Table of Contents  

Introduction  

• Why is this topic important?

Trainers know that learners understand concepts and acquire skills faster when they participate in their own learning.  Case studies are a great training method to increase participation, make learning more enjoyable and enhance retention of knowledge and skills as well as influence learners’ attitudes.  So why aren’t case studies used more often in training?  One reason is that many trainers find it difficult to write a realistic case study that meets a clearly defined learning objective without identifying the “guilty” parties in one’s own organization

• What can you achieve with this book?

This book is written for the trainer who wants to increase participation, make learning more enjoyable and enhance retention of knowledge and skills without having to struggle with the development of an original case study.  You will quickly and easily learn how to adapt a case study for your situation and how to create an original case study.  To get the most out of each case study, facilitator notes are provided with a learning objective, answers to each case study and facilitator processing or debriefing questions and suggested answers.

• How is this book organized

The first part of this book defines the five types of case studies and their different purposes.  The benefits of using case studies along with cautions are included.  Suggestions are provided for how to write an original case study or customize an existing case study.  Steps for facilitating case studies for the greatest learning are outlined along with suggested processing or debriefing questions.

Each chapter in the second half of the book contains case studies for a different training program and contains five types of case studies for that topic: 1.) Identification, 2.) Problem Solving, 3.) Practice, 4.) Application and 5.) Serial.

All of the case studies in the second half of this book are on the enclosed CD and can be used as is, or modified to meet specific learning objectives.

• Purpose

Instant Case Studies will help learners discover the concepts you are trying to teach.  When key concepts are discovered as part of a training program, learners more readily embrace them.  The end result of using case studies is to provide a note of reality, speed the rate of learning, and make learning more enjoyable.  The 71 case studies in this book can be used instantly or adapted to meet your situation.

• Product description

  Instant Case Studies is divided into two parts and includes a CD.  The first part of the book contains three chapters describing:

  1.      The purpose and types of case studies

  2.      How to write and customize a case study

  3.      How to facilitate a case study

  The second part of Instant Case Studies contains twelve chapters on a variety of training topics.  Each chapter contains up to five different types of case studies with participant discussion questions.  Following each case study, “Facilitator Notes” provide a learning objective for the case study, suggested answers to participant discussion questions, facilitator processing questions to debrief the case study discussion along with suggested answers to the facilitator processing questions.

  The CD contains 71 case studies and participant discussion questions that may be reprinted and or customized using the permission guidelines in the front of this book.  Each case study is numbered and provided in a WORD file.  A list of case studies by number and title follow toward the end of the introduction.

PART 1: Develop, adapt and use case studies  

Chapter 1:  Case study uses and benefits  

• What is a case study?

• Why use case studies?

• What are the benefits of case studies?

• Cautions

• Examples of the five types of case studies

1. Identification

2. Problem Solving

3. Practice

4. Application      

5. Serial

• Summary

Chapter 2: How to write a case study  

• Where do case studies fit in workshop design?

• How do you develop a case study?

• How to overcome problems in developing case studies

• Templates:

1. Case Study Checklist

2. Case Study Critique Sheet 

3. Customize a Case Study Worksheet

• Sample questions for the five types of case studies

• Facilitator processing questions to promote learning

• Summary

Chapter 3: How to facilitate a case study  

• Five steps of adult learning

• Facilitator processing questions

• Using basic facilitation techniques

• Summary

PART 2: Case study exercises

Each chapter in Part 2 offers five types of case studies for twelve workshops available on CD.  Suggestions to use each case study are given, including discussion questions and suggested answers to case study questions.  Facilitator processing questions and suggested answers to facilitator processing questions help you use these 71 cases instantly.

Case Study Topics by Chapter Number  

Chapter 4:     Adult Learning

Chapter 5:     Assertion

Chapter 6:     Change Management

Chapter 7:     Coaching and Mentoring

Chapter 8:     Customer Service

Chapter 9:     Diversity

Chapter 10:   Effective Business Writing

Chapter 11:   Facilitation

Chapter 12:   Influencing

Chapter 13:   Needs Assessment

Chapter 14:   New Employee Orientation

Chapter 15:   New Supervisor

Bibliography, Index

Overview Sample Chapter Reviews