This interview was conducted with Business Foundations Lecturer, Danielle Brennan. Brennan is an Ivey HBA graduate (‘23) and has taught in Business Foundations for two years, focusing on the first-year course, 1220, along with the engineering equivalent, 1299.
What is the case method? How does this differ from a high school setting, or compared to other university courses?
In high school, you are typically taught in a specific manner: learn content in class, practice with homework, then take up the homework the following day. 1220, along with Business Foundations and Ivey courses, flip the way you learn. You first come to class with having done the homework (the case), take up the case, then learn from your mistakes. The point of the case method isn’t to be perfect, it's to learn! You’re supposed to make mistakes and find holes in your knowledge.The case method mimics the real world, as you never truly know what’s going to happen or occur. Through the case method, there is no ‘right’ answer, there is only strong and weak analysis. Although this can be an adjustment to our typical way of learning, the case method gives us room to grow and learn, while mimicking a real-world scenario.
Before taking the course, is there anything students can do to prepare for success?
1220’s first unit is finance and accounting, also known as FAM. Before Brennan took 1220 as a first-year, she came in with no previous accounting knowledge. Although this could have been a detriment, she didn’t feel it made her fall behind. Sure, it might make it faster to learn the content within the first few weeks, but after that, the disparity within the group falls away. FAM is quite different from your typical high school accounting, so everyone is in a similar position within learning the content. Although it may be nice to have taken accounting or participated in a case competition before, there is no need to enter with this background. 1220 starts slow and works its way up to harder cases, allowing anyone to follow along with or without previous background knowledge.
How similar is 1220, along with other Business Foundation courses, to the environment found in Ivey?
From first-hand experience, Brennan attests that the setup of the classes, the flow of the discussion and the way you prepare to be a reflection of one's HBA years. All of the content taught in 1220 is what you would be learning in the first year of Ivey (of course with more depth and breadth). From FAM, to marketing, to operations, you get a preamble on HBA courses, which sets you up to better understand the content entering HBA1. As an elective, it attracts classmates who are interested and engaged with the content, which is a similar narrative within Ivey.
1220 tends to have a bad reputation (i.e. Reddit) … do you feel like these comments are true or do they cause more anxiety then needed?
If you have ever entered Reddit, you have probably noticed the fearmongering within pre-Ivey classes, especially 1220. It is often considered a ‘grade tanker,’ viewed as unreasonable to take if you want a shot at Ivey. Though, this isn’t the case. As Brennan has observed, there is a very strong correlation between the effort you make within the course and the grade you will receive. If you enter 1220, or any course for that matter, with the mindset that it will ‘tank’ your grade, then it might! But, if you enter with a positive mindset, ready to do the work, learn from your mistakes and engage with the content, you will be a lot more successful. 1220 often gets a bad rap because students don’t expect the amount of content there is. The best reasons to take 1220 are to see if you are interested in Ivey and if you enjoy the content. Yes, 1220 may help you with 2257 (the mandatory course requirement pre-Ivey), but it also will help you understand what you like to learn. So, turn off those Reddit notifications, and try out the course for yourself!
Since this course is notorious for being participation-heavy, what can more soft-spoken students do to succeed in class?
Be comfortable with using your voice! Contrary to what you may think, many of your peers also find class participation daunting – the key is to start strong and have your voice heard near the beginning of the course. It is after the first few weeks that the class becomes dominated by a few heavy participants, so you might find it harder to assert yourself after those weeks have passed. If you’re worried about being wrong, try to think of a time you ridiculed someone else for the same thing – if you couldn’t, that should help mitigate your fears. Your lecturer is also your greatest resource. They’re not only there to teach you content and answer class-related questions, but they also want to see you succeed. Talking to them and voicing your concerns may help you figure out a plan to boost participation, like letting them know you prefer to be cold called. Ultimately, in-class participation is what earns you the marks while helping you acclimate to learning and contributing in the Ivey classroom.
What are some study habits you have noticed from successful students, other than participating in and attending class?
Different study habits work for different students, but there is a strong correlation between doing the cases and succeeding in class – and not just doing the cases but also figuring it out by yourself. That’s not to discourage you from working in groups – in fact, many students find that to be a motivator – but it means avoiding looking at case answers while doing it. Each lecturer will also have slightly different expectations, so keep a running document of these for future reference (this works in Ivey HBA too). Remember, consistency is key (and don’t forget to look at those footnotes lurking near the margins)!
How important would you say making good use of office hours is?
Contrary to the above, there is little correlation between using office hours and seeing success; some students never or rarely did and scored highly in the class. However, Brennan suggests taking advantage of office hours if you are ever confused, especially early in the course where the content is laying a foundation for future material. In particular, don’twait to do so right before an exam! Not only would it be more stressful to catch up, but your lecturer’s office hours might also be harder to book when everyone else is scrambling to do the same.
Do you have any advice for students who are preparing to take 4-hour long exams?
Yes, you read that right – in Business 1220/1299 and 2257, your exams will be that long, which sometimes isn’t even enough for you to finish. That’s why your lecturers will provide you with ample practice cases and mock exams while stressing the importance of time management. Doing these practice cases and being cognizant of your time use is critical in helping you decide how to allocate it throughout the exam; if you master this, you won’t even feel the four hours passing! Make sure to also bring light snacks and water as “brain food.”
If you are to give one piece of advice to incoming or current students, unrelated to this course, what would it be?
In the moment, it’s easy to get pulled into the notion that life hinges on whatever you have at hand, whether it be an exam, presentation, or interview. It is only in hindsight that you realize those events were merely a blip in a much bigger journey, and one that is subject to change. In particular, Brennan advises students not to take this course so seriously; take it because you might find it fun and learn something interesting while seeing if Ivey is right for you. It is possible to enjoy the process while earning good marks, and that extends to the business courses you might be taking in the future as well.
Ivey’s reputation is not built solely on its students’ ridiculously high marks; it’s made by its vibrant community of students who are committed to exploring and excelling in a wide range of disciplines they take an interest in, so make sure you’re valuing the latter as well. Ultimately, at their best, pre-business Ivey courses will inspire you to become an HBA student; at their worst, they will still provide you with a wealth of knowledge that’s applicable in some facet of your life.