About This Course

Welcome to Case Studies 101!

My name is Monika Schuhmacher. I am a full professor of innovation management, technology management and entrepreneurship at the University of Giessen, and a course instructor at Mannheim Business School. Throughout my academic career, I have taught and analyzed dozens of case studies, and even wrote a case study myself. In this course, I will share the most important insights that I have gathered over the years. Together with me, you will get to know the very essentials of how to approach solving a case study.

The Importance of Case Studies

Case studies are a core teaching tool in nearly all MBAs around the globe. They allow students to step inside the shoes of company executives wrestling with complex business problems. Within a short timeframe, these students have to find vital clues amidst a vast array of information, and connect the facts to a working solution, always facing uncertainty. With such a challenging task ahead, knowing the fundamentals inside out is an absolute must. That’s what this course is all about.

Learning Goals

By the end of this course, you will have a profound knowledge of…

• ...what case studies are and why they are used,
• ...how to approach solving a case study, and
• ...how to present your analysis and solution of a case study.

Agenda

We will start at the very foundation of the topic - the definition and the use of case studies – before we discuss strategies on how you might approach them. Building on that, we will take a closer look at guidelines for presenting your case analysis. Finally, I will sum up the most important learnings for you and conclude with general suggestions on how to solve a case study. At the end of our journey, you will be well equipped to solve upcoming case studies.

If you are a student of Mannheim Business School, you’ll have access to the second part of the course, in which I will walk you through a real-life case study. Accompanied by interactive learning materials, you will have the chance to apply the theoretical knowledge from the first part right onto a practical challenge. I’ll guide you through every step of the way and also show you a student team’s sample solution.

• The Takeaway
• Agenda

What is 'The Takeaway'?

Throughout this course, you wil find the key points of the unit highlighted below the video, in the section titled "The Takeaway". This summary is intended to reinforce the structure of each unit. It is a complement, not a substitution to the videos.

Agenda

This course is divided into five modules:

1. Case Study Basics
2. Approaching Case Studies
3. Presenting Case Studies
4. Conclusion
5. The Lenovo Case

Module one to four make up the theory part, module 5 is the practical application.