Thunderbird at ASU ranked top 10 in faculty research, case writing for third consecutive year

For the third consecutive year, Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University has been recognized in The Case Centre Impact Index, climbing four places to rank No. 16 globally and No. 7 in the United States. This advancement highlights the growing global reach and influence of Thunderbird’s faculty in case writing, up from No. 20 worldwide and No. 10 nationally in 2024.

Thunderbird’s position among the top 10 U.S. institutions places it ahead of renowned schools including The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Internationally, Thunderbird ranks above HEC Paris in France, SDA Bocconi School of Management in Italy, and the National University of Singapore Business School.

“Our rise to No. 16 in The Case Centre Impact Index 2025 reflects the growing global reach of this approach and the influence of Thunderbird thought leadership worldwide. It affirms our commitment to advancing management education that not only informs but transforms — empowering learners everywhere to lead with innovation, integrity and impact.” said Charla Griffy-Brown, director general and dean of Thunderbird.

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 Impact Index ranking system was launched as part of The Case Centre’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2023, and provides a platform to recognize the global reach and impact of an organization’s case writing.

“In the age of AI, the case method reminds us that while data may inform, it is stories that transform. Case writing and case teaching are acts of connection — where lived experience meets reflection, and where the human heartbeat of leadership is rediscovered. Through storytelling, we transcend algorithms to cultivate wisdom, empathy and courage — the timeless engines of progress. This award stands as testimony to the enduring power of narrative and dialogue to inspire, to connect and to remind us that learning is ultimately a profoundly human journey,” said Euvin Naidoo, director of the Thunderbird Case Series and Distinguished Professor of Global Accounting, Risk and Agility at Thunderbird.

The school’s continued success in case writing is powered by the Thunderbird Case Series and the newly launched Thunderbird Case Lab. Founded in 1996, the Thunderbird Case Series captures real-world global management occurrences and transforms them into rich classroom materials, serving as a cornerstone of the school’s educational model.

This fall, the new Case Lab launched with the intent to build on this tradition with a focus on simulations, storytelling and the integration of artificial intelligence into teaching and learning.

The lab has already hosted a number of faculty workshops, including sessions on AI-driven vibe coding, agentic AI and simulation design in partnership with Harvard Business Impact (formerly Harvard Business Publishing Education). It also ran the third iteration of its signature course, “Agility and the Art of Case Writing,” helping participants craft stories that enrich classrooms and boardrooms alike.

Since its inception, the Thunderbird Case Series has produced more than 500 original cases, eight of which have been recognized with international awards for excellence and impact.

Among these most celebrated works are two cases written by Lena Booth, deputy dean of Thunderbird Academic Enterprise and finance professor. "Hola-Kola: The Capital Budgeting Decision" is set in Mexico, and "Saito Solar Discounted Cash Flow Valuation" is based in Japan, with both exploring policy and strategy in global markets.

Other distinguished cases include "Dell’s Dilemma in Brazil: Negotiating at the State Level" by Roy Nelson, senior associate dean of undergraduate programs, which highlights political negotiation and market entry in emerging economies; Professor Mary Teagarden’s classic bestseller "Blood Bananas: Chiquita in Colombia," which continues to be used globally to teach corporate responsibility and ethics; and "Race to the South Pole" by Bill Youngdahl, associate professor of project and operations leadership and William D. Hacker Faculty Fellow, which examines three contrasting leadership styles during the early 20th-century race to reach the South Pole.

A full list of prize winning cases can be found here.

Thunderbird cases are distributed and available for purchase through The Case Centre, Harvard Business Impact, and Ivey Publishing, but they are also utilized throughout Thunderbird degree and executive education curriculum to depict real-world global challenges and spark dialogue in the classroom.

Thunderbird’s high ranking by The Case Centre also reflects the strength of its faculty authors.

Professor Kannan Ramaswamy was named one of The Case Centre’s Top 50 Best-Selling Case Authors for 2023–24. His contemporary cases, including "Where’s the Beef? Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods, and the Alternative Meat Industry" and "Singapore Airlines: Strategy with a Smile" — have become classroom staples across continents.

Last year, Naidoo received The Case Centre’s Outstanding Case Teacher Award, recognizing his innovative use of the case method and his leadership of the Thunderbird Case Series.

With the Case Lab driving innovation and the Case Series extending its reach, Thunderbird is continuing to elevate management education through storytelling, technology and collaboration. The school plans to build upon this continued success by expanding its catalogue of new cases focused on sustainability, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and ethical leadership.

“At this pivotal time in history, the role of educators and researchers is not only to produce knowledge but to translate that knowledge into narratives that shape action. The case method allows us to do this with impact. Our Thunderbird Case Series takes this further through innovation in simulation, data analysis and student-driven writing. These cases don’t just describe global challenges — they model them, analyze them and invite our learners to engage directly in solving them,” Griffy-Brown said.

“By integrating real-world data, immersive technologies and collaborative authorship, we are redefining what it means to learn from and contribute to management education in a complex, interconnected world.”