On the case study approach

Ambrish Bajaj on his blog asks...
"Most B-schools follow a case solving approach. But in real life most of the energies...go into identifying the problems...Managers just see symptoms or effects of some cause or problem that they are unaware of...How do these Harvard case studies help them by giving the problem on a platter?"

I suggest...
An effort could be made to encourage students write case studies. It would serve in more ways than one as it will:

• make students approach real life as a class room with learning at every step;
• help them identify and, may I say, 'crystallize' the problem;
• of course employ their problem solving skills and management concepts to figure out a solution; and
• help the corporate world by highlighting their problems and encouraging the best practices thus initiating this virtuous cycle.

As a bonus, these case studies can be an alternative source of revenue for the publishing institute. And to top it with icing, the case studies will be a resource to teach management in our B-schools through local (Indian) cases...of which, one would agree, there is a genuine need but an oxymoronic 'big dearth'.

Is it not a win-win situation?