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[Updated 2023] Top 10 Winning Case Study Competition Presentations [and 10 Vexing Business Issues They Can Help You Solve]

A case study competition is a formal exercise that tests the participants’ mettle in decision-making, collaboration, and presentation skills. As a key driver of industry-specific analysis focused on the problem-solving acumen of the researchers, case study competitions have become an integral part of corporate brainstorming as well as high-end B-school programs.

In the most basic sense, a case study competition aka a case competition seeks to give students or researchers a chance to analyze various aspects of a company and then come up with solutions to its problems. Based on the complexity of the subject involved, the participants are given a certain time limit to examine the subject and its market situation, find out loopholes that result in a problem, and then propose the solution in the form of a presentation.

Now ideally, the analysis and research phase of a case study competition demands a diverse team to work in unison and think on their feet. Some tasks may also require the contestants to work out an entire roadmap for the organization. These roadmaps can address issues at every managerial level of the organization right up to the director.

However, what makes or breaks a participating team’s chances of winning the competition is the presentation of the case study. A well-defined and logically structured presentation can enable a power-packed performance, ultimately helping you become the star of the competition.

Therefore, this blog puts together 10 of SlideTeam’s best case study competition presentation templates in context with 10 major business issues that they can help analyze and solve. Take a look, download the ones you like, and get cracking with your presentation.

Templates to use for your case study competition 

The corporate landscape is susceptible to occasional crises. Therefore, examining a subject for your case study competition requires a fine eye for detail that sees beyond the corporate veneer. And while this research and collective thinking can take up a lot of your deadline time, you may not want to fumble last minute to prepare a half-baked presentation that lays waste to your hard work.

Therefore, here are 10 case study competition presentation templates prepared by SlideTeam experts that solve 10 significant issues that the subject can face. These templates carry detailed information on how the subject matter resolved the problems and fit any criteria assigned by the judges of your case study competition. So when you find your perfect fit, just click on the template and incorporate it to save precious time.    

Problem 1: Opening up new revenue streams in a stagnant market

A dormant market is a businessperson’s nightmare. Plummeting profits in the then lucrative ecosystem can make even the most well-established company jittery. However, opening up new revenue streams in such an ecosystem can be a challenge as well as an opportunity. If you figure out the challenge, you can exploit the opportunity.

Notably, this is quite a popular topic assigned as a challenge in a case study competition. It tests how the participants understand revenue generation and how to diversify a company’s portfolio with appropriate techniques. Here’s an actionable template that accomplishes that with ease.

The template solution

The following PowerPoint template takes a beer company as a case study. The company is generating stagnant revenue in the North American region and, therefore, wants to attract more customers and develop new revenue streams in the area. So the template methodically addresses the issues with appropriate profiling and SWOT analysis of the company.

Additionally, the template explores the development and marketing of a new product range for the company including premium, specialty, and healthier products. This is supported with suitable cost and risk analyses while exploring possibilities of future growth. Just click and download the template and infuse it with your subject-specific information.

Download this template   

Problem 2: Declining user base

Call it the effect of intense competition or lack of engaging prospects; customers tend to wean off a brand if nothing excites them anymore. The result is a grueling loss of revenue and, sometimes, even a complete downfall. The challenge in this situation is more about acting fast and thinking out of the box rather than fixing the mundane.

Ideally, the peak and plateau of the subscriber base of a business depend on how its client communication channels are performing. The peak is when the company is giving its best to acquiring more customers, and the plateau is when this activity falls stagnant. The following PowerPoint template provides a comprehensive to-do list for addressing this issue.

The following PowerPoint template takes a telecom company as the case study. It evaluates the current domestic and international market presence of the company and then suggests solutions.

Notably, this template displays a four-pronged approach to growing the company’s user base. This includes tracking customer-related metrics, promoting the launch of new products on social media for better reach, resolving service issues more quickly, and providing personalized services to the customers.

One can also depict how measuring the KPIs after applying better expansion, technological and promotional strategies shows promising results. Ultimately, one can use the tabulated models in the template to show how a strategic overhaul grows the company’s user base over the years.

Download this template

Problem 3: Customer retention rate optimization

Consumer loyalty towards a company depends on several spontaneous factors ranging from special offers and support. This loyalty, or customer retention rate as it is called, has to be in high figures for a company to thrive in a world full of replicable ideas. If companies ignore what their competitors listen to, customer loyalty is out the window then and there. This applies specifically to those relying on digital platforms for their bread and butter.

Often the biggest challenge for online companies is to get the maximum value out of their association with the customers. Ideally, with practical techniques of customer retention rate optimization, loyal customers become advocates for the brand. Here’s the template solution to prepare a winning case study.     

This PowerPoint template analyzes the declining customer retention rate of an e-commerce company over five years. Besides taking stock of the current situation, the template also offers a comprehensive view of the company’s five major problems. These include increased customer churn rate, decline in sales, reduced repeat order rate, decreased customer loyalty level, and falling Net Promoter Score (NPS).

The template depicts a systematic approach to solving these problems. It illustrates loyalty programs, social media presence, and customized services to increase the company’s KPIs. Additionally, you can also discuss the risk management strategies to make a convincing point in your case study competition. 

Download this template    

Problem 4: Growing the market share

Growing their market share is quite an uphill battle for companies. The underlying reason is the global shift in market trends that may push the company to lose a significant chunk of its market share. Besides, business owners find themselves constantly juxtaposing their strategies in the face of a crumbling market share, finding it hard to churn out the right solution.

Moreover, strategic myopia is another roadblock in claiming a more significant share in the industry. Here’s a suitable PowerPoint template that will help you establish a credible solution for a case study.

