Leveraging research for greater impact
Prof. Zuidwijk emphasized that one of the most effective ways to disseminate research findings is through education. Teaching cases, developed from funded research projects and master’s theses, serve as an efficient way to translate applied research into engaging educational content. By doing so, research findings can reach a wider audience and foster practical and engaging learning experiences for students.
Transforming master theses into teaching cases
Prof. Zuidwijk shared his personal experience in case development, beginning with his own research about digital ports After noting the original insights from a master’s thesis by RSM alumna Danique Zoeteweij (MSc Business Information Management 2014), he invited her to collaborate with the Case Development Centre (CDC) to create a teaching case. The case explored governance models in digital platforms, comparing Port of Antwerp’s open system and contrasting it with the Port of Rotterdam’s closed governance model.
Prof. Zuidwijk noted that master theses often contain valuable insights, and their potential for case teaching is often overlooked. Converting a thesis into an academic publication can be challenging but transforming it into a teaching case can be a worthwhile alternative. Students who wrote theses – particularly those with industry experience from their internships – can contribute first-hand knowledge to the case-writing process. When they work with the CDC, they receive professional guidance to transform their thesis work into structured and engaging teaching cases.
Transforming funded research into learning materials
Beyond traditional case studies, Prof. Zuidwijk described the development of interactive and experiential learning materials such as games, scenario exercises, and vignettes, as well as course packages built around these materials as part of externally funded research projects. These rich materials – which are grounded in academic research – can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of knowledge dissemination and also enhance research impact.
An example is the EU-funded SELIS project, which produced two types of learning materials: a board game that gives students hands-on experience with collective decision-making in innovation adoption, and four teaching cases illustrating real-world applications of innovative business models in fostering a greener, more agile, and collaborative European logistics and transportation system.
Benefits of bridging research and teaching
Researchers stand to gain several advantages from turning their projects into teaching cases:
- Accelerates 'time to classroom': Teaching cases can expedite the process of transforming research insights into educational material.
- Maximizes impact: Teaching cases ensure that research findings reach a broader audience, including students, educators, and practitioners.
- Provides early-stage funding opportunities: Partnering with the CDC in the early stage of a research project can be a strong component in attracting funding.
- Serves as a strong dissemination tool: Many funded research projects require dissemination instruments, and the development of a teaching case can serve as a valuable outcome for the project.
Get involved
The CDC offers comprehensive support to researchers interested in transforming their work into impactful learning materials. If you have an interesting research project and are looking for ways to maximize its impact through a teaching case, contact the CDC. Our experienced case writers can support brainstorming sessions and guide you through the development process.
With over 15 years of expertise in case development, the CDC can help adapt your research for educational use, provide professional writing assistance, and facilitate publishing and promotion to increase its reach and impact. Getting the CDC involved early in your research process can strengthen funding applications and ensure an efficient case development process.
The seminar is part of our quarterly Brown Bag Seminars on Creating Memorable Cases. Join the RSM Case Community to stay updated on future seminars.