case method introduction for arabic regionals

Business Administration Department, Al Hosn University

Middle-East (Arabic) Regionals:

Case Method Teaching and Writings

Dr. Kim, Song-Kyoo (Amang)

Associate Professor / TRIZ Professional

Business Administration Department

AL HOSN UNIVERSITY

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

2/92Business Administration Department, Al Hosn University

Agenda

Session 1: Case Method Teaching

Case method

Case method teaching

Various case materials

Session 2: Case Writing and Research

Case writings

Case research

Case research practice

Overall Summary


Session 1:

Case Method Teaching


Case Method (1/3)

Teaching approach that uses decision-forcing cases to put students in the role of people who were faced with difficult decisions at sometime in the past.

In sharp contrast to many other teaching methods, it requires that instructors refrain from providing their own opinions about the decisions in question.

The chief task of instructors who use the case method is asking students to devise and defend solutions to the problems at the heart of each case.


Case Method (2/3)

Case method schools:

Harvard:• Harvard Business School.

• John F. Kennedy School of Government.

University of Western Ontario:• Richard Ivey School of Business.

University of Virginia:• Darden School of Business.

Asian Institute of Management:• Washington Sycip Graduate School of Business.

• Stephen Zuellig Graduate School of Development Management.

Case method schools means the schools of which the teaching method is mainly case discussions.


Case Method (3/3)

Most of classes are based on the case discussions but it is combinations of other teaching methods:

Lectures;

Case discussions;

Simulations;

Group activities;

Advantages of case method:

Active learning for realistic situation.

Ability to build up the managerial skills.

Communication skill practice daily basis.


Case Method Teachings (1/6)

• Learning team

• Case preparations

Before the class

• Course design

• Case discussions

In the class

• Case materials (cases, readings)

• Case rooms and multi-purpose rooms

Supporting ecosystem



Learning team:

The learning team is assigned for class preparations, mostly preparing case discussion.

Usually, 4~7 persons for each team and running the study group for preparing the discussions.

Diverse and mixture.

Case preparation:

Case preparation is the core of the case teaching method.

Students learns during their discussion study.

Usually, it will take 4.5 hours of the preparation for 1.5 hoursclass (3 times more).



Typical case discussion scene (AIM)



Case discussion class:

The class starts with the proper questions and (mostly) ends with proper questions.

Instructor are NOT a lecturer. They are a facilitator.

But they should capable to handle unexpected situations.

Class participant is the critical for grading (around 20-40%).

Course design:

The course is the combination of all teaching methods.

The portion of case discussion sessions depends on the subject matters.

• Higher portions (60% or more): SM, MM, Leadership, HR

• Lower portions (40% ~60%) : OM, QA,



Sample course outline (Operations Management)



Case materials:

Case materials could be used various ways.

Most typically used for case discussions but it could be used for group activities and/or simulations.

Teaching note could be supported by case writer(s)

Some of cases are provided without teaching notes.

Sources of case materials:

External case banks (HBS, Ivey)

Internal case banks (AIM)

Case research journals:• Asian Journal of Management Cases (SCOPUS)

• Asian Case Research Journal (SCOPUS)

• International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies (Cabell)


Various Case Materials (1/3)

External case bank (http://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/):

Case research journals



Targeting the specific functional skills (Operations):

A-CAT Company (AHP)

Millennium Printing Process , TN (Process workflow)

Merton Truck (Linear Programming)

Targeting to understand markets and trends with open-ended discussions (Technology Management):

JenniferSoft

Startup Alliance

Targeting for group activities:

J.Co Donuts (Lean Service)

Beyond Clocky (Systematic Innovation)



Case method teaching is usually combined with other teaching method and class materials.

Teaching methods besides case discussion:

Lecturing, tutoring

Group activity

Simulation (Part 1, Part 2)

Other materials for class discussions:

News articles

Supplementary readings

Textbooks

Journal articles


Summary for Session 1

Case method is very practical teaching and learning methodology for building up the managerial skills, especially for MBA students.

Case method is one of pedagogical model for flipping classroom.

There are some weakness of the case method rather than lecturing.

Actual case method classroom is running with various teaching/learning methods even though case discussion has the main portions.

