Case method as teaching strategy in business area

Abstract

This article focuses the case method and analyzes its use as an educational tool in the business area. A desk research was made, leading to the development of the following topics: the case method origins, the case method in the business area, educational purposes of the case method, possibilities of using the case method, benefits of the case method, challenges, and criticisms of the case method. At the end there are some thoughts about the student and instructor participation to reach the technique success. This educational strategy has to be accompanied by other techniques. The lack in the tradition of the case production, the valueless in the instructor and author training and, finally, the difficulty to obtain company's information to prepare cases are the main challenges facing the case method in Brazil.