Objectives of the Case Study Method

The case study serves two purposes:

Firstly, the students or trainee executives have to face similar cases in future life as executives. The case will tell them how incidents lake place, how there may be deep causes underlying the apparent expressions of happiness, distress or unconcerned altitudes and what can be done, as well as when and how to rectify the situation.

Secondly, the case study provides lest material where the student can apply the principles he has studied so far, and test their validity. It gives confidence to the student, which will be of vital importance to him as an executive.

The habit of logical thinking and conceptualization can be developed through a systematic study of cases. Analysis of cases enables arguing view points with peers and this again develops good communicative skills. The case study method of learning helps in developing skills on alternatives and decision-making. Case studies develop ‘creative’ problem solving techniques.

Special skills are required to inquire into what has happened or what people really want. The issue is frequently not clear. People within the organization, including the top management, very often do not know what they want. Their needs are obscure and need to be defined. The case contains too much information, which is to be analysed. Where human beings are concerned, symptoms cannot be easily separated from causes.

It is always necessary to take into consideration that decision should be made in the light of an objective analysis of the facts. Personnel problems cannot be solved in a clear-cut manner. Situations involving people can rarely be seen in black-and-white terms. While solving personnel problems adopt an analytical approach to decision making.

According to Geofftaston the following six major skills areas are developed through case studies.

– Analytical skills: One learns to classify, organize, and evaluate the information handled. Using this information one attempts to understand the situation described. This is, however, fraught with the danger of not thinking logically when the information is taxing.

– Application skills: This is useful at a lower level where concepts and principles, are applied, e.g., discounted cash flow.

– Creative skills: When cases cannot be-solved by logical process alone creativity is a vital quality for a manager and is more useful in decision-making.

– Communicative skills: By writing well-constructed reports, analysis and by discussions, both written and„ oral communicative skills are developed.

– Social skills: Case discussions are essentially a social process. One learns to communicate, listen, support, argue, control oneself, etc. In fact, there is a belief that case courses are more a study of human behaviour than problem solving.

– Self-analysis skills: A case is always useful in application of the situation to oneself and one can analyse the situation with reference to oneself. Thus, it helps in self-improvement.

<== попередня сторінка	\|	наступна сторінка ==>
Types of Case Studies	\|	Guide to Case Analysis

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