Cases and Business Games: The Perfect Match!

Abstract

While generally defined in opposition to each other, both Case Studies and Business Games are reported in the literature as being participant-centered learning methods. This paper, a review of literature, considers the challenge of sequencing in tandem both methods in order to explore the potential synergy generated from their combined use. While Case Studies encourage learning based on analysis and discussion of past examples from “real life” and position students as active readers of realistic stories, Business Games promote experiential and anticipatory learning based on “trial and error” decision-making where players are protagonists in managerial roles. Combining both methods may bring about a journey over time starting in the past and evolving “back to the future”.