SPJIMR’s Case School 2026 turns case-writing theory into completed first drafts

SPJIMR Case School 2026 brought together 27 management educators and researchers from across India for an intensive, output-oriented learning experience. Working in nine teams alongside nine industry protagonists, participants completed first drafts of real-world teaching cases and teaching notes, translating classroom concepts into tangible academic outputs.

The programme was designed to address a common challenge in faculty development workshops: participants often leave inspired but struggle to translate learning into finished work. Case School 2026 faculty facilitators Prof. Amol Dhaigude and Prof. Debmallya Chatterjee addressed this challenge by integrating the entire case-writing journey into the workshop itself.

The learning extended beyond methodology. Over five intensive and rewarding days, participants experienced the complete lifecycle of developing a field-based teaching case—from identifying a compelling dilemma to preparing a publication-ready case and teaching note.

The outcomes

Multiple field-based cases and teaching notes developed in just five days, along with a vibrant community of emerging case writers committed to creating impactful learning experiences.

Industry engagement remained central to the programme’s success. Nine organisational leaders and practitioners shared their experiences and strategic challenges, providing participants with access to authentic business situations. Their willingness to open their organisations to academic scrutiny enabled teams to create cases grounded in real-world complexity rather than hypothetical scenarios.

The workshop’s residential format played a critical role in seamless transition from structured sessions to informal discussions, peer reviews, and collaborative brainstorming, which often continued beyond the classroom.

Case School 2026 demonstrated that with the right structure, mentorship, and immersive environment, faculty development programmes (FDPs) can move beyond knowledge transfer and deliver measurable scholarly outcomes. For SPJIMR, its success represents an important step in strengthening India’s case-writing ecosystem.

Insights from participants

Participants described the experience as an exercise in deeper listening, critical inquiry, and collaborative problem-solving. Several reflected on how the process challenged them to move beyond surface-level observations and unpack the underlying tensions that shape managerial decisions.

Reflecting on her experience, Mohini Arora, TA, Organisation and Leadership Studies at SPJIMR, noted, “The first thing that humbles you is the questionnaire. You go in thinking you’ll ask smart questions. You quickly realise the real skill isn’t in asking. It’s in listening. Listening for what isn’t being said. Listening for the tension hiding just beneath the polished answer. Every layer of the case—front-end, back-end, and teaching note—is really just one question in disguise: what does the reader need to feel right now?”

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