Case-method teaching: advantages and disadvantages in organizational training

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce case-method teaching (CMT), its advantages and disadvantages for the process of organizational training within organizations, as well as to compare its advantages and disadvantages with current training methods.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors applied a systematic literature review to define, identify and compare CMT with current methods.

Findings

In CMT, participants get involved with real-world challenges from an action perspective instead of analyzing them from a distance. Also, different reactions of the participants to the same challenge aid instructors to identify the individual differences of participants toward the challenge. Although CMT is still not considered as a popular organizational training method, the advantages of CMT may encourage organizational instructors to further apply it. Improving the long-term memory, enhancing the quality of decision making and understanding the individual differences of individuals are the advantages of CMT.

Research limitations/implications

A lack of sufficient empirical researchers and the high cost of conducting this method may prevent practitioners to apply it.

Originality/value

The review suggested that CMT is able to bring dilemmas from the real world into training settings. Also, it helps organizations to identify the individual reactions before they make a decision.

Citation

Radi Afsouran, N., Charkhabi, M., Siadat, S.A., Hoveida, R., Oreyzi, H.R. and Thornton III, G.C. (2018), "Case-method teaching: advantages and disadvantages in organizational training", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 37 No. 9/10, pp. 711-720. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-10-2017-0324