Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University has achieved a notable ranking, placing No. 4 in the U.S. and No. 12 globally for case impact in the Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking 2026. This ranking highlights the school’s expertise in case-based learning, a fundamental aspect of its approach to global business education.
Details of the Ranking
The Financial Times’ case impact analysis evaluates the global reach and usage of teaching cases developed by business school faculty. This component has been included in the rankings since 2024. Thunderbird’s position places it ahead of other prominent U.S. institutions such as the University of Michigan (Ross), University of California Berkeley (Haas), and University of Pennsylvania (Wharton), as well as international schools like Copenhagen Business School and National University of Singapore Business School.
Charla Griffy-Brown, director general and dean of Thunderbird, expressed pride in this recognition, attributing it to the dedication and intellectual curiosity of the faculty and students. She emphasized the school’s goal of equipping graduates with practical skills for global success.
Methodology for Case Impact Analysis
The Financial Times analysis relies on The Case Centre’s Impact Index methodology, which aggregates data from various international case distributors. It assesses the sales of cases over the past year and the number of educational institutions employing these cases within the last seven years. Authors affiliated with schools in recent Financial Times rankings receive recognition for their contributions.
Euvin Naidoo, a distinguished professor at Thunderbird, noted that the acknowledgment of their work reflects its global classroom application. He highlighted the importance of teaching cases in fostering decision-making skills among students.
Thunderbird’s Case Writing Program
The Thunderbird Case Series and Thunderbird Case Lab are integral to the school’s case writing success. Established in 1996, the Case Series has produced over 500 original cases, with nine recognized for international excellence. The recently launched Case Lab emphasizes simulations and the role of artificial intelligence in education, hosting workshops in collaboration with Harvard Business Impact.
Among the well-regarded cases produced by Thunderbird are “Hola-Kola: The Capital Budgeting Decision” and “Blood Bananas: Chiquita in Colombia,” showcasing the school’s focus on real-world business challenges. These cases are widely used in Thunderbird’s curriculum and are distributed through various platforms.
Future Plans and Focus Areas
Thunderbird aims to further develop its catalog of teaching cases, concentrating on themes such as sustainability, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and ethical leadership. Naidoo emphasized the importance of maintaining strong connections between industry and education to enhance student learning experiences.
Source: Arizona State University
