Berkeley-Haas Case Series

In establishing this new collection, we have ventured into a field where others have been for decades, but we launched the Berkeley-Haas Case Series because we believe we have a unique perspective to lend. Our culture and vision at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley naturally offer distinctive qualities to the Series, filling a gap in case offerings with our rich history that challenges conventional assumptions about business, science, culture, and politics.

 

While many of our cases are born from the usual areas of study in business schools, we also make a particular effort to develop cases from our more unique courses like Cleantech to Market, Haas@Work, or our International Business Development program.

 

As with most case series, Berkeley-Haas cases present actual situations where leaders face challenges or opportunities about which they must make critical decisions. However, the scenarios in our cases emphasize what we consider the Defining Principles of the Berkeley-Haas Culture:

 

How to Question the Status Quo - We lead by championing bold ideas, taking intelligent risks and accepting sensible failures. Our cases show leaders making the toughest of decisions and speaking their minds, even when it challenges convention.

 

Having Confidence Without Attitude - We make decisions based on evidence and analysis, giving us the confidence to act without arrogance. Stories of individuals who lead through trust and collaboration are an important part of our case series.

 

Going Beyond Yourself - We shape our world by leading ethically and responsibly. As stewards of our enterprises, we take the longer view in our decisions and actions, and our cases reveal the value of putting larger interests above our own and the detriment of not doing so.

 

Being Students Always - We are a community designed for curiosity and lifelong pursuit of personal and intellectual growth, and the Berkeley-Haas Case Series is a tool that fosters this commitment.

 

 

Click here to access a Quicklist of Berkeley-Haas Cases

 

To view any Haas Case and/or obtain permission to distribute, email cmr@haas.berkeley.edu

 

ALL FACULTY:
Faculty can use Berkeley-Haas cases in their electronic coursepack readers through the University Readers website.

 

Instructions:

- Click on "Browse Library" Tab

- Next to search field, click on "Advanced Search"

- Then choose "Berkeley-Haas Case Series" on the publisher drop down and click the magnifying glass to search.

 

It will bring up a list of all Berkeley-Haas Cases. You can narrow your search by other parameters in the advanced search window as well.

 

HAAS FACULTY ONLY:
Haas Faculty can use Berkeley-Haas cases in their electronic coursepack readers through the Study.Net website.

 

Instructions:

- Sign in (or create an account)

- Create an online course

- Then click "Add Material" in that course to search for Berkeley-Haas Cases by title, author, or topic.

 

We are continually adding new cases to our Study.Net and University Readers collections so please check back frequently for updates.

 

California Management Review (CMR) and the Berkeley-Haas Case Series:  The Berkeley-Haas Case Series is managed by CMR--the peer-reviewed business journal at the Haas School of Business. 

 

Who Can Submit a Berkeley-Haas Case:  Any Haas Faculty member (including adjunct professors and lecturers but not visiting scholars) may submit a case for publication consideration.  While cases can be co-authored by anyone, the Haas Faculty Sponsor must be listed as the lead (first) author on every case.

 

Berkeley-Haas Case Services:  CMR can provide the professional services of a Case Developer, Writer, and/or Editor.  Upon request by Haas Faculty, the professional Case Writer can assist in writing a case or editing a case that has already been written.  The Case Writer can also help create Teaching Notes.  For more information, read the Where to Begin section of this web page.

 

Transferring Copyright:  As part of the publication process, all authors are required to assign the case copyright to The Regents of the University of California.  Faculty will have the right, however, to reprint their case without charge in any book of which they are the author or editor.

 

Time Estimates:  The prominence of a company and the author's relationship with that company are the most significant factors in the overall time it takes to complete a case for publication.  However, when working with the Case Writer, estimates are:

• Writing:  Most cases can be written and prepared for publication within 4 to 6 months. If copyright permissions needs to be obtained, that could significantly increase the amount of time before the case can be completed for publication. Get more information about Copyright Permission Acquisition.
• Copyediting:  Most written cases can be copyedited within 2 or 3 weeks. If copyright permissions need to be obtained, that could significantly increase the amount of time before the case can be completed for publication. Get more information about Copyright Permission Acquisition.

 

Cases should have general editorial and pedagogical excellence.

• Content must be of high interest to Undergraduate, MBA, and/or Executive Education programs.
• Cases should be approximately 2,000 to 6,000 words in length.
• All published cases must have written teaching notes.
• Class testing, where students complete a formal quantitative assignment as part of the case analysis, is not required but is preferred.
• Cases submitted for publication must include a Submission Summary which answers the following key questions:
1. Why is this an important case for Haas to develop/publish?
2. In what classes or executive programs would this case be used, or has it been used?
3. What are the key learning points of this case?
4. What important business problem(s) does it teach students how to address?
5. What niche does it fill with respect to existing cases?

