Babson College faculty across departments continually bring real-world examples into the classroom through their own experiences, guest speakers, field work, and especially case studies.
Case writing, in particular, has allowed Babson faculty to expand their research and expertise beyond the classroom. For its excellence, Babson College was recently honored by the Case Center Impact Index, a new annual ranking of organizations based on the global reach and impact of their case writing. Babson is ranked #14, among the best business schools and organizations in the world.
“The case method has a long history of supporting research, teaching and academic excellence at Babson College,” said Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr., MBA ’92. “Case writing continues to add value to our position as a global leader in entrepreneurship and leadership education “Intellectual.”
The Case Center is the independent home of the Case Method, which remains an irreplaceable cornerstone of management education. The newly introduced Impact Index, derived from usage data from The Case Center, highlights the global scale and impact of case writing in business schools over the previous academic year.
“As a long-time case writer, I am thrilled to learn more about Babson’s impact globally,” said Professor Jay Rao P’21 ’24 of Babson University. “I don’t always expect a case to have such a wide impact. Of course, it is very gratifying when a case is used globally.
Here, Babson faculty who have written four of the college’s best-selling cases share their thoughts on the new classification and the importance and impact of case writing on students and the world.
“Real world context”
Rao, author of the best-selling book W.L. Gore: The Culture of Innovation, says case students are crucial to business school education.
“Content without context is commoditized and largely useless,” said Rao, a professor in the Department of Operations and Information Management. “Case studies provide a powerful real-world context for all of the sound principles, methods and tools in applied social sciences such as business administration. Cases are a great way to develop students’ critical thinking skills and provide a comprehensive understanding of complex challenges. By examining what strategies work and what don’t work, students gain valuable insights About the dynamic and unpredictable nature of the real world.
“Moreover, case studies promote collaborative learning. Students are able to see each story from diverse perspectives that will prepare them to face the challenging decision-making demands of their careers.”
“The case method has a long history of supporting research, teaching, and academic excellence at Babson College. Case writing continues to add value to our position as a global leader in entrepreneurship education and thought leadership.”
Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, Ph.D
‘More easier’
Entrepreneurship professor Andrew “Zach” Zacharakis—author of the best-selling case “Crowdfunding: A Tale of Two Campaigns”—points to the value of cases on early-stage startups in connecting with students in tangible ways.
“We are fortunate at Babson to have a lot of our students and graduates pursuing entrepreneurial ventures,” said Zacharakis, a professor of entrepreneurship studies and director of the Entrepreneurship Research Conference at Babson College since 2006. In cases where prominent entrepreneurs like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and others are in their place, students often have difficulty dealing with these great entrepreneurs.
“Case studies of early-stage startups as they happen help current students put themselves in the shoes of entrepreneurs. Cases related to these entrepreneurs are more accessible to our students; they can see themselves creating similar businesses.”
“Relevant and practical”
Professor Lydia Bolotnick and Assistant Professor Megan Way P’26 previously won the prestigious Case Center Award for excellence in case writing. Economics professors were honored in the Economics, Politics, and Business Environment category for their case, Apple Watch (A) – The Launch, which examines the wearable technology market and Apple’s entry into the market with the launch of the Apple Watch.
“We are thrilled that our cause, ‘Apple Watch (A)—The Launch,’ will reach the global business education community,” they said. “This is a fun case to teach and a topic that is very relatable to students. It is great to have a case that applies managerial economics tools that are covered in business classes all over the world.”
Finance professors Richard Place and Mark Potter — co-authors of the best-selling “Sneaker 2013” issue — echoed these sentiments.
“We are honored to be recognized by the Case Center for our cases,” they said. “As finance professors at Babson University, we strive to ensure that our teaching materials are relevant and practical for students and reflect real-world issues that impact organizations around the world.”
“Case studies promote collaborative learning. Students can see each story from diverse perspectives that will prepare them for the challenging decision-making demands of their careers.
Babson Professor Jay Rao P’21 ’24
Advanced curricula
The Case Center Impact Index took into account the number of cases adopted in the school, the breadth of adoption across organizations and countries, and the number of individual students taught using the cases. Since 2022, the Case Center has received 16 new cases for distribution from Babson authors. In total, the Babson collection available through The Case Center includes 570 cases, including 19 award-winning cases.
The Babson case collection is divided into two components:
- Entrepreneurial Leader Cases and Teaching Materials incorporate one or more of the three principles of entrepreneurial leadership: cognitive ambidexterity, social environmental and economic responsibility and sustainability (SEERS), and self- and social awareness.
- Babson Classic cases teach lessons that stand the test of time, and/or consistently appear on the bestseller list.
Building on its entrepreneurial heritage to advance entrepreneurial thought and action for the world, Babson has collaborated with Banco de Chile to integrate 20 faculty members from 10 Chilean universities in the precise art of entrepreneurship case writing and teaching. The project produced 11 cases of entrepreneurship in Chile, each with an English and Spanish version.
“Not only do Babson faculty write and teach innovative cases, they have also advanced case writing to include simulations, live exercises, and deeper connections for direct application of the lessons being taught,” Spinelli said. “Through this cutting-edge case method, faculty support Babson’s approach to entrepreneurial leadership and ensure that our curriculum is rigorous and cutting-edge across disciplines.
“Babson remains committed to providing faculty and students with access to the case method as a way to enhance experiential learning within an entrepreneurial mindset.”
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Case writing at Babson College is a critical component of the institution’s curriculum and has a profound influence on the development of future business leaders. Babson’s emphasis on case writing allows students to delve deep into real-world business problems and gain practical experience in problem-solving, decision-making, and critical thinking. By immersing themselves in case studies, students are able to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life scenarios, preparing them for the challenges they will face in their future careers. Furthermore, the case writing culture at Babson encourages collaboration and the exchange of diverse perspectives, fostering an environment of innovation and creativity. As such, case writing plays a crucial role in shaping the thought and work of Babson students, equipping them with the skills and mindset needed to succeed in today’s dynamic business environment.