Case study approach in engineering classes: methodologies, strategies and recommendations for teachers and students – insights from the case “Banco da Amazônia”

Abstract

Case studies allow readers to have contact with real life business, management or engineering situations, among others. They can be designed with learning objectives in mind. Case studies has become the main teaching method in the most of business schools since the pioneer example of Harvard University. Nevertheless, they represent an important teaching method in other areas namely, in the engineering context. The case study teaching method implies a process of analysis and discussion lead by well-prepared case teachers, which should follow appropriated strategies in order to maximize the results. This paper presents the case study approach as a teaching tool and discusses it in practice through a case study designed by the authors. The case “Banco da Amazônia” is a case on investment appraisal and risk evaluation designed for engineering students. For this purpose, the process of design and implementation of the case “Banco da Amazônia” is explained in detail. Recommendations for both teachers and students are presented and discussed. As a result, several methodologies and strategies are provided.