Business students make a ‘case’

Most students start thinking about getting a job soon after graduating college. For many, however, the thought of starting can be scary. In order to prepare students for this life step, IU’s Kelley School of Business holds case competitions.\nCase competitions give students a chance to “connect theory and what they learn in class to the real world,” said Keith Dayton, Kelley management lecturer and MBA Core coordinator. During the competitions, students analyze problems and propose a solution or plan for a company to follow. These solutions are devised to best benefit the business.\nThese “formal suggestions,” Dayton said, are presented in the form of a paper and presentation. An annual part of the business curriculum for MBA students, the case competitions can compose up to 10 percent of a student’s grade. Question and answer sessions with a panel of judges, made up of faculty members and private sector businesspeople, may be required.\nIn the case of MBA students, their competition may be a final project or take the place of a final exam. Students work in teams, with only one week to submit a written proposal of their analysis and determine a final, professional business solution.\nThe Kelley School is often contacted by businesses that wish to take part in the competitions. \n“There never seems to be a short supply of businesses that really want to get involved,” Dayton said. “The students provide great insight.”\nManaging and Behavior in Organizations, a business course for minors, often includes a case competition. Dayton said this class seems to offer more varied perspectives than the classes for majors, since the course is composed of students in many different fields of study. With so much creativity, Dayton said, this competition provides unique angles to the business issues.\n“I like that I wasn’t in the b-school and we placed really well,” said alumnus Nick Barfell, who participated in the Target Corporation case competition. Although he studied through the School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the Target competition was part of the curriculum for the course Business Communication, Barfell said “it helps if you want to work in corporate America.”\nIn last semester’s Target case competition, students worked to solve how the company could enter the urban market. As part of the Business Communication for Honors Students’ course curriculum, teams presented their proposals in class. Professors then submitted the best presentations to the finals. In the end, four teams showcased their proposals and had a question and answer session with a panel of Target Corporation members.\nBrent Danner, an IU junior and member of the winning team, said his team’s solution to the problem included a smaller two-story building that was about half the size of most Targets. Because the building was two stories, the company needed to have the technology necessary to transport goods and people from one floor to the next. By cutting the size of the store in half, the products in the store had to be limited. Instead of omitting sale items, they offered a smaller number of brands.\nWhile professors often decide to include the competitions in the class curriculum, prizes may be given to the winners. Dayton said prizes “run the gamut,” and money may be awarded in some cases.\nDayton said that success in the competitions depends on strong teamwork, performing an in-depth analysis of the business situation, providing realistic and specific recommendations to the company and considering the client’s perspective.\nCase competitions offer a way to gain real-life experience while still in school, providing students with a personal look into the business world. \nNetworking opportunities and teamwork experience were two of the aspects Danner said he valued most about the competition. \n“It gave me some exposure,” he said.