Harvard Business School pioneered the case method of teaching in the 1920s as a way of bringing management lessons to life in the classroom. Today more than 80 percent of HBS classes are built on the case method.

Cases are written by HBS professors, with research assistance from Baker Library staff and Research Associates. Approximately 350 cases are developed at HBS each year.

HBS Case Method Resources:

• Teaching and the Case Method: texts, cases and readings by Barnes, Christiansen and Hansen
  Classic text from Harvard Business School Press on teaching the case method
• The case study handbook: how to read, discuss, and write persuasively about cases by Ellet
  Comprehensive guide for students that includes 5 sample cases
• Harvard Business Publishing Participant Centered Learning website
• Christensen Center for Teaching and Learning provides resources, including this article about the case method in practice.
• The History of the HBS Case Method and a special 100 Year Anniversary of the Case Method exhibit from Special Collections. 

Access HBS Cases:

• Current HBS MBA or Doctoral students may use the HBS Case Requests service. 
• Anyone may order cases directly from Harvard Business Publishing.
• If you are unable to find a specific case, it may be retired. Special Collections will be able to help you access Retired Cases.

Video of Requesting a Case:

Additional Case Resources:

• CasePlace.org
• Darden Business Publishing
• MIT Sloan School of Management LearningEdge Case Studies
• New York Times Case Studies (small business)
• Thecasecentre.org (formerly European Case Clearing House)
• Thunderbird Case Series
• Tuck School of Business Center for Digital Strategies: Case Studies Series Library