Case studies are a great way for entrepreneurs to take in lessons learned from previous business endeavors. When used well, a good case study helps you to evaluate opportunities and risks, then apply those lessons to your own business practice. They allow you to put yourself in the driver’s seat before making decisions that others have made before. The following are the best places to access financial case studies.
Yale
Yale is one of the most prestigious universities in the United States, and they offer free access to financial case studies online. Run by their International Center for Finance, their website provides professional and academic support for financial economics research. There is a wide variety of interesting and useful topics that are studied, such as the future of malls, the future of newspapers, factor investing for retirement and much more. Access to these case studies and other financial research resources can be found .
MIT Sloan School of Management
The MIT Sloan School of Management has some of the most selective degree programs in the world, and they offer free access to financial case studies online. These studies are posted using the LearningEdge platform, and there are also management simulation games that are incredibly valuable training tools for business owners and managers alike. Their case studies cover a wide range of topics such as accounting and finance, entrepreneurship, leadership and ethics, strategy, operations management, system dynamics, and sustainability. Many of these case studies highlight the decision-making process that goes into owning or managing a business. Access to these case studies and other financial research resources can be found here.
Acadia University
Acadia University is a public university in Nova Scotia, and they offer free access to financial case studies online. The website is down, but you can still access historical records on the web archive. The Acadia Institute of Case Studies is a non-profit center that develops these case studies to provide resource materials for students and educators. They offer case studies for a wide range of topics such as women in business, youth entrepreneurship, e-business, accounting and finance, economic development and much more. Some of the most interesting examples on the website include project evaluations as well as process documentation of how certain businesses developed their plan to overcame financial obstacles. Access to these case studies and other financial research resources can be found here.
Harvard
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university, and they offer premium financial case studies at a high cost. Their archive contains thousands of case studies that contain an extensive amount of valuable information. If you’re willing to invest additional money into obtaining knowledge about financial decision making and business operations, then this is one of the best resources. They offer case study startup kits, curriculum maps, books, and partner collections. Some of the most interesting topics include the future of remote work, the role of platform design, the ethical challenges of a family startup business, and much more. Access to these case studies and other financial research resources can be found here.
Browsing Tips
Searching through hundreds of case studies to find specific information can be tedious. Fortunately, these websites are well designed and organized so that you can easily find the information that you’re looking for. Always check the date of the case study that you’re reading, because information may have been relevant in a previous period but be out of date today. Try to find the most important facts and information from each case study, then compare and contrast them with one another. Combining knowledge from multiple case studies is an excellent way to develop insight that you can transfer to your own business strategy and tactics.
An effective method of absorbing information and diving deeper into case studies is to read the study three times. The first reading should be a quick skim through to understand what the study is about and the data that is used. The second reading should be a careful examination of the exhibits in the case to better understand how to evaluate the situation. The third reading should be focused on understanding the root problems presented in the study while coming up with your own recommendations for solving them. Using this method may not be necessary for everyone, but it’s a useful tool to get the most out of a case study that is relevant to your field.
Contact Us for All of Your Commercial Financing
Case studies are a powerful tool for many leaders. At Alternative Funding Partners, our brokers and extensive network of lenders have years of experience in the field and can provide you feedback on your financing plan, including relevant examples to help you identify risks and opportunities in your growth and financing plan. We partner with lenders nationwide to provide access to capital when it’s unavailable through traditional means. We work directly with companies to provide guidance, assurance and direct access to reputable sources of funds. Visit us online or give us a call to start a conversation.