In the Graduate Schools

Sixteen members of the faculty of the Harvard Business School have collaborated in the writing of a book entitled "The Case Method of Instruction," just published by the McGraw-Hill Book Co. The volume consists of a series of short articles explaining the case method in general, its adaptation to the special purposes of a course in business administration, and its application to the teaching of the particular subjects in such a course. The foreword and an article entitled "Business Teaching by the Case System" are by W. B. Donham '98, dean of the School.

Designed For Instructor's Use

Intended primarily for the use of instructors and others interested in the teaching of business subjects, the book gives a resume of the system of instruction which is in use across the river. Tracing the first development of the case system at the Harvard Law School, it outlines the adoption of the method in law schools throughout the country and finally its application to the teaching of business subjects. Practically no textbooks are used in the School except for reference, while at the same time increasing emphasis is laid on the use of case books and current mimeographed material. Broad principles are deduced from particular situations rather than laid down dogmatically at the beginning of the course.

Actual Cases Stimulate Interest

In his foreword, Dean Donham says: "Of major importance is the extent to which the interest of the students is aroused by the study of concrete problems. They realize that they are dealing with actual business situations rather than with intangible theories and that the thought, method of approach, and principles applied in reaching a decision may be used in solving similar problems later in life.

"This volume . . . is a collection of articles outlining the concepts of the case method by men who have had actual experience in its application. Although the ideas expressed are apparently diverse, they are in agreement in their emphasis on the great elasticity of the medium from the pedagogical standpoint and on the high degree of student interest developed by the use of cases."

The other members of the faculty who contributed articles dealing either with various phases of the case method or with its application to their respective fields are: G. E. Bates, N. H. Borden, Philip Cabot, J. G. Callan, M. T. Copeland, A. S. Dewing, G. F. Doriot, C. E. Fraser, C. I. Gragg, M. P. McNair, T. H. Sanders, J. L. Snider, H. R. Tosdal, H. B. Vanderblue, and R. G. Walker.