Most MBA students would say that case studies and the discussions that result are one of the most effective ways of learning about business. I was curious to find out how things actually work in a class where students from different backgrounds and industries tackle a specific topic. Would it be like a court room where barristers challenge facts and follow protocol or more like the heated exchanges that can take place in a company board meeting?
Sitting in on a class of the EMBA programme offered by Ivey Business School gave me an insight on how these group discussions work and help executives to learn from one another.
The class was led by Professor Tony Frost who thinks it is important for executives to make decisions quickly. Therefore, the way he organises a group discussion differs somewhat from traditional case study teaching methods. His approach is simple, involving less advance preparation and more thinking on one’s feet.
Instead of asking students to read all kinds of related material beforehand and then dissect it in class, he challenges them to come up with their own opinions about the case in question with little or no background information.
Professor Tony Frost