Where can I find business case studies?

May 14, 2007 10:02 PM

Where can I get business case studies?

I am working on a book chapter about destructive aspects of CMC (Computer Mediated Communication, i.e. e-mail, IM, forums, blogs) on organizations. I am trying to illustrate the numerous types of destructive behavior/impact of CMC through case studies. My university doesn't have a business school, so I can't ask them. Any savvy MeFites know where I can search case studies to find communication-related mishaps?

posted by k8t to education (6 comments total)

Try Harvard Business Online
posted by shivohum at 10:25 PM on May 14, 2007

MIT OpenCourseWare? Sloan School of Management
posted by acro at 10:50 PM on May 14, 2007

You could construct some good cases just by using the Wall Street Journal, and searching for some recent cases having to do with email/instant messaging. Search for Hewlett Packard, Sallie Mae, or Enron to see some companies using email and IM. (WSJ is also a part of your standard Factiva or Lexis-Nexis subscription, if you have access to that).

If you're looking for something more ambitious, you might try searching the Enron email database. If nothing else, it's interesting to see the personal emails people sent around. But, I also think Sherron Watkins' email to Kenneth Lay could be sliced and diced by somebody versed in the pitfalls of email communication.
posted by redarmycomrade at 5:35 AM on May 15, 2007

Use the research databases at your school's library to do a search.
posted by nita at 5:56 AM on May 15, 2007

Second the school library - they pay for stuff that would cost you hundreds of dollars if you had to buy it privately. Even if it doesn't have a business school. Another nearby university with a business school may also have cross-library privileges, so see if you can use someone else's library.
posted by GuyZero at 6:39 AM on May 15, 2007

Yes, I used the library already, but because we don't have a B-school, no luck.
posted by k8t at 7:59 AM on May 15, 2007