A case competition win is a sign of prestige in college, but some missteps can even keep the brightest students away from victory. Below are some of the suggestions by McCombs MBA students, who have won multiple case competitions during their college years.
Creating your team:
Understanding the case:
Researching tools:
Preparing the slide deck:
Presentation day:
Creating your team:
- Build a balanced team with different backgrounds and strengths
- Have strong presentation skills across the team
Understanding the case:
- Read thoroughly through the case, and note down the big picture points
- Analyze, research, and collaborate to find potential solutions
- Stay focused on the grand theme and form a strong core hypothesis - don't argue on minute details
- Choose a solution that will be unique and stand out from others
Researching tools:
- Use internet websites judiciously
- Gather data only from credible sources
- Understand the industry trends to craft your solution better
- Back up your solutions with analytics
Preparing the slide deck:
- Start early - start constructing slide deck early on to have an outstanding PowerPoint
- Tell a compelling story at the beginning of the presentation
- Make sure the presentation has a balanced structure and logical flow - presentations are reflective of your team
- After you have made the slide deck, practice a lot - decide who will say what part
- Anticipate questions from judges, and know your part well to be able to answer the questions
Presentation day:
- Make sure all the material is turned in by 7:30 AM
- Have back up copies of your presentation on a USB drive
- Practice your presentation and ensure it does not exceed 20 minutes
- Allocate speaking parts to students beforehand so you don't make multiple transitions while presenting
- Have a contingency plan in case of technical difficulties