Have you faced and solved a tough business problem? Met and resolved a challenging issue? Perhaps found and captured a new opportunity? Of course you have. That’s what you do. Now it’s time to put that hard-won knowledge to work.
The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business at Fanshawe College would like to write a business case about your experience with that situation. The finished case would be used to help college and undergraduate business students learn from the real-world business situations you’ve already faced.
“Case teaching is a powerful learning tool because students learn best – and the learning lasts longer – when they experience real-life situations that relate to the concepts and theories they are learning”, says Kinlin’s Associate Dean Lisa Schwerzmann. “Case learning brings real-world problems to life and gives students the opportunity to develop problem-solving and communications skills.”
How is a case written? In an initial discovery meeting, you and a Kinlin editor would explore some decisions, challenges or issues you faced and select one or more that would provide sound, teachable content. The topics could range widely across entrepreneurship and general management, from strategy to operations, HR, accounting or marketing. Next, a Kinlin case writer will interview the key actors, draft the case, and revise it until it is approved by the business.
Kinlin does not expect businesses to share any information that is private, confidential or proprietary. If absolutely necessary, the writers use tactics to disguise information, such as actual financial values, people’s names or even the organization’s name, in order to provide the necessary safeguards to a business while maintaining the all-important realism of case.
What’s in it for you? “The single, biggest benefit is sharing your knowledge and wisdom with the next generation of managers, leaders and innovators”, says Schwerzmann. “A case study about your organization will help a class of students apply theories and concepts to realistic and relevant problems of management while learning new skills.”
Interested? The next step would be to contact case coordinator James Todd to discuss your topics for writing up a case. Call 519-452-4430 x 4374.
“I hope that your organization will consider this request in the spirit of collaboration”, says Schwerzmann. “Fanshawe College values partnerships with organizations all across the region, and it’s a simple way to give back to your business community.”
