C ASE M ETH OD TEACHING

The Case Study Handbook

New book for students
The business case is a powerful learning tool. But analyzing cases and
writing about them can be challenging, especially for students new to the
case method. The Case Study Handbook will help students to analyze,
discuss, and write about cases. It includes sample cases and extensive
examples of effective writing to reinforce the learning.

The Case Study Handbook presents a new approach for analyzing, discussing,
and writing about cases. It covers:

By far the best and the

most comprehensive
case study self-help book
I have ever read.
Rastislav Kulick,
former MBA student,
Harvard Business School

How to quickly establish a base of knowledge about a case

How to write persuasive case-based essays

How to talk about cases effectively in class

Author William Ellet has more than twelve years experience teaching students how
to read, analyze, and write about business cases in the MBA program at Harvard
Business School.

A full-length PDF of the book is available

for Authorized Faculty on our web site:
www.hbsp.harvard.edu/educators
THE CASE STUDY HANDBOOK

How to Read, Discuss, and Write Persuasively About Cases

WILLIAM ELLET
2007 Paperback #1584 $24.95
ISBN 978-1-4221-0158-2

order information
(800) 545-7685 or (617) 783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada
custserv@hbsp.harvard.edu
www.hbsp.harvard.edu/educators

Table of Contents
Introduction
1.

Persuasion, Argument, and the Case Method

2.

What Is a Case?

Part I: Analysis

RELATED COURSE MATERIALS

FOR STUDENTS
Learning by the Case Method
John S. Hammond III
HBS Background Note
376241

How to Analyze a Case

Learning with Cases

Thomas V. Bonoma

4. Case Analysis Demonstration

HBS Background Note

589080

3.

5. Problems
6. Decisions

Introduction to Cases
Benson P. Shapiro

7. Evaluations

HBS Background Note

584097

Part II: Discussion

8.

How to Discuss a Case

Part III: Writing

9. How to Write a Case-Based Essay
10. Problem Essays

Sample essays
11. Decision Essays

Sample essays
12. Evaluation Essays

Disguised case

Sample essay

Introduction to the Case Method

Benson P. Shapiro
HBS Background Note
576031

A Note on Case Learning

E. Raymond Corey
HBS Background Note
899105

How to Avoid Getting Lost in the Numbers

David H. Maister
HBS Background Note
682010

Part IV: Cases for Analysis and Writing

Allentown Materials Corporation: The Electronic Products Division (Abridged)
General Electric: Major Appliance Business Group (Abridged)
General Motors: Packard Electric Division
Malaysia in the 1990s (A)
Whistler Corporation (A)

2007 Paperback #1584 $24.95

ISBN 978-1-4221-0158-2

order information
(800) 545-7685 or (617) 783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada
custserv@hbsp.harvard.edu
www.hbsp.harvard.edu/educators

Product #M70292

WILLIAM ELLET

Printed on recycled paper.

How to Read, Discuss, and Write Persuasively About Cases

MC142360707

THE CASE STUDY HANDBOOK