Case studies recount real life business or management situations that present business executives with a dilemma or uncertain outcome. The case describes the scenario in the context of the events, people and factors that influence it and enables students to identify closely with those involved. Management cases are generally written by business school faculty with particular learning objectives in mind and are refined in the classroom before publication. Relevant documentation or audio-visual items often accompany a case.

Pioneered in the early 20th Century at Harvard University, the case method has become the favoured teaching tool of most of the world's leading business schools. A process of discussion and analysis, guided by a skilled case teacher, leads class participants to deeper insights into management issues and their resolution. Faculty and students familiar with the case method universally regard it as the most effective and enjoyable way to learn. More about why leading business schools use the case method

The mission of ecch is to support and promote the case method of learning. We provide a range of services and products to support students who learn with cases.

For those wishing to find out more about the case method we distribute a range of books and articles aimed at helping students get more out of case learning. We also run sessions for students on how to learn with cases.

Each year ecch provides up to ten Philip Law case development scholarships to research students based at ecch member organisations. The scholarships aim to stimulate new case authors and strengthen the role of original research in student management learning.