Innovations in virtual team training using the CASE method

This paper investigates innovation in the use of the CASE teaching method in virtual team environment. Literature review reported mixed results. Challenges with teaching this method include difficulties with (a) developing shared context to support case discussion, (b) maintaining participants´ interest in case discussion, (c) guiding the team learning process, (d) building up team momentum, and (e) ensuring team actually learns as they solve case issues, include (a) no observable degradation found in case-based virtual team learning, (b) team members developed more complete and thoughtful arguments, (c) virtual teams generated more ideas, and (d) more diverse opinions were developed and shared. Proposed improvements included (a) development of richer case information, (b) development and discussion of cases from different cultural and social perspectives, (d) integration of learners to remote live cases, and (e) development of asynchronous case learning process. We recommend additional applied research areas for virtual team collaboration training using the CASE teaching method.