Designing Business Case Writing As An Experiential Learning Project

Abstract

The use of experiential learning approaches such as capstone seminars, simulations, case competitions, internships, service learning, and collaborative projects are all practices that are desirable and well documented in the teaching of business courses. Despite research that shows that business case writing can provide students with experiential learning that fosters the understanding of business challenges, ethical situations, and real-world decision-making processes, this pedagogical tool has gained little attention in the experiential learning curriculum (Vega, 2010). To demonstrate the effectiveness of business case writing as an experiential learning tool, we discuss the case writing experience and the learning outcomes for two undergraduate business students who participated in a summer case project at the David Berg Center of Ethics. This paper provides a model for integrating business case writing assignments into business experiential learning courses.