The following PowerPoint template provides an unbiased view of the case study of an energy company facing a decline in market share. Though enjoying a stellar reputation in its region of operation, the company faces the challenge of increasing its market share with its offshore wind expansion strategy. The template uncovers how the organization attains this with renewable energy applications.

Moreover, the template also defines how the strategy will unfold in three stages — “feel the breeze”, “catch the wind”, and “take off”. You will also find techniques of overcoming the intense commoditized competition in this PPT template, making it a handy tool to help you triumph in the case study competition. 

Problem 5: Personnel shortage

While hiring the right talent is one of the biggest challenges for startups and corporations alike, personnel shortage can invite crisis galore. With staff crunch comes dwindling productivity and revenue, putting companies in a fix. Personnel shortage is often the assignment targeted in several case study competitions. From the perspective of human resources, a shortage of specialized staff makes it more challenging to keep the business afloat.

So here’s a template solution that offers an outline of the strategic initiatives needed to tide over the crisis and help the subject reclaim a better position.  

The case study presented in this PowerPoint template addresses pilot shortage in an airline company. It illustrates the critical facts about the company first, such as the revenue, total passengers, and net profits. After that, it depicts the pilot shortage data over the years, attributed to retirements of old experienced pilots and cost of training new pilots.

Using this template, you can showcase the company’s financial position and three key strategies to enhance human capital. These include establishing a training academy with regulated costs, promoting the benefits of joining the pilot training, and increasing the R&D and innovation efforts for better market positioning. Click below to download and deploy.

Download this template          

Problem 6: Declining sales

One of the most vexing concerns for a company is declining sales figures. The key drivers of sales are high demand for the product, better market positioning, and customer sentiment. If any of these falls out of balance, the consequences are detrimental. Corporate think-tanks today have to face this challenge with strategic vision and analyses.

Primarily, low sales result from lack of unique value proposition (UVP), misalignment of marketing and sales, expansion beyond capability, and variants of mismanagement along the company hierarchy. The following template solution shows how to keep these at bay.     

In the face of any kind of decline, the company’s strategy will need some tweaking. If the situation turns grave, a complete strategy pivot may be the answer. Therefore, this PowerPoint template is the perfect tool to execute strategic changes for better sales. The template takes a car manufacturing company as the subject and describes its vital stats and figures in a well-developed layout.

The template shows how various contributors of poor sales can be tackled with the help of diversification of the business, development of more fuel-efficient cars, and production of vehicles in the budget segment to attract more customers. Additionally, the template suggests steps like investment in R&D and digital marketing for more impactful promotions.

Problem 7: High fuel costs

Rising global fuel prices are a pain for companies across the globe. International market fluctuation and COVID impact are enough to crush the spirits of companies relying on fossil fuels for basic operation. Fuel being their most crucial resource, organizations have to grapple with continuous demand-and-supply math and the financial burden of purchase and utilization.

Increased fuel costs have a cascading effect in the form of increased transportation costs, loss of customer base, and high employee turnover. Here’s a template showing a case study to solve this conundrum.   

The ultimate goal here is to minimize transportation costs. The following PowerPoint template illustrates the techniques to do that with the help of an example of a logistics company. With a comparative view of the crude oil prices globally and fuel costs in a particular country of service, this template chalks out a triple-phase roadmap for the company. This includes automated logistics for shorter processing duration, inking a contract with a suitable logistics supplier, and using warehouses for storage and dispatch. 

The template also helps you present the subsequent cost analysis and comparison with data-driven tables and charts. So download the template below and make an everlasting impression.  

Problem 8: Brand expansion

Growing companies are at the helm of innovation and development. However, the biggest test comes when they need to expand their brand to unexplored markets. Merely having a product may not be enough to get the desired outcome. Moreover, the changing demographics and global technical disruptions make it a steep climb for ill-equipped organizations.

The road to a more prominent brand is full of technical and strategic hiccups. So here’s the perfect PowerPoint template to help you deduce the secret to brand expansion.    

Here’s a typical example of the brand expansion needs of a reputed pharmaceutical company. The PowerPoint template showcases the tactics to capture a new market for the company’s existing brand of treatment drugs for Crohn’s disease.

Additionally, this template illustrates how the company can develop the brand to treat other auto-immune disorders. It also provides the roadmap with careful SWOT analysis and competitive study while outlining the market opportunities for the brand.

The PPT template is perfect for presenting lucrative pricing strategies and marketing techniques that the company can follow to crush the competition in their dominant market. Click the link below and download the template right away.     

Problem 9: Applying trends to get a competitive advantage

A business owner’s biggest asset is their ability to feel the market’s pulse and devise strategies accordingly. But the corresponding challenge is even more troubling — how to apply the latest trends and march ahead of the competition? Often the concern here stems from the inability to infuse technology into your business model. Besides, trends are often ignored as one-hit wonders or “too much work”.

However, this is where budding entrepreneurs make the silliest mistake and keep “doing their own thing”. This costs them their customer base in the long term as their competitors, who put their ear to the ground, can satisfy the client better. The following template uncovers the secret to success.      

Full disclosure! The lure of the trending comes with its own set of risks. And to get the rewards, this template will show you how to apply systematic techniques to gain a competitive advantage. The case study subject is a cosmetics company looking to drub its competition by adopting the latest industry trends.

Since the face value here is of the utmost importance, the template showcases how incorporating visual technology can separate the brand from the crowd. Additionally, the template outlines how adopting AI-powered virtual try-on, engaging displays, and personalized customer service applications can boost the company’s market presence. The result — increased customer loyalty and spectacular profits.     

