Case Competitions

Students will apply classroom knowledge to a real, ambiguous business challenge, developing critical thinking, analytical, problem-solving, teamwork, and presentation skills along the way. Working in teams, participants will analyze a complex problem, develop a strategic recommendation, and present their solution to a panel of judges for a chance to win the grand prize.

Date: 
Time:
Location: Fairlane Center South (FCS) Dining Room D

Participate for a chance to:

• Win a grand prize
• Network with industry experts and fellow UM-Dearborn students
• Enhance your skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, research, analysis, and more!

To be eligible, students must attend the required case competition workshop. Workshop details will be available soon.

This competition invites teams of 3-4 current UM-Dearborn students to present strategies to a real business challenge through a multi-step process.

Step 1: Case Competition Workshop

To be eligible for the competition, students are required to attend the case competition workshop led by dedicated College of Business faculty on TBD.

Step 2: Case Release

The case will be released to students on TBD.

Students will have until the deadline (TBD) to work with their team to conduct research, analyze data, and build their presentations.

Step 3: Case Competition Day

Each team will present their unique solution to a panel of judges for the chance to win the grand prize.

At the competition, teams will deliver 15-minute live presentations to a panel of judges, that include:

• Clear identification of the problem/opportunity
• Recommendations supported by evidence and analysis
• Recommendations that address feasibility and implementation
• Consider financial implications, risks, and measures of success
• Propose potential alternatives

The grand prize is awarded based on the judges' evaluations.

The competition is open to all current UM-Dearborn students. Teams can be interdisciplinary and contain both undergraduate and graduate students.

• To be eligible to participate in the case competition, each team member must attend the required case competition workshop on TBD.
• Presentations cannot exceed 15 minutes. 
• Slide presentations (e.g., PowerPoint) are required. 
• Audio and pre-recorded presentations/videos are not permitted.
• All information, data, visuals, quotations, or analysis derived from an external source must be appropriately cited in the presentation.
• Judges will have a designated Q&A after each presentation.
• At least one team member must be present at the award ceremony to receive any prizes.
• All presentations must be submitted by the deadline. Late submissions are prohibited.
• Students are expected to conduct research using free and publicly available resources to develop and present their solution.
• Contacting the case company, company employees, case authors, or other individuals for assistance is prohibited.
• Teams must consist of 3-4 current UM-Dearborn students.
• The case will be released to teams on TBD.
• Students may select their own teams in advance of the workshop. Students who are not already on a team will be assigned to one at the end of the workshop.
• Teams may not substitute members after the case is released without organizer approval.
• Teams must submit an original solution developed specifically for the UM-Dearborn Case Competition. Solutions that have previously been submitted or presented in another case competition are not eligible.
• Professional business attire at the case competition is expected.
• All competition announcements and information will be distributed via email and will be posted on the case competition webpage. All students are responsible for checking the email addresses that they provided on the registration form.

Contact the Assistant Director of iLabs, Kari Kowalski, at [email protected].