Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/55470
Cases Aren't Just for Students T by Ken White he case method is the primary way many business stu- dents learn about business. After all, cases help bring to life many of the problems that business face every day. But why should a business school limit the use of cases to its students only? Why shouldn't a school also use cases to engage its board of trustees? For many business schools, the drill leading up to a board meet- ing is the same. After reviewing binders filled with documents, reports, and metrics, the trust- ees travel to campus to hear the school's leadership deliver one presentation after another that showcase what has hap- pened at the school since the group last convened. The problem? This approach doesn't truly immerse the board The University of Virginia's Darden School of Business uses the case method to inspire spirited discussions with its board of trustees. in the day-to-day challenges of the school. It also does little to encourage board members to brainstorm solutions or share their insights, nor does it allow school administrators to fully tap each member's expertise and experience. The University of Virginia's Darden School of Business in Charlottesville has transformed its interaction with board mem- bers by using an approach long proven in the classroom—the case method. By introducing a written case at each trustee meeting, Dean Robert Bruner more vividly conveys the complexity of stra- tegic challenges the school faces. Moreover, he turns what could be a one-sided presentation into a lively exchange of ideas that reveals a wider range of solutions. 48 BizEd JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010