Problem 10: Applying trends to enhance profit margins

Applying the latest industry trends is beneficial for the company’s competitive positioning, and it also leads to better profit margins. However, execution requires critical and dynamic thinking on the part of the business owner. Here’s a template that helps you bring corrective strategies to the table.      

This PowerPoint template also considers a cosmetics company as a case study. Besides highlighting the lack of the latest technology, it also brings to light the company’s inadequate customer experience strategies and poor cross-selling skills. All these factors are visualized as the causes of the company’s depleting revenue streams.

As a workable solution, the template also highlights strategies like developing the team’s cross-selling skills, providing innovative skincare tools, and rolling out loyalty programs to entice existing customers. You can also discuss the risk mitigation strategies and quality assurance frameworks for enhancing profit margins with ease. Download it right away.  

So there you have it! These are the 10 comprehensive PowerPoint templates that will make any case study competition presentation a cakewalk. Just download these and let visually stunning designs do the talking for your hard work and research. Should you feel the need for something even more fine-tuned to your needs, our design team will always be ready to help. You can also explore our one-page case study templates to keep it short and excellent.  

FAQs on Case Study Competition

What is a case competition.

A case competition is a business competition where participants are presented with a real-world business scenario or problem, and are given a limited amount of time to analyze the situation, develop a solution or strategy, and present their recommendations to a panel of judges. These competitions typically involve teams of undergraduate or graduate students who work together to analyze the case and develop a solution.

What do you do in a case competition?

In a case competition, participants are given a real-world business scenario or problem and are required to analyze the situation, develop a solution or strategy, and present their recommendations to a panel of judges within a limited time frame, typically ranging from a few hours to several days. Here's a breakdown of what typically happens during a case competition:

Receive the case: The competition organizers will provide the case to participants, which usually includes a description of a business problem or challenge that needs to be solved.

Analyze the case: Participants will work in teams to analyze the case, using their knowledge of business concepts, industry trends, and market research to identify the root cause of the problem and potential solutions.

Develop a solution: Based on their analysis, participants will develop a solution or strategy to address the problem, outlining specific steps and tactics to achieve their proposed solution.

Prepare a presentation: Once the solution is developed, participants will prepare a presentation to communicate their proposed solution to the judges. The presentation usually includes an executive summary, background information, the proposed solution, and an implementation plan.

Present the solution: Teams will present their solutions to the judges, typically within a set time limit. The presentation may include visual aids, such as slides, charts, or graphs, to help convey their ideas.

Q&A: After the presentation, the judges may ask questions to clarify the solution or challenge assumptions made by the team.

Award ceremony: After all the teams have presented, the judges will announce the winners of the competition, and prizes may be awarded to the top teams.

What is the objective of case competition?

The goal of a case competition is to develop critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills, as well as teamwork and presentation skills. Participants are typically judged based on the quality of their analysis, the feasibility and creativity of their solution, and the clarity and persuasiveness of their presentation.

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Six Strategies for Winning Case Competitions

• Strategy and Operations

by Lauren Meyer and Sarah Consagra, both MMM 2020 

This content was originally published in Poets&Quants .

To prepare for business school, students gear up for lecture room cold-calling, months of career recruiting, and enough networking to last a lifetime. What many MBA students don’t anticipate are case competitions.

An often-underrated way to derive value from your business school education, case competitions offer students the opportunity to consult for real clients, helping to solve pressing business problems. These competitions have become almost a rite of passage at graduate schools across the nation. Plus, they tend to pay generously – a perk always welcome on an MBA budget.

Over two weeks, our team designed a platform aimed at educating and empowering primary care physicians to directly treat patients with HCV, a task typically reserved for specialists. We were thrilled to win the competition, and even more excited to know that our ideas will further AbbVie’s mission to eradicate a stigmatized and often overlooked disease.

Among busy MBA schedules, making time for a case competition may be difficult. However, it can be one of the most rewarding experiences of business school. After competing and succeeding in several during our first year at Kellogg, we’ve gleaned some helpful tips and tricks for designing a “winning” solution and getting the most out of the case competition experience.

1. Make it human-centered.

Get out there and talk to people! Secondary research is important. Where possible, your ideas should also be informed by robust primary research. Judges will be impressed when you are able to cite conversations with people who are “living the problem.” Through our conversations with doctors, nurses, and social workers, we unearthed unique pain points related to HCV treatment that we would have missed entirely by relying on the internet. One nurse reminded us that “doctors are people, too,” and that their own unconscious biases and busy schedules might prevent them from treating certain diseases with urgency.

2. Keep it laser-focused.

When solving an innovation challenge, there are typically a number of exciting possible solutions. We’ve found it is most effective to select the one solution you think is most compelling Then, tell the audience  why  you chose it, and build it out in detail. The audience will be much more impressed by a single, deep and well-studied solution than a set of broad and shallow ones. In our presentation, we recommended launching the education platform with primary care physicians covered by Medicare Advantage, a group we believed was uniquely poised to adopt the education platform. By honing in on one of many existing pain points, we were able to demonstrate that we had done the hard work of prioritizing the biggest win for our client.

3. Make it beautiful.

The value of an aesthetically compelling presentation cannot be overstated. This will keep your audience alert and engaged. Straightforward, crisp slides with simple design elements will go a long way. If you want to take it one step further, don’t be afraid to get creative by adding illustrations and vivid imagery. Our team used hand-drawn illustrations (just stick figures – nothing fancy) to bring a typical HCV patient’s journey to life for the judging panel.

