Development of Student Generated Cases Using Computerized Text Editing and Database Technology

Abstract

"This paper presents a methodology by which many persons can participate through computerized text editing and database technology in the development of cases. We demonstrate how students interact as teams together with an instructor in the case development process resulting in (I) a student experience rich in logical and analytic training, (2) a shorter case development time, (3) a well scrutinized product; the developed case having been critiqued by a large number of people for logical consistency and completeness, (4) a potentially open-ended product; the developed case can itself be a starting point for further elaboration. This methodology has been successfully applied in an MBA course in Information Systems as well as a combined undergraduategraduate business course in Database Systems, where the course objectives include the development of skills in analyzing computerized systems in a business environment. The implementation of this methodology relies on the use of a computerized text editor for manipulating case text and the use of a database system to support the storage and retrieval of case information. "