Open Learning News and Updates

The Case for Using Case Studies

Entrepreneurship is a hot topic among students, especially those in business. Many teachers aim to teach what is relevant to the real world to set students up for success beyond the classroom but find creating realistic examples challenging. 

Why not expose students to real-world business problems? Access case studies based on real events with the Open Access Teaching Case Journal (OATCJ).

Free Teaching Case

Payton Needs a Prototype is a case study published in the OATCJ that examines potential methods to create a physical prototype and what functionality a prototype needs.  

This case focuses on a young female entrepreneur's challenges when developing a product for adults with learning disabilities. It reveals, in a practical way, the various stages of production in relation to the product life cycle and the financial viability of different production methods. 

Written by a professor and small business owner, Payton Needs a Prototype is designed for entrepreneurship programs and aims to help students develop confidence in distinguishing between critical and extraneous factors. 

Encourage your students to think realistically about entrepreneurship with Payton Needs a Prototype, a case study from the OATCJ. 

About the Author 

Alexander “A.J.” Miller is a passionate educator and small business entrepreneur. Miller teaches various topics, including Introductory Accounting and Organizational Behaviour for Human Resources. He regularly uses his real-world experience as an escape room owner to enhance lessons.  

About the Journal 

The OATCJ is a free journal of descriptive or decision-based teaching cases based on factual occurrences that involve real-life organizations and people. 

All cases undergo a double-blind peer-review and are published with an open-access license. Teaching notes are available for every case.

With publication costs covered by the Conestoga College School of Business, this journal enables professors to share their experiences with students worldwide. The OATCJ intentionally aligns with the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative, working to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.