4. Know your numbers.

When it comes to Q&A time, it’s always satisfying to respond to a judge’s doubting question with, “Yes, and we have data to support that.” If you’re going to whip out that reply, make sure you’ve done your homework. While only key numbers should be presented, an appendix is a helpful add-on for all the numerical content that you may want to pull out of your arsenal during follow-up questioning. Make sure you practice speaking confidently about how you arrived at those final numbers as well.

5. Make it actionable.

Ultimately, judges want solutions that feel tangible – ones they can execute readily, with existing budget, and feel excited to promote to internal stakeholders. Craft a clear outline for how you’ll launch your idea, what money you’ll leverage, and what existing resources you can draw on. If you want to add some glitz, you can always build out a roadmap for how your solution might evolve and grow as you scale (three, five, or ten years down the line). In our presentation, we focused on a “pilot program,” and then shared a window into what a “full-scale” version might look like. This helped the judges understand our solution’s potential for immediate effect, and how that might translate into something bigger and more impactful.

6. Tell a story.

Business jargon and charts might seem impressive, but if the judges aren’t hooked they may miss the genius of your solution. Storytelling can be a critical lever for standing out and connecting with your audience. Share emotional and powerful stories of personas or real people you spoke with to demonstrate how this solution will transform the lives of customers and stakeholders. Coming full circle to our first tip: speaking with people out in the world will enable you to deliver compelling human stories.

One bonus tip to remember : be sure to make it fun! That may sound cheesy, but it’s hard to envision and build out a business solution under time constraints if you’re not curious about the subject matter. Find teammates you enjoy spending time with, and let your enthusiasm shine when pitch day rolls around.

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Case Competition: The Ultimate Guide on How to Excel

• Last Updated December, 2023

A case competition provides an exciting way for aspiring consultants to hone their problem-solving and presentation skills. If you’re drawn to the consulting world, you likely have a competitive spirit that thrives on challenges.

You’ll get the opportunity to tackle real business problems and present your solutions before judges, who are usually seasoned consultants.

In this article, we’ll discuss:

• What is a case competition (with examples of what you’ll do)
• How competing in consulting case competitions helps your resume and recruiting
• 5 tips on acing the business case competition and maximizing the opportunity
• A list of top case competitions to keep on your radar

Let’s get started!

What Is a Case Competition?

A case competition is an immersive learning experience that challenges students to solve complex business problems within a simulated consulting environment. 

In these competitions, participants work in teams to solve a hypothetical client problem and recommend a solution to a panel of judges.

A case competition tests your analytical thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, and presentation skills.

Examples of Cases and Topics

Case competitions can cover various business functions, such as marketing, strategy, operations, or a combination. You also won’t know what industry the case involves until the competition starts. It’s very similar to what you might experience in a consulting interview!

Case competition examples:

• BankCo aims to boost its market share among customers under 25. What recommendations would you propose to achieve this goal?
• TechCo is venturing into a new geographic market and seeks guidance on an effective market entry strategy to ensure a successful expansion. What approach would you recommend?
• EngineCo, an automobile manufacturer, is grappling with inefficient production processes. How would you optimize operations and foster innovation within the company?

If the case questions seem daunting, fear not! You’ll be provided with lots of data, including historical information, cost details, and other relevant considerations.

However, only some of the data provided will be useful or relevant to your recommendation. As a consultant, part of your skillset involves discerning which information is crucial to your analysis.

These cases simulate real-life consulting projects, so it’s a great chance to apply your skills and see if you like consulting!

Nail the case & fit interview with strategies from former MBB Interviewers that have helped 89.6% of our clients pass the case interview.

Typical Format of a Case Competition

In a case competition, participants are either assigned or choose to be part of a team of 4 to 6 students, mirroring a real consulting team. 

Each team is provided with identical information and allotted the same timeframe to analyze the data, develop recommendations, and present them to a panel of judges. A case competition usually takes place over a few days to allow for analysis and presentation preparation time.  

Let’s take a look at the typical schedule:

• Read Case Information : Teams receive a comprehensive case brief that presents the problem, client information, and pertinent data or information.
• Analyze Data and Options : Teams dive into the case, meticulously analyzing the provided data, extracting insights, and carefully evaluating different options for their recommendation. In most competitions, you can use publicly available information for research.
• Prepare Recommendation and Presentation : Teams consolidate their analysis and make an informed decision on the recommendation. They craft a compelling presentation, typically in slide format, showcasing the results of their analysis and their final recommendation.
• Present to Judges and Answer Q&A : Teams present their solutions to a panel of judges comprising industry professionals and experienced consultants. During the presentation, teams articulate their analysis, demonstrate their problem-solving approach, and emphasize the potential impact of their recommendations. Following the presentation, judges engage in a Q&A session, probing deeper into the team’s analysis and challenging their recommendation.
• Get Feedback and Results : Judges assess each team based on criteria such as the clarity of their problem-solving approach, the feasibility of their recommendations, and the effectiveness of their presentation.

Benefits of Participating in a Consulting Case Competition

Participating in a consulting case competition offers numerous advantages:

• Skill Development : From analyzing real client situations under time pressure to developing innovative solutions, you gain hands-on experience that sharpens your problem-solving abilities, data analysis skills, strategic thinking, teamwork, and communication. It’s a realistic glimpse of what a “day in the life” as a consultant is like.
• Valuable Feedback and Insights : While winning is rewarding, the feedback received provides invaluable insights and suggestions for improvement, enabling you to improve your skills and knowledge. 
• Prizes and Recognition : Many case competitions offer attractive prizes and recognition for outstanding performance. This can include monetary rewards or prize packages.
• Networking Opportunities : You have the chance to network with judges who are current consultants. They often are the ones involved in recruiting and interviews. Even if you don’t win the competition, you have a chance to impress judges, and it could lead to mentorship opportunities or potential internship opportunities.
• Resume Enhancement : Include any awards from case competitions on your resume. It is concrete evidence of your skills and can help your resume stand out.

