The Case Method: How One Learning Approach Transformed Global Education and Shapes the Leaders of New Type

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn”. These words, once spoken by Benjamin Franklin, perhaps best capture the essence of what came to be known more than a century ago as the “case method”.

It is not just a learning tool. It is an educational philosophy that places a person in the face of a challenge. Most importantly, it forces them to make decisions in conditions of limited information, moral ambiguity, and high stakes. Exactly as it happens in real life.

How did this approach emerge? What role does it play in the programs of the Center for Leadership of UCU and the UCU Business School? And why is the case method exactly what modern Ukrainian leaders need? Let’s explore together.

“Learning Through Life”: How the Case Method Earned Recognition

The modern use of the case method began in U.S. law schools. In the 1870s, Christopher Columbus Langdell, Dean of the Harvard Law School, introduced a revolutionary approach to teaching law: instead of traditional lectures – analysis of court cases. In-depth study of judicial precedents allowed students to perceive material in an entirely new way – thinking like judges, rather than merely memorizing legal norms.

“Law is a science, not just a list of rules. And cases here are the data”,

the author explained his position.

And like any successful idea, the case method didn’t go unnoticed for long. In 1921, Harvard Business School began using it. One of the first business cases – “General Shoe Company” – described a complex management situation that required strategic thinking and moral judgment. Students, placed in the role of a leader, had to make a decision under uncertainty.

It was revolutionary: education turned into a simulation of real life. Students ceased to be passive listeners. More than that, they were now at the center of decision-making.

Global Expansion and Variations of the Approach

Throughout its more than 100-year history, the case method has become the foundation of educational programs at the world’s leading universities:

• Harvard Business School – over 80% of classes are case-based. The school adds over 350 new cases annually.
• Ivey Business School (Canada) – our strategic partner, home to one of the largest case collections in the world (over 8,500 titles). Educational materials developed by Ivey and its Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership are renowned for their deep analysis of Leadership, change, and crisis situations.
• INSEAD (France, Singapore) – specializes in cross-cultural cases that show how context affects strategic decisions.
• IMD (Switzerland) – focuses on cases that illustrate the transformation of global companies.
• Harvard Kennedy School – a school of government that emphasizes ethical dilemmas in public sector Leadership training.

“A good case makes you uncomfortable. A great case makes you ask yourself what kind of leader you are”,

is how Gerard Seijts – co-author of the Leadership Character framework and one of the most prolific Ivey Publishing authors – described his approach.

The “Anatomy” of the Case Method: Structure, Essence, and Benefits

A case is not just a story. It is a carefully designed learning situation with distinct characteristics:

• A real or realistic context.
• A conflict or dilemma. It always presents a challenge, often moral or strategic.
• An open ending. A case has no single correct answer.
• Positionality. The student literally steps into the role of the protagonist – CEO, minister, entrepreneur, or volunteer – and acts from that perspective.

“Cases are a means of bringing the complexities of the real world into the classroom – and then back out again, transformed through learning”,

said Rosabeth Moss Kanter, renowned sociologist and professor at Harvard Business School.

What Are the Key Advantages of This Method?

• Development of Critical Thinking. Students learn not to accept ready-made “recipes” for handling situations, but to independently evaluate possible solutions and their potential consequences.
• Leadership Skill Building. Cases quite literally compel participants to take responsibility by making decisions in real-life-like scenarios.
• Communication Competence. Participating in discussion trains students to listen, persuade, and engage in dialogue – approaching information in a more multidimensional way.
• Emotional Engagement. Cases often touch on ethical, social, or personal themes, taking the learning process far beyond the “sterile” confines of a lecture hall.
• Multidisciplinarity. Solving the complex problems embedded in cases pushes participants to apply a broad range of knowledge – from economics and management to law, psychology, philosophy, and beyond.

“When we discuss cases, we’re not just instilling skills – we’re teaching decision-making”,

once summarized Nitin Nohria, former dean of Harvard Business School.

The Ukrainian Context: Challenges and Breakthroughs

The case method began to gain momentum in Ukraine during the 2010s. The Center for Leadership of UCU and UCU Business School are rightfully considered pioneers of this approach in the realm of business education and military training. In partnership with Ivey Business School, not only were the first English-language cases translated, but entirely new ones were created – ones rooted in a context familiar to Ukrainians:

• “Reform in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine” – a case based on the experience of Yurii Husiev.
• “Business Through Crisis” – a series of mini-cases created during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• “Sviy Market” – one of many examples of Leadership amid full-scale war.
• “Ukraine: A Leadership Exam” – a unique video case illustrating how leaders from the private sector, the volunteer movement, and Ukraine’s Defense Forces approach the challenges triggered by the Russian invasion.

And this list is just a small part of what lies ahead – a path that can turn the difficult experiences of Ukrainian protagonists into valuable lessons for the next generation – not just in Ukraine, but around the world.

A Program Where Cases Become a Tool for Transformation

The case method has proven its effectiveness at the world’s top universities. But it’s true power is revealed when it transforms not just the way people think – but who they are: their approach to Leadership, responsibility, and action.

This kind of transformational experience will be the foundation of the two-day training program “Leadership: Intensive Management Transformation Workshop”, which will take place on May 20-21, 2025, in Kyiv. It’s a chance to experience the power of the case method in action, alongside those who have shaped its modern face:

• Gerard Seijts – one of Ivey Business School’s leading experts, co-author of the Leadership Character framework and several globally renowned business cases.
• Andrew Rozhdestvensky – Executive Director of the Center for Leadership of UCU and lecturer at UCU Business School, who combines management practice with deep insight into the Ukrainian context.

The program will bring together leaders from business, government, and civil society who seek not only new knowledge, but a deeper understanding of themselves as leaders. Because the decisions we make don’t just shape strategies. They shape who we are. Join those transforming Leadership – and their worldview today. All details and registration – via the link.