Thunderbird at ASU repeats top 10 ranking in global impact for faculty research and case writing

The Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University has once again been recognized by The Case Centre's Impact Index, receiving the same prestigious rankings in 2024 as in 2023, with securing the No. 20 spot globally and top 10 in the U.S., highlighting the global reach and impact of its faculty's case writing.

The domestic top 10 ranking places Thunderbird ahead of University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Internationally, Thunderbird ranks ahead of Bocconi University (SDA Bocconi School of Management) in Italy, University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, and Nanyang Business School in Singapore.

As the world’s leading independent hub and leader of all management schools for cases, The Case Centre is dedicated to advancing the case method worldwide by sharing knowledge, wisdom and experience, and inspiring and transforming business education across the globe.

“The recognition of Thunderbird as a top case-writing institution globally and in the U.S. for two consecutive years is a testament to the exceptional dedication of our faculty and their commitment to shaping global leaders and developing dynamic thought leadership through effective case writing,” said Charla Griffy-Brown, director general and dean of Thunderbird. “Outranking other prestigious institutions underscores our innovative approach to case writing and reinforces our unwavering mission to push the boundaries of global leadership and management thought leadership. This achievement reflects our profound impact — not only on our students while they are with us, but also on the world they will go on to lead.”

Introduced in 2023, the Impact Index, derived from usage data from The Case Centre, shines a light on the global reach and impact of business schools' case writing during the previous academic year.

“The Index is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate those schools demonstrating their commitment to high quality case writing — writing that is educational, engaging, and influential to students and teachers globally,” said Vicky Lester, chief executive officer of The Case Centre.

“Thunderbird’s repeated ranking in the top 10 in the U.S. and top 20 globally for Case Impact is testimony to our remarkable faculty, students, alumni, and the deep support by the school’s senior leadership to the case method being an integral part of the Thunderbird experience. As a school we champion excellence in the classroom case experience, committed to making an impact on the management journey of our students by immersing them in great stories that bring lessons to life from across the globe,” said Euvin Naidoo, 2024 Outstanding Case Teacher, director of the Thunderbird Case Series, and distinguished professor of practice of global accounting, risk and agility at Thunderbird.

“One element the judges and organizers of this prestigious ranking across the leading management schools of the world have shared with us, is the value and appreciation of the distinct value proposition of the Thunderbird Case Series, that has long emphasized diversity in thinking and approaches,” Naidoo added.

Lena Booth, deputy dean of Thunderbird Academic Enterprise and finance professor, has authored multiple award-winning, bestselling cases that truly embody Thunderbird’s global perspective.

Booth’s cases, "Hola-Kola: The Capital Budgeting Decision" which is set in Mexico, and "Saito Solar: Discounted Cash Flow Valuation" which is set in Japan, tackle classic financial concepts, but in a global context. Both cases have received awards as global best-sellers in finance and Hola-Kola is listed in The Case Centre’s Classic collection.

“In the hands of a great case writer, a management concept is so much more — it is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on students and executives. We thank The Case Centre for once again supporting all of the top management schools across the globe for case impact and for including Thunderbird in this rarefied air that aims to recognize excellence in all things case-related,” added Naidoo.

The Case Centre also recently announced Thunderbird Professor Kannan Ramaswamy to its coveted ‘top 50 best selling case authors’ list for 2023/2024, marking the first time a Thunderbird author has placed in the top 50. The annual list has been published since 2016 and includes the top 50 bestselling case authors —  essentially faculty whose cases sold the most copies during the previous academic year.

Ramaswamy’s case writing spanned multiple industries ranging from energy and food to haute couture and grocery retailing —and explored the nuances of strategic decision making in contexts as diverse as the United States, China, Brazil, Russia, Japan, and India international markets. His bestselling cases of 2023/2024 were: ‘Where's the Beef? Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods and the Alternative Meat Industry,’ ‘Singapore International Airlines: Strategy with a Smile,’ and ‘The Digital Transformation of Kroger: Remaking the Grocery Business.’

According to The Case Centre, the case method remains an irreplaceable cornerstone of management education and dynamic thought leadership.

Thunderbird's faculty actively research and develop case studies based on complex current global business scenarios. These thought-provoking cases are used in Thunderbird degree programs and executive education environments to illustrate real-world global management occurrences and initiate deep analysis and professor and student discussion of causes and solutions.

Thunderbird also has a rich legacy of spotlighting global case studies that set the foundation for the Thunderbird Case Series, which was created in 1997. Known for its distinctive focus, this series stands out by celebrating diversity and showcasing management practices from regions that broaden perspectives and deepen participants' understanding of global management.

Professor Mary Teagarden’s “Blood Bananas: Chiquita in Colombia” is now a decades old classic looking at strategy, operations and international trade through the lens of a U.S. company operating internationally.

Many of Thunderbird's acclaimed case studies are crafted to do more than teach fundamental management concepts; they immerse participants in practical applications across a variety of local and global markets.

“The DNA of many of our award-winning Thunderbird cases encourages participants to not just learn key management concepts but engage in these in various local and international markets so it is not just mastering the concept but also learning the importance of context,” added Naidoo. “That is what makes for a memorable learning experience that can be transformational for students and executives.”