Effectiveness of Case Study Method in Management Education: An Empirical Investigation

Abstract

This study empirically investigates the effectiveness of the case study method (CSM) as a pedagogical strategy in management education institutions, examining its effects on managerial decision-making competency, critical thinking development, student engagement, and post-graduation employability outcomes. Employing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, quantitative data were collected from 812 students, faculty members, and corporate recruiters across 21 AACSB- and nationally-accredited business schools in India, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia over a 22-month period (2022–2024). Structural equation modeling (SEM) results indicate that CSM deployment intensity significantly predicts improvements in managerial decision-making competency (β = 0.49, p < 0.001), critical thinking skills (β = 0.43, p < 0.001), student engagement (β = 0.37, p < 0.001), and employability outcomes (β = 0.31, p < 0.01). Moderation analyses reveal that case facilitation quality and institutional case library richness are the strongest amplifiers of CSM effects, accounting for 41% of variance in decision-making competency. The study identifies five primary barriers to effective CSM implementation: case relevance gaps, facilitation skill deficits, time and resource constraints, student preparedness variability, and cross-cultural applicability challenges. These findings offer actionable guidance for business school administrators, curriculum designers, faculty developers, and accreditation bodies navigating the pedagogical transformation of management education in emerging market contexts.