Character Development in Case Writing: Theory and Practice

This study examines character development within the field of case writing. An overview theory on characters within cases is provided. The theory is then utilized to examine the state of  character usage and development within a sample of 38 cases published by the Society for Case Research. The majority of the cases in the sample embraced the theory of character inclusion. However, while the sample of the cases tended to include characters, the development of character personas was lacking. The findings are discussed in light of current theory and practice in case writing.  This article advances the theory and practice of character usage and development in case writing for academic researchers. Several key elements of cases lead to faculty adoption and student engagement. Well-developed characters add to the story and provide an anchor for students learning by placing themselves in the case and characters. This article helps both authors and adopters better consider character development.