Acting associate dean of executive education and EMBA director at the Suliman S Olayan School of Business, American University of Beirut, Patrick Fitzgerald has spoken of the importance of producing case studies tailored to the business challenges and realities of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

“Education should not solely rely on conceptually pertinent case studies; it should also incorporate cases that are contextually relevant,” Fitzgerald said.

Current case study production in the region has reflected rising interest in start-ups, both across MENA and the wider world, according to the acting associate dean. However, he believes greater coverage is required. “While many cases in the region primarily focus on start-ups and newcomers, there is a growing interest among executives to gain insights from well-established businesses which encounter unique challenges.”

The Olayan School of Business says that its Case Hub aims to build a community of case method enthusiasts and provide a space for case development written by the region, for the region. It also acts as a training centre for executive education providers seeking to integrate case writing and teaching into their programmes. 

This article is adapted from one that originally appeared in Business Impact magazine (Issue 4 2023, volume 18)