Harvard Business School

"The case method is to the Harvard Business School," wrote Peter Cohen, "what the crooked tower is to Pisa. The Harvard Business School invented the method; the Harvard Business School succeeded with it; the Harvard Business School swears by it, and we have to put up with it, every grinding minute of every grinding day.   There are no lectures, no labs, few textbooks even.   Only cases, cases, and more cases.…"

"These aren't the 'case histories' people get in law or medical school.   You know, and here is what the judge said.   Or here is what the doctor ordered.   Our cases have no ending.   They just kind of dump the whole mess into your lap-tables, columns, exhibits, and all—and you can't run away from it because tomorrow ninety-four people—the entire Section—will be waiting for your decision.   You may not be the guy the professor calls on 'to lay out the case,' but then again you may, which makes for a lot of motivation.