The information below is designed to provide the press with key facts and information about The Case Centre and the case method. Please do get in touch if you have any specific enquiries, or if you would like information or contacts for an article about the case method.
The Case Centre
Key facts
The Case Centre is the independent home of the case method. We are dedicated to advancing the case method worldwide, sharing knowledge, wisdom and experience to inspire and transform business education across the globe. We are a not-for-profit organisation and registered charity. Find out more about our history.
Mission and activities
We:
- distribute the world’s largest collection of management case studies, articles and books on behalf of all the major business schools and internationally respected authors worldwide
- provide training in case method teaching, learning and writing led by globally renowned experts
- run international case competitions and awards
- offer scholarships to unpublished case writers and new case teachers
- publish books and articles by eminent case method specialists
- offer authors an efficient and effective worldwide case publishing and distribution service
- curate the annual #WorldCaseTeachingDay.
We are a registered charity and currently have over 500 academic and corporate members from all over the world. Our members are a vital part of The Case Centre community and at the heart of everything we do.
Governance
We are governed by our Memorandum and Articles of Association. Our Board of Trustees, comprising up to fourteen annually elected academic representatives from member organisations, meets three times a year to establish our policy and oversee our progress.
Location and contact details
We have a team of 25 members of staff, and our offices are at Cranfield University in the UK.
The Case Centre
Cranfield University, Wharley End
Beds MK43 0JR, UK
t +44 (0)1234 756410
e info@thecasecentre.org
w www.thecasecentre.org
Our CEO
Vicky Lester is The Case Centre’s Chief Executive Officer and a worldwide ambassador for the case method. She regularly represents the international case community at conferences, workshops and competitions across the globe and sits on the judging panels for The Case Centre’s annual case method awards and competitions.
Vicky joined The Case Centre in 1991 and has worked in many areas of the business, including sales, operations and systems. She was appointed Deputy Director in 2008 and became CEO in July 2022.
The case method
What is a case?
Cases are usually written documents of five to ten pages that describe a business problem or dilemma. Many cases are about real-life situations faced by real companies, and are either written in co-operation with the company or based on published sources. Students are required to decide what they would do to resolve the challenge or difficulty.
Many cases have accompanying teaching notes to help tutors plan their sessions. See our bestselling cases.
What is the case method?
The case method was pioneered in the early twentieth century at Harvard University, US. It has since become the preferred teaching method at most of the world’s leading business schools. It is also used to teach law and medicine.
Students are asked to read a case and be prepared to analyse and discuss it in depth under the guidance of a tutor. The aim is to devise a solution or plan of action to deal with the problem or dilemma presented in the case. Most faculty and students familiar with the case method believe it is the most enjoyable and effective way to learn.
Which cases are the most popular?
Each year we compile a list of our bestselling cases. Find out more.
How much do cases cost?
Our prices vary depending on who the customer is. For example, educators at member organisations pay the lowest price per item, while corporate customers pay more. An electronic download of a case costs between $4.95/€4.90/£3.95 and $8.65/€9.25/£6.90 per copy.
Do all business schools use cases?
The case method is used by most of the world’s leading business schools. However, some business schools still rely on more traditional teaching methods such as lectures.
Who writes cases?
Cases are written by faculty in business schools across the world. Post-graduate students or research associates often work under the guidance of faculty to help with the research and writing. See our latest ranking of the Top 50 Bestselling Case Authors.
