Learn more about Insper’s Case Collection

With the aim of enriching the teaching and learning process in the classroom, Insper licenses the use of its Case Study Collection to other educational institutions.

Developed by the institution's faculty, the Collection is composed of case studies based on the corporate context in both Brazil and abroad in the following fields of knowledge:

Management, Organizations and Strategy

Organizational Behavior and Human Resoucers

Finance

Marketing

Operações e Tecnologia

What is a case study?

The case study is a teaching tool that presents a ill-structured problem.

And what is a ill-structured structured problem? It is a problem with no predefined solution that requires the student to work to identify the problem, analyze evidences, develop logical arguments and evaluate and propose solutions.

It can also be defined as a problem that reproduces the line of questioning, uncertainties and possibilities of a business context that results in a decision having to be taken. The process of arriving at a decision through individual and group analysis and discussion of the information presented in the case study leads students to engage in critical and argumentative reasoning.

Given its characteristics, the case study is considered a valuable educational tool that challenges students to reason, argue, negotiate and reflect, which are very demanding skills from the cognitive and social viewpoints.

What are the benefits of using case studies in the classroom?

Companies seek individuals who do not just have good technical knowledge, but also can anticipate problems and simultaneously exercise various roles and activities in their workplace. For this, it is essential to adapt to and understand new situations in the increasingly interdependent business world. Companies look for specific skills when recruiting professionals, such as identifying and resolving problems, thinking critically, making arguments, taking decisions and learning how to learn.

In this light, one of the main challenges of institutions of higher education is to prepare professionals who are well equipped to face the daily challenges of a competitive work environment that is constantly changing and demands rapid decisions and teamwork.

The case study becomes an efficient teaching ally to support the development of these competencies by putting the student in the role of protagonist in complex real-world situations that simulate the day-to-day activities found in the corporate world.

By discussing the case, students experience the conflicts and enrich their learning with the viewpoints of their classmates, reaching the conclusion that there are no readymade responses, whether right or wrong. To effectively participate in the discussion and contribute to the collective learning experience, students must prepare by carefully reading and analyzing the information and data in the case study.