Case Study - Example

Case study — example

An International Business professor prepares a case study in which conflict between two countries has escalated to the point that war was imminent. In a period of heightened world tensions, the pressure was strong to find a diplomatic resolution. Students broke into groups to provide support to an ambassador charged with resolving the conflict. Students have three class sessions to analyze the historical, political, and economic roots of the conflict and propose a solution. The professor informs the groups that they need to develop a learning plan (identifying knowledge gaps and determining how to fill them) and a work plan (identifying how they would formulate their diplomatic resolutions). To facilitate the process, he distributes a template of both plans that groups cause or modify to suit their own needs. After all of the teams have met and have completed this proposal, he asks them to evaluate the proposals of two other groups and select the most appealing one. An ambassador from each of the teams that had created the top three proposals presents their group’s proposal to the class and the whole class votes on the most persuasive one. Upon completion of the activity, the professor finds that it enhanced students’ understanding of the complexity of factors underlying international relations (Barkley 241-242).

• Discussion prompt: Post your group's learning plan and work plan in the Case Study forum in the Canvas Discussions tool.
• Response prompt: Respond to two other groups' learning plans and work plans.
• Followup activity: Post your group's selection for the most persuasive proposal.