Case Leading Strategies: Review of Current Practices

1. International Conference on Case Writing 2009: The Dynamic Of Case StudyOrganized by:Case Writers’ Association of Malaysia (CWAM) Case Leading Strategies: Review of Current Practices Muhamad Muda Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia 3-4 November 2009 Cititel, Kuala Lumpur

2. Introduction • Case studies have been recognized as one of the most effective method of learning and teaching. Due to its effectiveness, many well known educational institutions, particularly that deals with adult and executive education, have adopted the case study method as the main method for learning purposes. • However, many students who are subjected to the method often respond negatively to the use of case study in their classes. There are a number of reasons for this. Among the reasons are: the cases are too long; there are too many issues in the case and the lecturer did not give a hint as to what to discuss; not sure how to proceed with case studies; insufficient time to prepare the case and others. • On the other hand, the lecturers also felt the case method is more difficult to handle as oppose to straight lecture; its time consuming; not sure how to proceed with case studies; have no idea how to assess students performance in case studies; how to actually conduct a case study session; the method could not reflect the lecturers’ ability and knowledge in the subject matter, and hence poor rating among the students. Case Leading Strategies: CWAM Conference 2009

3. Objective of Paper • Because of these, many lecturers and students prefer straight lecture. However, since straight lecture emphasis knowledge impartment (in contrast to skill and attitude), this may lead to mismatching between learning objective (LO) to the teaching learning methods applied. • In this paper, the issues regarding the use of case studies, or more specifically case leading strategies are discussed. In particular, it compares the various approaches and discuss its effectiveness and suitability. • At the end it concludes that the strategies used will depend on the context in which the cases are used. Hence the lecturer, is expected to be aware of the context and select an appropriate strategy in order to attain an optimum impact (students and lecturers) in learning environment. Case Leading Strategies: CWAM Conference 2009

4. LO Triangle Knowledge (Cognitive) Information Skills (Psychomotor) Adept use of Senses, Experience Value (Affective) Attitudes, Feelings, Emotions Learning Objectives Cognitive Affective Psychomotor Case Leading Strategies: CWAM Conference 2009

5. The Principles of Learning • Meaningful • Related to existing knowledge and experience (needs) • Active Learning • Learners actively involved in the learning process • Primacy and Recency • Recalls well when things are structured (first and last) • Feedback • Facilitators and learners give feedback to each other • Over-learning • Repeat – “Never over-learned” • Reinforcement • Reward and affirmation • Multiple Sense Learning • Presentation Method: “I hear, I forget; I see, I remember; I do, I understand” Source: CWAM’s note, including references therein Case Leading Strategies: CWAM Conference 2009

6. MQF’s 8 Domains of LO Source: MQA: Malaysian Qualification Framework; pp. 4 Case Leading Strategies: CWAM Conference 2009

7. HED: Soft skills domains Source: KPTM, Soft Skills Handbook Case Leading Strategies: CWAM Conference 2009

8. Case Leading • The process of facilitating participants to analyse the case ANALYTICAL PROCESS MAIN CHARACTER PROBLEM/ ISSUES CAUSES OF PROBLEM SOLUTION AND OUTCOME ACTION PLAN Source: CWAM’s note, including references therein Case Leading Strategies: CWAM Conference 2009

9. CASE LEADING STRATEGIES 3 APPROACHES DIRECTIVE SEMI- DIRECTIVE NON- DIRECTIVE EXPLAIN • The case about …? • Concept/ principles DISCUSS • Small group • Presentation • Leader lead discussion CONDUCT • Individual participant • Leader ‘in attendance’ • Intervene Case Leading Strategies: CWAM Conference 2009 Source: CWAM’s note, including references therein

10. Case Leading Styles Case Leading Strategies: CWAM Conference 2009

11. Well written case facilitates… • A survey of 100 cases indicates that the “problem statement” or issues are mentioned in the first two paragraphs. • Similar survey indicated that the “problem statements” or management issues are mentioned in the last section of the case. • See, e.g. Case: Robin Hood (Joseph Lampel, 1991) in Miller, A. (1998) Strategic Management, McGraw-Hill. • Hence, the students will need to employ his analytical ability in going through the case and come out with alternative solutions Case Leading Strategies: CWAM Conference 2009

12. Case Approach and LOs Ask “What’s this case all about” … • Summarize: case context; characters; organizational/business environment; general environment. • Identifying problems and issues • Seeking clarifications on facts • Finding problems and causes to the problems Making the students inquisitive; learning asking questions (1H 5W); build appetite for learning; create interest in the case/subject matter/issues Case Leading Strategies: CWAM Conference 2009

13. Solicit ideas and more ideas for ‘solutions’ • Working out alternative solutions • Asking opinions • Encouraging arguments (conflict) • Assessing alternatives and decision making (weighing the risk and reward) • Seeking agreement or concensus for feasible solution • Practicing (rational) decision making • Employing managerial skills in the action plan (PODC). • Exercising leadership skill (teamwork and influence) • Utilizing work experience – showing maturity Case Leading Strategies: CWAM Conference 2009

14. Highlighting management principles • Clarifying concepts • Reaffirm decision • Synthesizing • Creating confidence • Create learning environment Case Leading Strategies: CWAM Conference 2009

15. Role ofFacilitator • ENVIRONMENT • Democrative • Conducive to • learning • Make case method MAPFORM • PARTICIPANTS • Think • Analyse • Active • Participate • Responsible • FACILITATOR • Encourage • participation • Develop • discussion • Help synthesize • APPROACH • Dynamic • Process • No one best • solution • No formula Source: CWAM’s note, including references therein Case Leading Strategies: CWAM Conference 2009

16. Conclusions • Case method is an effective way to develop the soft skills and meet the learning objectives as specified by MQF and HED, MOHE. • The lecturer has an option to choose from a directive to non-directive or mixed mode depending on the Los and soft-skill that needed emphasis. • A transformation of approach is necessary from a straight lecture to a facilitating role, in order to make an effective learning environment for case study. Case Leading Strategies: CWAM Conference 2009