People learn best the lessons they teach themselves. Thus, learning is best when there is a process of self-discovery, as opposed to passive absorption of what others say. I believe that student ownership and active engagement with the case problem are the keys to the effectiveness of this method. The case method builds the capacity for critical thinking. Instructors model skills of questioning.
Discussions exercise skills of debate and challenge.
Students should engage actively in this process of exposure. We want managers who are capable of thinking critically. The case method exercises the administrative point of view. If the goal of business education is to enhance the effectiveness of practicing managers, then helping students weigh the practical implications of their analyses is important. The best way to do this is to demand that recommendations always accompany analyses.