In a nutshell, the key takeaways of this unique model of learning were:
- We were able to take our learning to a higher level through greater engagement with concepts.
- This helped us to apply the concepts across functional areas thereby leading to a deeper understanding.
- Inculcated teamwork and teambuilding through regular interaction with peers.
- Enabled us to apply theory to specific problems and make better sense of corporate strategy & decision making.
- Improved communication skills developed through presentations and interactions.
- Improved critical thinking and deductive skills through reading of business problem sets and analysis of scenarios.
Conclusion

At SOIL Institute of Management, the education model evolves rapidly as corporations look for graduates with practical knowledge rather than theoretical knowledge. There is no linearity in the business world and success is dependent on a mix of a hands-on approach along with the right knowledge.

Case discussions at the SOIL replicate situations that managers have encountered over the past. Pioneered by Harvard, learning through case discussion and contemplative pedagogy has given me insights that I am excited to be taking forward in my career.

Today, when I reflect on the seemingly difficult (at that time) sessions, I realise the importance of practical knowledge relevant to business management.

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