Why do our cases travel so well?
Adaptive teaching notes
Perhaps it’s our extensive teaching notes accompanying each case that make our material so highly regarded. Educators are always encouraged to adapt discussions to their own classes, so there's ample flexibility to navigate the teaching notes in a way that best suits the teaching objectives. The comprehensive nature of the cases ensures that they remain open for interpretation. This was particularly evident in The Coffee of Andradas: A Community Branding Project case which can be adjusted for multiple disciplines, such as marketing, supply chain management, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. This case was in the top 10 of Most Popular Free Cases from the Case Center Awards 2025.
The CDC as a global learning ecosystem
Learning deepens when cases cross cultures.
In our interconnected world, engaging diverse viewpoints allows learners to develop a nuanced understanding of complex business challenges, enhancing cognitive flexibility and critical thinking. Through cases such as Transportation Decisions and Carbon Emissions at SparQ, Inc., learners have been given the opportunity to navigate sustainable logistics challenges. This helps develop leaders who appreciate cultural differences and consider local contexts and global consequences.
From a curriculum perspective, there's a unique lens for looking at the systematic effects of case teaching when we consider teaching the same cases to diverse classes. A perfect example is the Huawei: Overcoming Country-of-Origin Challenges case. This case has reached 5 continents and 19 institutions and has been interpreted from many different perspectives. Educators can observe how decision pathways differ – for example, showing a stronger willingness to take risks – reflecting environments that reward innovation.
World Case Teaching Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the CDC’s worldwide influence and shared learning experiences. As the business world shifts, the CDC remains committed to providing impactful, case-based learning opportunities for future leaders.