5 Tips on Acing a Case Competition and Maximizing the Opportunity

1. review key consulting frameworks and concepts.

Take the time to review and understand essential consulting frameworks and structures, such as MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive) and the Hypothesis-Driven Approach .

This will give you a strong foundation for analyzing case problems and developing practical solutions. Utilize resources like our Our Ultimate Guide to Case Interview Prep .

2. Establish Clear Roles and Responsibilities with Your Team

You are under a time crunch in a case competition, so aligning with your team on individual roles and responsibilities before you start the analysis will help you work efficiently.

Consider each team member’s strengths or developmental interests, and delegate tasks accordingly. For example, if you want to improve your proficiency in Excel, communicate your interest in doing analytical aspects. You can create a more efficient and cohesive team by working together and leveraging each other’s talents.

3. Avoid Memorizing Your Presentation

Memorizing your presentation word-for-word or reading the slides will make your presentation come off as less natural. You’ll appear less confident in what you are recommending.

Instead, focus on understanding the key points, logical flow, and supporting evidence. This approach allows flexibility, adaptability, and a more natural delivery during the presentation.

4. Prepare for Potential Questions

Allocate time to anticipate questions that judges may ask during the Q&A session. Consider different angles, alternative perspectives, and potential challenges to your recommendations. Being well-prepared for possible questions demonstrates your critical thinking skills, enhances confidence, and helps you respond effectively.

5. Leave a Lasting Impression on Judges

Make a positive impression on the judges and attendees of the consulting case competition. You never know who you might encounter again in your consulting journey. 

Consider sending a thoughtful thank-you note to the judges after the competition to express your gratitude for their feedback.

List of Case Competitions

Below, we have compiled a list of case competitions to keep on your radar and consider competing in. It’s important to note that this is not an exhaustive list, and competitions may vary yearly, so we recommend checking their official websites.

If you are in school, your consulting clubs will often host case competitions internally. Sometimes, firms also sponsor and run case competitions for specific communities.

Case Competitions in the USA

• ASCM Case Competition
• Collegiate Ethics Case Competition
• Danaher Case Competition
• David Eccles School of Business Case Competition
• Deloitte Consulting National Undergraduate Case Competition
• E-PARCC Teaching Case and Simulation Competition
• Global Case Competition at Harvard
• Heavener International Case Competition
• IACBE Case Competition
• KeyBank Case Competition
• Marshall International Case Competition
• Net Impact Case Competition
• NU-CUIBE International Business Case Competition
• Page Student Case Study Competition
• Penn Healthcare Case Competition
• Penn, Yale, Princeton, Columbia Case Competition
• Prism Consulting Group Case Competitions
• PRMIA Risk Management Challenge
• San Diego State University
• Student Big Data Case Competition
• The Katz Invitational
• The NASBITE International Student Case Competition
• The Schlesinger Global Family Enterprise Case Competition
• The University of California Press’ Case Studies in the Environment Prize Competition
• UConn International Business Case Challenge
• Yale Healthcare Case Competition
• Yale Graduate Consulting Club Case Competition

Case Competitions in Canada

• CFI FinMo Case Competition
• ICRA International Case Competition
• John Molson MBA International Case Competition
• McGill Management International Case Competition
• Schulich International Case Competition
• Scotiabank International Case Competition
• UCCA Case Competition

Case Competitions in Europe

• Aarhus Case Competition
• AAU Case Competition
• Amsterdam Case Competition
• Belgrade Business International Case Competition
• CBS Case Competition
• Central European Case Competition
• Creative Shock
• ILA International Case Competition
• International Case Competition @Maastricht
• Morpheus Cup
• NIBS Worldwide Case Competition
• Russian National Case League Changellenge
• SDA Bocconi Case Competition
• The Geneva Challenge

Case Competitions in International Locations

• CEIBS Global Case Competition
• EY CAFTA Case Championship
• HKUST International Case Competition
• HSBC/HKU Asia Pacific Business Case Competition
• IFAMA Student Case Competition
• IMA Middle East and India Student Case Competition
• KPMG International Case Competition
• Melbourne Business School Case Competition

– – – – – – –

In this article, we’ve covered:

• Insight into the nature of case competitions, including examples of the tasks and challenges
• How participating in a consulting case competition can benefit your resume and increase your chances of success in recruiting
• Tips on how to excel in a business case competition and make the most of your experience
• A starter list of case competitions you can explore

Still have questions?

If you have more questions about case competitions, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s case coaches will answer them.

Other people prepping for a case competition found the following pages helpful:

• Our Ultimate Guide to Case Interview Prep
• How to Approach a Case Study
• Case Interview Examples
• MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive)
• The Hypothesis-Driven Approach

Help with Your Consulting Application

Thanks for turning to My Consulting Offer for advice on excelling at case competitions. My Consulting Offer has helped 89.6% of the people we’ve worked with to get a job in management consulting. We want you to be successful in your consulting interviews too. For example, here is how Parth was able to get his offer from BCG.

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What is a Case Competition?

Types of case competitions, financial modeling competition, additional resources, case competition.

Learn all about business case competitions

A case competition is an event where contestants compete to create the best solution to a business case study within the rules and guidelines set out by the organizer. Cases may be designed for individuals or teams, and contestants have to submit their work for judging by a panel. Judges typically use a rubric to grade participants, based on predefined criteria. CFI’s Financial Modeling Competition is an example of an international event where contestants can win up to $10,000 in cash prizes.

