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These teacher developed case studies taken from the business world are presented to help secondary students develop an understanding of economics and of the decision-making process. The studies describe real business situations. All historical and current facts are provided, and students must analyze the data and make business decisions. Teacher directions are provided for each of the five cases. In the first case study, "Dental Health Insurance: Is It Worth the Bite?," students analyze the coverage and costs of a dental health insurance package. They must then decide if, as an officer of their student association, they would recommend this plan to the association membership. The second case study deals with the stealing of electricity from the utility company Northeastern Electric. Students discuss whether theft is a crime when done to a large public company. The third case study is entitled "Howard Johnson's Hustles On." Students are asked to place themselves in the President's chair of this restaurant chain and decide whether or not to build a disco-type cocktail lounge to attract young adults to an already successful Howard Johnson's in Braintree, Massachusetts. In the fourth case study, students play the role of a large chain hotel executive. They must decide whether to convert a manual reservation system to a computerized reservation system in the chain's hotel located at the site of the 1980 Olympics. Banking services and marketing communication problems are analyzed in the last case study. A discussion of how to use case studies to teach economics is also included in the publication. (Author/RM)

These teacher developed case studies taken from the business world are presented to help secondary students develop an understanding of economics and of the decision-making process. The studies describe real business situations. All historical and current facts are provided, and students must analyze the data and make business decisions. Teacher directions are provided for each of the 11 case studies. Some examples of the studies follow. One case study, entitled "Making It in Ireland," focuses on a computer company's need to decide where to locate a new assembly plant--within the United States of overseas. Students learn the importance of profit in corporate decision making and some of the effects that government and corporations have on each other. Another case study asks students to take into consideration the new 1980 regulations regarding the trucking industry. Students must propose a new marketing strategy to accommodate changing market conditions and plan new routes between terminals. The sociological and economic implications of the Master Charge Program of the New England Merchants National Bank are examined by students in one study. Another case, designed to help students recognize certain aspects of business such as cost, quality, and efficiency, asks students how they would handle the problem of wasted donuts at the Dunkin Donut University in Braintree, Massachusetts. The publication also contains a discussion of how to use the case method in business education. (Author/RM)

These teacher developed case studies taken from the business world are presented to help secondary students develop an understanding of economics and of the decision-making process. The studies describe real business situations. All historical and current facts are provided, and students must analyze the data and make business decisions. Teacher directions are provided for each of the three case studies. In the first case students play the role of the chief executive officer of the Boston Gas Company. The student must make the decision to solve the immediate problems in the areas of public relations and meet the unprecedented demand to convert to gas. The second case which considers a number of options by which the cost of health care might be reduced is presented through memos from the Blue Cross president and treasurer. Students are asked to decide what plan they might think desirable and reasonable. The small business environment is the topic of the final case study. Students discuss how a small family corporation could expand into manufacturing while still maintaining their position in the distribution market. Also included in the publication is a discusssion of how to use case study materials in the classroom. (Author/RM)

These teacher developed case studies taken from the business world are presented to help secondary students develop an understanding of economics and of the decision-making process. The studies describe real business situations. All historical and current facts are provided for each of the seven case studies. In the first case, students debate whether the lobby for a shoe corporation should be in favor or against shoe import quotas from Taiwan and Korea. In the second group of studies, students acting as Field Supervisors of Collections for the Public Service Company must make some tough decisions on what customers will be shut off. In the third case study, students must decide upon the most profitable layout for a self-service, neighborhood discount department store. Students must decide on a sales program for a company in the data processing industry in the fourth case study. The fifth case study involves students in reading the Sheraton Corporation's case against a current bill on the minimum wage before the House of Representatives. Students acting as members of the House must decide how they would vote. The last two case studies involve students in making decision concerning advertising for the Howard Johnson restaurant chain and implementing new ideas for the Filene retail department store. (Author/RM)