 

Copyright Permission Requirements:
Authors must obtain copyright permission for all proprietary information that will be part of the case (e.g., logos, charts, figures, graphs, interviews).  If you're having trouble, contact us; we can help. This is a critical (and the most often overlooked) requirement of publishing.  Copyright acquisition is ALWAYS easier to obtain at the beginning of the case writing process than after the fact. 

A case cannot be published or distributed until all necessary written permission has been submitted to the California Management Review. 

 

* Important information about Copyright Permission

 

* Download the Permission to Publish form

 

* Download the Case Study Use form

 

If authors have any questions or need help regarding copyright permission acquisition, they should contact CMR for assistance as soon as possible <cmr@haas.berkeley.edu>

 

Formatting

• Text- single spaced, Times New Roman 10.5pt
• First level headings- Times New Roman 13, bold, uppercase
• Second level headings- Times New Roman 13, no bold, mixed case
• Exhibits - at the end and referenced sequentially within the text (unless essential to put them with the body of the case)

 

References
The layout of citations should be as follows: Author, “article title,” book title, edition number publisher, place of publication, year of publication, page number. All references to websites must note when the website was accessed. A bibliography of academic sources utilized in the case preparation should go in the teaching note, not in the case.

 

Exhibits
We require a source for each exhibit. Advise as to whether the exhibit is an original document extraction or a creation of the author using data from the original document. Exhibits should be of reproductive quality. Spreadsheets and tables should be inserted into the document as editable objects, not as images, in case further editing is required. All tables, figures, appendices, etc. should be referred to as Exhibits.

 

Permissions
It's important to note that the public availability of information does not necessarily mean that it's public domain and free for you to use. For example, large extractions of text are examples of material often requiring permission. If material found from a public source is copyrighted, permission must still be obtained (e.g., photographs, logos, screenshots, website content, etc.).

 

Case Length/File Size
Unit sales of cases drop off very quickly once a case exceeds about 25 pages (exhibits included). Generally, cases under 20 pages are preferable. Number the pages. Photographs significantly increase the electronic file size so use them only where necessary.

 

Poetic License
In cases written from public sources, it is not legal to attribute statements, or actions, or feelings, etc. to actual persons. You do not know for certain that they are true. Speculating or fictionalizing not only erodes the credibility of the writing but leaves you open to a lawsuit.

 

Tense

Cases should be written in the past tense. The events have already occurred. Industry notes and teaching notes can be written in the present tense.

 

Begin the publishing process in one of the following two (2) ways:

 

1.  If you have a fully developed idea for a case, email CMR's Managing Editor at <cypress@haas.berkeley.edu>.  Include in your email:

• A detailed summary of what the case will be about
• Whether and from whom you have obtained written permission to use proprietary material in the case
• A list of your contacts at this company
• What kind of assistance you would like to complete this case
• A Submission Summary, which notes:

1. Why is this an important case for Haas to develop/publish?
2. In what classes or executive programs would this case be used, or has it been used?
3. What are the key learning points of this case?
4. What important business problem(s) does it teach students how to address?
5. What niche does it fill with respect to existing cases?

2.  If you have a case already written (whether it still needs professional editing or not), email CMR's Managing Editor at <cypress@haas.berkeley.edu>.  Include in your email:

• The case as an attachment (in MS Word format)
• Whether and from whom you have obtained written permission to use proprietary material in the case
• A list of your contacts at this company
• What assistance you would like to complete this case
• Teaching Notes if they exist
• A Submission Summary, which notes:

1. Why is this an important case for Haas to develop/publish?
2. In what classes or executive programs would this case be used, or has it been used?
3. What are the key learning points of this case?
4. What important business problem(s) does it teach students how to address?
5. What niche does it fill with respect to existing cases?

Depending on the case's stage of development, CMR will notify author(s) of next steps within 2 weeks.

 

Partnering with Berkeley-Haas as a case study subject has many benefits for your organization.

 

• Having a case study written by Berkeley-Haas could have added value to the company’s brand and can be promoted through press releases and other internal and external communications;

 

• Since the case study can be made available online, a company can develop unexpected personal relationships with external colleagues and companies;

 

• The case study process often leads to unexpected reflection and reconsideration of existing strategies that can influence critical, future organizational decisions;

 

• Case protagonists are often invited into the classroom to hear student discussions which often provide new and fresh ideas;

 

• Case protagonists also learn surprising insights based on interviews conducted with their own colleagues;

 

• Case protagonists and other participants can enjoy developing a closer relationship with a Berkeley-Haas faculty member, often a world-class leader in a particular field, and this is sometimes the beginning of a long-term fruitful relationship;

 

• Case studies can bring to the surface things that companies and protagonists know are there, but haven’t been formally stated or acknowledged;

 

• Case studies can serve as valuable educational tools for training within a company, oftentimes serving as the only comprehensive history of an organization;

 

• Case studies are never published without the written authority of the company, so sensitive information or non-public information is never released to the public or competitors.