There are various types of competitions, and they are usually related to business or education. Some of the most common types include:

• Financial modeling – contestants build an Excel model to value a business or a transaction
• Consulting – management and strategy consulting topics related to business
• Investment banking – typically centered around a transaction such as mergers & acquisitions (M&A)
• Stock pitches – participants must pitch a long or short investment idea for a public security
• Research – research topics can vary widely, including sciences and humanities
• Data analysis – topics can include big data, mathematics, and quantitative topics

Many competitions offer prizes that are awarded to winning teams or individuals. While there is a big range for cash prizes, there are several competitions that award approximately $10,000 to winners.

Examples of competitions that offer $10,000 (or more) in cash prizes include the National Investment Banking Competition (NIBC), the Harvard Case Competition, CFI’s Financial Modeling Competition, the John Molson MBA Case Competition, and ModelOff .

Entering competitions is a great way to boost your resume and advance your career. They are especially popular among undergraduate students and MBA students who want to add some valuable extracurricular activities to their resume.

The top reasons to enter a competition may include:

• Learn new skills
• Build confidence
• Win cash prizes
• Develop leadership skills
• Make new friends
• Improve your resume

CFI hosts the global Financial Modeling & Valuation Competition, where contestants are challenged to download a data pack with financial information, company information, and a specific situation that they need to build a model.

Judges evaluate participants on a scorecard that includes criteria such as structure, design, accuracy, insight, and overall quality of recommendations. Enter the competition now to compete with analysts around the world for a chance to win $10,000 in prizes.

CFI is the official provider of the FMVA™ Analyst Certification that teaches the full range of financial analyst skills required to rise up the ranks in a career. To continue learning and advancing your career, check out these additional CFI resources:

• Is an MBA Worth It?
• Pre MBA Courses
• What is Financial Modeling?
• Job Salary Guides
• See all career resources
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Business Case Competitions: Purpose, Types and Rules

A Guide to Case Studies and Case Study Analysis

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Business Cases in Business School Curriculum

Business cases are frequently used as teaching tools in business school classes, particularly in MBA or other graduate business programs. Not every business school uses the case method as a teaching approach, but many of them do. Nearly 20 of the 25 top business schools ranked by Bloomberg Businessweek  utilize cases as a primary method of teaching, spending as much as 75 to 80 percent of class time on them. 

Business cases are detailed accounts of companies, industries, people and projects. The content within a case study may include information about company objectives, strategies, challenges, results, recommendations, and more. Business case studies can be brief or extensive and may range from two pages to 30 pages or more. To learn more about case study format, check out a few  free case study samples .

While you are in business school, you will probably be asked to analyze multiple case studies. Case study analysis is meant to give you the opportunity to analyze the steps other business professionals have taken to address specific markets, problems and challenges. Some schools also offer on-site and off-site case competitions so that business students can show off what they have learned.

What Is a Business Case Competition?

A business case competition is a type of academic contest for business school students. These competitions originated in the United States, but are now held all over the world. To compete, students typically break into teams of two or more people.

The teams then read a business case and provide a solution for the problem or situation presented in the case. This solution is typically presented to judges in the form of a verbal or written analysis. In some cases, the solution may needed to be defended. The team with the best solution wins the competition.

Purpose of a Case Competition

As with the case method , case competitions are often sold as a learning tool. When you participate in a case competition, you get the opportunity to learn in a high pressure situation involving a real-world scenario. You can learn from students on your team and students on other teams. Some case competitions also provide verbal or written evaluations of your analysis and solution from the competition judges so that you have feedback on your performance and decision-making skills. 

Business case competitions also provide other perks, like the opportunity to network with executives and other people in your field as well as the chance to earn bragging rights and prize winnings, which are typically in the form of money. Some prizes are worth thousands of dollars. 

Types of Business Case Competitions

There are two basic types of business case competitions: invitation-only competitions and competitions that are by application. You must be invited to an invitation-only business case competition. The application-based competition allows students to apply to be a participant. Application doesn't necessarily guarantee you a spot in the competition.

Many business case competitions also have a theme. For example, the competition may focus on a case related to supply chains or global business. There might also be a focus on a particular topic in a particular industry, such as corporate social responsibility in the energy industry.

Rules for Business Case Competitions

Although competition rules can vary, most business case competitions have time limits and other parameters. For example, the competition may be split into rounds. The competition could be limited to two teams or multiple teams. Students might compete with other students at their school or with students from another school.

Students may be required to have a minimum GPA to participate. Most business case competitions also have rules governing access to assistance. For example, students may be allowed to get help when it comes to finding research materials, but help from outside sources, like professors or students who are not participating in the competition might be strictly forbidden. 

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Business Case Studies

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About Case Competitions

Preparing for case competitions, case competitions library resources.

• Case Interviews
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Business schools, corporations and other organizations host case competitions, where teams present solutions to a range of business challenges and opportunities.

If you are competing, it is useful to find out about the case competition in which you are participating. Use Google to search for your case competition, and explore the website fully, looking for terms like Archives , Resources , Press Releases , or Media to find information about previous cases and competition winners. YouTube may also have highlights from past competitions.

Below is a selective list of case competitions:

• Case Competitions / The Case Centre Annotated list of case study competitions, including deadlines for submission and lists of past winners.
• Copenhagen Business School. CBS Case Competition Includes links to case solving tools and and cases from 2008 to present.
• Foster School of Business, University of Washington. Global Business Case Competition.
• American Marketing Association. AMA Collegiate Awards & Competitions
• USC Marshall School of Business. Marshall International Case Competition
• Eller College of Management. Collegiate Ethics Case Competition
• John Molson MBA International Case Competition Guide 2020

It is a good idea to get familiar with library resources that can help you analyze cases. The business school that hosts a case competition will often have many of the same resources to which the Gast Business Library subscribes.  

