Today we’d like to introduce you to Hans Klein.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After a successful business career as controller in Europe and U.S.A., I earned a D.B.A. and C.M.A. When I entered academic teaching, I found that explanations of the double entry accounting system relied heavily on an approach “debits on the left where the windows are and credits on the right where the door is” that left many students at a loss when the window was on the other side…
Together, with likeminded colleagues who shared a business background, we began to apply the case method to teach accounting.
The Case Method can be defined in a broad sense by contrasting it with the lecture method. Instead of textbooks, the Case Method uses partial, historical descriptions of specific situations enabling students to discover and develop their own unique framework for problem-solving. The Case Method achieves this goal efficiently and effectively. Data and information are presented in narrative form to encourage student involvement by solving problems actively, by identifying sources of information necessary for problem-solving, by engaging in critical thinking and through group work. (The group work contributes to the development of individuals able and willing to work collegially, etc.). Although “cases” have been used in one form or another by both law and medicine for a long time, the Case Method in the teaching of management and other disciplines is relatively new. The Harvard Business School is well known for its innovative role in this regard. The method has applications far beyond the managerial, business orientation so familiar to many.
In 1984, we created a not-for-profit association – WACRA® – to explain, research and advance the use of the case method in teaching, planning and training at all levels; to promote and encourage research using the case method, with special emphasis placed on studying the teaching effectiveness in varied teaching-learning systems; to coordinate development of interactive pedagogical methods involving the case method, simulations and games; to augment the available body of research and teaching materials; to foster interdisciplinary applications and to encourage cooperation with the public sector, the business community and other case method oriented professional specialties on a worldwide basis.
WACRA’s main function at the present time is to coordinate research, to facilitate the organization of forums, public discussions, workshops, training sessions, lectures and conferences and develop a worldwide network. WACRA organizes annual conferences at various locations around the world to provide opportunities and encourage the exchange of ideas, the presentation of planned, on-going and completed research, and the sharing of applications, simulations and games. Papers and manuscripts accepted (double blind peer review) and presented at the annual conferences are, after further review, considered for publication.
The development and increasing affordability of new communication technologies is changing the educational environment for teachers, trainers and students. Institutions worldwide are investigating and investing in distance education, video-based instruction, and computer-assisted instruction. Over twenty volumes of international case method research papers, cases and presentations attest to WACRA’s success in providing an important forum in “managing change in multi-cultural settings” and in promoting cross cultural dialogue and development in Higher Education and training.
The International Journal of Case Method Research & Application – IJCRA – is The Authoritative Journal of the World Association for Case Method Research & Application. The Journal continues a long WACRA tradition of educational leadership and pioneering in case method research and application and state-of-the-art contributions to the theory and practice of learning and teaching with cases. IJCRA’s editorial board is representative of WACRA’s international membership, interests and goals. Over 65 quarterly issues have been published including one devoted to Service Learning projects, one on the ‘alleviation of poverty through education’ and several Spanish language issues. Since 1984, WACRA has conducted fifty-five international conferences in almost as many countries.
Has it been a smooth road?
Persuading others
– to write an innovative academic paper and
– to submit the paper on time to meet the deadline
– to apply for funding to travel
– and then actually travel
…is a never ending undertaking. It is exceedingly easy to find an excuse for not to do any of the above.
And then there are the unexpected, recurring international events, for example, I was in Berlin preparing a conference. I called home. My wife told me, that she was watching bombs being dropped on Baghdad, Iraq! That was the end for plans for that conference… Most delegates potentially interested in a conference would postpone their travel if they have safety concerns, because their loved ones are concerned or their employer does not give permission to travel.
While in Buenos Aires, Argentina one January fine-tuning preparations for a June conference, political turmoil erupted – the country changed presidents four times in a matter of 4 weeks, necessitating finding another site on very short notice.
More recently, WACRA was planning to hold a conference in Havana, Cuba in January 2018. Rocky – U.S. relations and unresolved travel restrictions forced a future rescheduling.
With natural disasters, revolutions, wars braking out, Ebola and other epidemics occurring, there never is a paucity of reasons why to reschedule a trip abroad.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with WACRA® – World Assn for Case Method Research & Application – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am the president and executive director of the association. I plan and organize the conferences together with the support of executive and advisory boards. I identify the conference sites, possible venues, visit potential locations and negotiate with vendors.
For a given year, several universities ask to be considered as a future conference site, e.g., in 2017, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú in Lima, was chosen as the site for the 33rd annual summer conference.
We do as we preach: Several years ago when preparing a conference in The Netherlands, members of the host team asked if WACRA could verify and guarantee that all registered delegates from South Africa are opponents of apartheid. WACRA’s goal is to explain, across political and cultural borders, research and advance the use of the case method in teaching, planning and training at all levels. WACRA conferences are conducted as case studies in themselves to explain, research and advance the use of the case method in teaching, planning and training at all levels; to promote and encourage research using the case method, with special emphasis placed on studying the teaching effectiveness in varied teaching-learning systems; to coordinate development of interactive pedagogical methods involving the case method, simulations and games; to augment the available body of research and teaching materials; to foster interdisciplinary applications and to encourage cooperation with the public sector, the business community and other case method oriented professional specialties on a worldwide basis.
WACRA conferences are designed to appeal to the entire human being: the mind and spirit, collegiality, physical well-being, educational and cultural development.
Partners and spouses are invited to actively participate or observe their partners’ professional presentations. Which sometimes adds some reality to the proceedings. The conferences are followed by an educational-cultural tour to provide delegates the opportunity to meet and interact with people of the host country. For example, in Peru one group of delegates participated in a guided tour to Machu Picchu, while another group visited the extensive archeological sites of the Moche people in the North-Peru. After the summer 2016 conference, a group visited five countries of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire: Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, and Slovakia.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The cosmopolitan flavor, the history and the cultural environment. — The traffic!!!
Pricing:
- InidividualMembership is $85.00 per year (includes access to the online International Journal of Case Method Research & Application
- Organizational yearly fee $785 (includes 10 individual memberships)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wacra.org
- Email: wacra@rcn.com
Image Credit:
WACRA Staff photos
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
