Purpose In today’s global business environment, business learners and employees must adapt to ever-changing challenges. Active learning strategies like case-based learning and think-pair-share may be used in any business course, as they engage learners, may meet Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business standards and assist with employer needs through knowledge and skill enhancement in critical thinking, decision-making, problem-solving and collaboration. The purpose of this paper is to provide business instructors with three activities that are easily modified. The activities promote workforce skills and encourage reflection activities as an assessment. The intent of each scenario is to present solution-driven methods by which business challenges may be assessed and resolved. Design/methodology/approach Section 2 offers a literature review on case-based learning and think-pair-share. Section 3 includes three case-based activities that instructors may implement. Section 4 sets forth student assessment findings and a conclusion. Findings The findings demonstrated that learners reported positive benefits of case scenarios and think-pair-share on their ability to make business decisions, critically analyze, solve business problems and collaborate. Reflective observation was an insightful tool in assessing comprehension and skill-building for 68 learners in two sections of fall 2019 Legal Environment of Business courses. The contribution to literature is primarily practical. The activities foster educational effectiveness by stimulating learners to practice critical employment skills. The results also show that satisfaction, intensifying students’ engagement, enhances the educational effectiveness of the courses. Originality/value This study provides three original case-based activities with suggested content, handouts that may be copied for class use, instructor preparation, learning outcomes, objectives and assignment procedures.