Explore the following research guides for basic strategies and resources:

• Company Research Note the sections on Financial Information, Annual Reports, Analyst Reports and SWOT analyses in particular.
• Industry Research Note the Trends & Analyses and Five Forces sections in particular.
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• Last Updated: Aug 23, 2024 1:20 PM
• URL: https://libguides.lib.msu.edu/businesscases

UW Global Business Case Competition

Universities interested in competing in GBCC 2025 – Please Complete this Expression of Interest Form . Priority submissions will be reviewed in August.

Go to GBCC Site for access to competitor, schedule, and other information!

The UW Global Business Case Competition (UW GBCC) is a prominent international case competition, bringing together undergraduate students from within the United States and around the globe to compete in fast-paced and innovative business case studies. Starting in 1999 as the Global Business Challenge, UW GBCC turns 24 this year– cheers to that– and is one of the oldest of its kind.

UW GBCC enables students to build meaningful, cross-cultural relationships, experience what the city of Seattle has to offer and most importantly, challenges them with the task of analyzing and developing a business recommendation for two real-world case studies. The competition concludes with each team presenting their case solutions to a panel of industry-leading judges, who are tasked with the difficult decision of selecting the UW GBCC champion

Be sure to connect with the UW Global Business Case Competition on Instagram .

GBCC Archived Finals Recordings

2024: Global Retail Expansion Focus with Tim Hortons and Costco

The Global Business Center is pleased to announce that National Chengchi University of Taipei, Taiwan, is the 2024 UW Global Business Case Competition (GBCC) champion! This week-long intensive experiential learning event challenged 11 undergraduate student teams from across the globe.

5-Hour Case For Tim Hortons, they tackled the popular chain’s expansion into China. Teams made of 3-4 students representing different universities each recommended two strategic differentiators that Tim Hortons should focus on over the next two years, and identify actions they could take over this period of time to build growth on those differentiators.

The winning team was comprised of students from Chulalongkorn University, Erasmus University RSM, University of Prince Edward Island, and Washington University – St. Louis.

24-Hour Case Students developed analysis for Costco Wholesale’s expansion opportunities in three new markets: India, Brazil, or the UAE. Teams were given 24 hours to develop market entry strategies, propose timelines for entry, and recommend whether Costco should adapt its business model and product offerings to customer preferences in each country.

Competing Universities:

• Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
• Erasmus University, The Netherlands
• Illinois State University, USA
• National Chengchi University, Taiwan
• The Ohio State University, USA
• Universidad Panamericana- Ciudad UP, Mexico
• University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
• University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
• University of Prince Edward Island, Canada
• University of Washington, USA
• Washington University, USA

The two case problems were developed for this competition by Foster School faculty. The Tim Horton’s case was adapted by Dr. Debra Glassman. The Costco case was co-authored by Dr. Debra Glassman and Dr. Suresh Kotha.

2023: Nestle’s Sustainability and Intel’s Semiconductor Supply Chains

The Global Business Center is pleased to announce that American University of Beirut (Lebanon) is the 2023 Global Business Case Competition (GBCC) champion! This powerhouse experiential learning event challenged 12 undergraduate student teams from across the globe to tackle current global business issues. This year they developed recommendations for issues faced by Nestle and Intel.

For Nestle, they worked for 5 hours (Short Case Challenge) on alternative packaging for KitKat candy bars that would help them meet their 2025 commitment for all packaging – 100% recyclable or reusable.

Teams had to:

• Recommend which KitKat packaging (plastic with recycled content OR paper) should be implemented on a global scale
• Suggest a strategy that would promote consumer recycling behavior
• Adding to the challenge, the teams were multinational ones who had never met each other. They were formed after arrival in Seattle and had to present, boardroom style with just one slide, to business executives. A truly unique learning experience that simultaneously builds community and cross-cultural competence. The short case winning team included Pan Karnjanaekarin (Chulalongkorn University, Thailand), Valentino Mollard (Erasmus University, Netherlands), Jade Joyce Ng (University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong), and Dominik Vlasak (University of Washington, USA).

24-Hour Case: Intel This time they had 24 hours to address how Intel can make its new foundry (chip manufacturing) services a success, especially given that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is the world’s dominant manufacturer. More specifically, who are the potential customers and how can Intel persuade them to work with its foundry services rather than TSMC?

The champions are compiled below.

The two case problems were created specifically for this competition by Foster School faculty. The Nestle case was developed by Dr. Debra Glassman. The Intel Case was co-authored by Dr. Debra Glassman and Dr. Suresh Kotha.

2021: Tesla’s Global Expansion Strategy

By Suresh Kotha and Dr. Debra Glassman, University of Washington Foster School of Business, April 2021 Tesla is a revolutionary car company with a revolutionary leader, Elon Musk. It has upended conventional wisdom by successfully producing a line-up of battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs) with its own designs and many of its own components. Despite production challenges, Tesla is undertaking rapid global expansion, with a “Gigafactory” in Shanghai and another about to come online in Germany. The global EV market is growing rapidly, and Tesla is considering other locations for Gigafactories, including India. Is this a good idea? Is Tesla spreading itself too thin? With global competitors ramping up, can Tesla be profitable in the global markets that it is considering?

This case asks the student teams to identify and evaluate Tesla’s global expansion strategy and to present an implementation plan and forecast for the strategy that they recommend.

