Lecture Notes: Understanding the Case Method and Decision-Making Challenges

Introduction

• Speaker: Professor from Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School.
• Topic: Understanding the Case Method, using the MeToo movement as a hypothetical scenario.
• Objective: To provide a sense of the case method in a short time frame.

The Case Method

• Purpose: Replicate real-life situations characterized by incomplete information and uncertainty.
• Goal: Train decision-making skills under uncertainty through practice with numerous cases.
• Cold Calling: Often involves students actively participating, sometimes unexpectedly called upon.
• Hypothetical Scenario: Discussed without prior case reading - a departure from typical method.

Hypothetical Scenario: CEO Decision-Making

1. Allegation Against COO:

   • Sexual encounter allegation after an office party.
   • Steps:
     • Fact-finding: Talk to the accuser and the accused (COO).
     • Inconclusive outcomes and further decision-making.
   • Addressing external allegations and societal repercussions.

2. Allegation Investigation:

   • Investigate internally, even if the accuser chooses not to go to law enforcement.
   • Consider implications for company culture and public relations.

3. Handling Internal Culture:

   • Address "bro culture" within the company.
   • Consider implications on employee safety and productivity.
   • Response to concerns about mentoring female employees post-MeToo.
   • Addressing drinking culture at company events and its impacts.

4. Gender Pay Gap:

   • Addressing leaked data about gender pay disparity.
   • Analyze and communicate reasons behind pay differences.

Key Takeaways

• Connection Between Issues:
  • Egregious behavior, bro culture, and wage differentials are interconnected by power dynamics.
• Skill Development:
  • The case method fosters making informed decisions with limited information.
  • Understanding organizational culture and its impact on broader societal issues is crucial.

Conclusion

• Case Method: No "right answers" but encourages navigating and communicating complex decisions.
• Humility: Emphasized as an important trait in decision-making.
• Open Discussion: Importance of addressing sensitive topics with care but not avoiding them.

Q&A Highlights

• Variety in Cases: Range from simple business decisions to complex global evaluations.
• Learning Approach: Engaging discussions over lectures for better retention and skill development.

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These notes provide a comprehensive overview of the lecture, capturing essential points about the case method, decision-making challenges faced by CEOs, and considerations around company culture and societal issues. They serve as a useful study aid and reference for understanding the broader implications of these topics.