Introducing Cases in the Asian Classroom: Initiatives in Response to the Challenges
Abstract
This paper proposes several means to overcome typical challenges encountered when teaching cases in conventional Asian undergraduate classes. The principal challenges are: students' respect for the instructor, students' reticence in speaking, students' strong grade orientation, and students' difficulties in dealing with ambiguity. To address these challenges, this paper proposes four classroom-based initiatives that concern classroom activities or course design aspects of a case-based course. We propose that the incorporation of the four initiatives in the course design helps to address the four challenges. We hope that the paper will stimulate discussion on the means to address these four and other challenges, and promote the sharing of other classroom activities or course designs.
This case was prepared by Assistant Professor Andrew Delios, and Associate Professor Shige Makino of the Chinese University of Hong Kong as a basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of an administrative or business situation.
