Enhancing Management Education With AI: Chatbot-Assisted Case Studies

Abstract

This paper details an innovative pedagogical approach integrating custom AI-powered chatbots into case studies to develop future leaders capable of tackling grand challenges. Traditional case studies, while building analytical skills, often lack the systemic complexity and dynamic information-seeking essential for real-world leadership. Our chatbot-assisted case study, focused on an automotive logistics challenge, overcomes this by requiring students to engage in interactive dialogue with the AI. This process simulates the ambiguity and negotiation inherent in professional practice, directly cultivating adaptive leadership and systems thinking skills. We present a theoretically-grounded conceptual framework that informs this design, linking pedagogical theory to the development of these specific competencies. Qualitative and quantitative data demonstrate enhanced student engagement and the acquisition of the targeted adaptive and systemic skills. The findings underscore the transformative potential of AI to modernize management education, bridging theory with the practical skill development required to address complex, real-world problems.