Instant Case Studies.

Instant Case Studies, by Jean Barbazette, Book, 2003, Pfeiffer & Company, $50.

Case studies--the name elicits images of Harvard's ivy-bedecked buildings and frozen students sitting before even frostier professors in the grand arenas of learning, being pounded by the "case method" of professional analysis. If ever there was a learning methodology that evoked strong opinion, the case method is surely one.

Valuable method of learning

In spite of their reputation, case studies are an excellent way for students consider business situations, apply relevant concepts and methods, and come up with pragmatic actions that meet the needs of the situation. A case study attempts the difficult feat of imitating real situations in a linear medium, print. Case studies add realism to often esoteric concepts; they are the "blood and guts" of ivory tower theory. They provide practice in analyzing, diagnosing, and solving problems; recommending and justifying decisions; and creating action plans.

Many so-called case studies in textbooks and other sources aren't good vehicles for learning. These ersatz cases are really textbook expositions in story form. An authentic case describes a situation but provides no conclusions; it also orders the description in a way that scatters related bits of information and data throughout the case and mixes high-value information with large doses of noise--low-value or irrelevant content. Cases are constructed in this way to imitate the real world, which is filled with noise and doesn't package conclusions and solutions in neat bundles.

Template sourcebook

Jean Barbazette's Instant Case Studies: How to Design. Adapt, and Use Case Studies in Training provides over 70 templates of the various forms of case studies as well as well-written explanations of the effective use of each type. As the author explains, there are five types or styles of case studies:

Identification: Used to identify both positive and negative aspects of a given situation.

Problem Solving: Helps the learner develop systematic and creative problem-solving techniques.

Practice: Students get to try out a new technique in a safe environment before using it in the real world.

Application: Often used at the conclusion of a lesson or training program to review complex ideas and skills.

Serial: Just like a soap opera, this type of case study uses an opening situation to which new elements are progressively added for the student s consideration.

The author provides a chapter on how to write a case study, including a specific checklist to allow the instructor to critique his or her work. Her worksheets on customizing a case study and sample questions for use with the five styles of cases speed construction of your own case studies to no end. I found the chapter "How to Facilitate a Case Study" to be well grounded in instructional technology and practical application.

Use with caution

The bulk of the book comprises generic case studies built around common business themes that reflect each of the five styles. The themes include change management, customer service, and diversity. The generic studies are easily adaptable to any number of situations. As a practicing industrial and business trainer with a global clientele, I found myself in a position where a client (a Malaysian manufacture) required me to develop several case studies within a short period of time--literally on the plane ride to Kula Lumpur. Barbazette's book was just the help I needed to compile several acceptable studies in short order.

At the same time, any template can invite cookie cutter texts that lack imagination. They can also tempt writers into believing that a good case can be created in a short time. The book's title explicitly invites that way of thinking. As in any type of challenging written work, however, the time put in correlates in a general way with the quality of the product. Writing a case grounded in real particulars that works well in the classroom is hard work that a template can't do for you.

Recommendation

For any educator, technical instructor, or teacher who uses the case method, this book is can be helpful. Instant Case Studies is easy to read, straightforward, to the point, and well organized. It has helped me personally speed the development process of a substantial educational tool and could do the same for you.

Review by Richard Lowell

Product Ratings

Instant Case Studies

Holds user interest  **
Value of Content     ** 1/2
Self-Study Value     *** 1/2
Instructional Value  *** 1/2
Value for the money  ** 1/2
Overall rating       ** 1/2