Group activities and simulations are getting more popular rather the traditional case discussion class.


Session 2:

Case Writings and Research


Case Writings (1/2)

Case study (research):

Published format (reports, journal articles) about a person, group, or situation of a real company (firm or organization) that has been studied over time.

Case studies could be produced by following a formal research method.

Case writings for the class discussion:

Case materials that are suitable for the case discussions.

Case materials could be easily transformed the case studies and vice versa.

For teaching purposes, the case writings could deal with artificial companies for the specific situations.


Case Writings (2/2)

Contexts of teaching cases:

Case: problems / Teaching note: recommendations.

Contexts for case research:

One story from problems and recommendations.

Must be based on real companies.

Cases,Teaching notes,Supplementary,

Teaching case

Journal articles(Regular, Case)

Case research


Structure for Case Writings

Case for teachings:

Introduction.

Market analysis.

Company background.

(Specific) problems of the company.

Teaching note:

Brief summary of the case.

Case synopsis.

Teaching objective.

Teaching plan with case analysis.

Teaching suggestion (class building block).


Case Research Process

General process of case research project:

• Target company and objectives

• Company agreement

• Questionnaire

Proposal

• Company visits

• Interview with key persons (CEO and managers)

• Literature review

Company study

• Provide the draft version for company clearance

Case writings (draft version)

Company clearance for using cases

• Teaching cases (teaching note)

• Journal articles

• Company report

Publish (in public or in private)


Case Research Practice (1/4)

Target disciplines:

Operations Management / Project Management

Entrepreneurship (SME) / Technology Management

New Product Development/ Supply Chain Management

Target company sets

Information Technology/ Software development

Startups

Classical factory

Regional Area (ASEAN and its dialogue countries)

Philippines

Korea

India



List of companies for case research projects:

Com2uS*: IT (mobile game) / TM, SM, NPD / Korea

Samhan C1*: Factory (bricks) / OM, FM / Korea

J.Co Donuts: Fast foods (donuts) / OM (Lean) / Philippines

Think & Learn: Service (e-learning) / TM, SME / India

Millennium Printing*: Service / OM, SM / Philippines

Dong-In Entech*: Factory (bags) / SCM, SM, IB / KR-PH

Jennifer Soft*: IT (SW) / SM, OM, TM, SME / KR

Startup Alliance*: IT / SM, SME, TM / KR

Mand.ro*: IT (3D Printer) / SME, TM / KR

B4 Manufacturing*: Factory (Car) / OM, SME / Philippines

*) Transformed into the case research journals



Innovations and Operations Lab. @ AIM

Operating the laboratory for case research.

Joint research with graduate students.



Selected Case Journals during 2012-2016:Kim, S.-K., “Com2uS Mobile Game Development”, Journal of Information Technology Case and Application Research 16:3-4 (2014), pp 155-167

Kim, S.-K., “The Capacity Decisions of Samhan C1 Brick Manufacturing”, International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies 6:1 (2015), pp 35-43.

Kim, S.-K., “Building Up the Startup Ecosystem in Korea”, International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies 6:2 (2015), pp 170-182.

Kim, S.-K. and Parmar, V., “Supply Value of Dong-In Entech in Philippines”, Asian Journal of Management Cases 12:2 (2015), pp 164-171.

Kim, S.-K., “Lean Initiative Practice for Supplier Developments in Philippines”, International Journal of Lean Six Sigma 6:4 (2015), pp 349-368.

Kim, S.-K., “Openly Innovative Entrepreneurship Practice: Cost-Effective 3D Printing Electronic Prosthetic Hand”, International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies 7:1 (2016), pp. 51-65.


Overall Summary

Case method teaching:

Case method teaching is not just another teaching method.

Case method could be the strong value proposition for the middle-east regional business school.

Running case discussion class might be hard for Arabic students but it could be the opportunity.

Case research:

Internal case research center (and/or case bank) could be established by the university for targeting Arabic regional business.

Developing the case research based on Arabic regional contexts could be the unique value proposition.

Both required for the full university supporting.


Dr. Amang (Song-Kyoo) Kim([email protected] or [email protected] )

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]