2019: Amazon Go Stores: New Directions in Grocery Retailing

By Dr. Debra Glassman, University of Washington Foster School of Business, April 2019

In January, 2018, the first Amazon Go store was opened to the public in Seattle. It featured a checkout-free experience. Upon entering, the customer scans a QR code on the Amazon Go phone app. As the customer shops, cameras track his or her movements. The shelves have weight sensors that detect when a product is removed from a shelf (or returned to it). The app keeps track of purchases and charges a credit card when the customer leaves. Amazon calls this Just Walk Out technology.

Amazon has plans for as many as 3,000 Amazon Go stores in the US by 2021. It has identified a site in London for the first overseas Amazon Go store. It is logical to think that Amazon will consider further overseas expansion, but it is not clear what form that should take. Cross-border expansion in the grocery sector is notoriously difficult, and other retailers are already launching cashierless grocery stores around the world, from the UK to China.

This case asks the student teams to identify and evaluate three global expansion strategies and to present an implementation plan for the strategy that they recommend. The champion and finalists’ presentations are compiled below.

2018: Amazon Web Services: Searching for Global Growth

By Suresh Kotha and Debra Glassman, University of Washington Foster School of Business, April 2018

The case focuses on Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world leader in provision of cloud computing services, from data storage to computing and applications. Moving to “the cloud” means that customers rent data center services from third-party providers via the internet rather than maintain their own data centers. The major cloud providers, such as AWS, Microsoft’s Azure and Google Cloud Platform, are rapidly building networks of very large (“hyperscale”) data centers, grouped in geographic Regions around the world.

This case asks the student teams to play the role of AWS managers who will recommend locations for new data center Regions to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and other top managers. The presentations must identify the top three criteria for location selection and recommend three new Region locations.

Read the student charge . The champion and finalists’ presentations are compiled below.

2017: Fitbit: The Business About Wrist

The case focuses on Fitbit, a company with a big share of the wrist-worn wearables market. The market has become increasingly competitive and is characterized by a convergence between the functions offered by fitness trackers (such as Fitbit) and smartwatches (such as Apple Watch). Due to this connectivity, there is a growing recognition of the privacy and security risks associated with the data generated by wearables. The teams in this competition were asked to play the role of Fitbit managers asked to recommend how to protect data from Fitbit devices. They were also asked to develop a plan for marketing Fitbit’s new data protection efforts.

Read the student charge . The champion and finalists’ presentations are compiled below.

2016: Volkswagen Group: The Emissions Scandal and the Costs of Deception

In 2007, Martin Winterkorn, the new CEO of the Volkswagen Group, led the adoption of Strategy 2018, a bold plan for the company to become the world’s number-one-selling automaker. By early 2015, the Volkswagen Group had achieved that goal, in part by increasing US car sales through offering “clean diesel” vehicles. The clean diesel engines allowed VW, Audi and Porsche cars to meet the strict US emissions rules on nitrogen oxides. Then, in September 2015, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced that VW diesels had cheated on the emissions tests with a “defeat device” – software that detected when a car’s emissions were being tested. The device reduced emissions during testing, but allowed emissions as much as 40 times higher during regular driving. Eventually it was revealed that the company had installed defeat devices in 11 million VWs, Audis and Porsches worldwide, including 600,000 in the US. Winterkorn was forced to resign and governments and customers around the world launched recalls and lawsuits. The VW Group is facing huge potential costs, as well as damage to its reputation. As new CEO Mathias Muller revises the Group’s strategy, he must address these questions: What will be the total costs of the cheating scandal, and how will they constrain the VW Group’s strategic options in the future?

2015: First Solar Inc. in 2013

Each of the GBCC teams spent 48 hours analyzing a business case on First Solar Inc. In 2010, First Solar was the global leader in production of solar panels. However, by 2013, Chinese producers dominated the world market, helped by generous government subsidies. First Solar was also challenged by falling prices for solar panels made with a competing technology. First Solar responded by vertically integrating into the solar systems business, making the company a “one-stop shop” for utility customers. First Solar’s sales have been concentrated in the US market, but they are exploring opportunities outside the US. The GBCC student teams were tasked with identifying the external forces affecting First Solar’s business over the next five years and then prioritizing the non-US target markets.

Read the case study on the Harvard Business School website . Find the student charge . The champion and finalists’ presentations are compiled below.

2014: Nike: Sustainability and Labor Practices 2008-2013

Acting as Nike mangers, students examine Nike’s sustainability and labor practices from 1998 to 2013 and provide recommendations on three case questions: 1) Where should Nike move its collegiate apparel production? 2) What is a feasible way for Nike’s supply chain to be more transparent? and 3) How can Nike build consumer awareness concerning its improved labor sustainability projects?

Read the case study on the Harvard Business School website. Find the student charge . The champion and finalists’ presentations are compiled below.

2013: Frog’s Leap Winery in 2011: The Sustainability Agenda Case

From 2000-2010, John Williams, co-founder of Frog’s Leap Winery in California, invested in dry farming, organic, and biodynamic agriculture; geothermal and solar power; year-round employment and benefits for immigrant workers; and the industry’s first LEED-certified tasting room. Despite static production, inventory and debt load grew. Students were tasked with finding solutions to help Frog Leap increase sales and become more sustainable while remaining a small winery.

Read the case study on the Harvard Business School website . Download the student charge . The champion and finalists’ presentations are compiled below.

2012: Li & Fung 2012, Harvard Business School

Students act as the top executives at Li & Fung in the midst of preparing an important presentation to stock market investors and analysts. During the presentations, executives (students) will explain the strategies that will be implemented to achieve a goal of $1.5 B. core operating profit in 2013.

2011: Urban Water Partners (A), Harvard Business School, October 2010

Students teams took on the role of the founders and executives at Urban Water Partners. Each team was asked to develop a business plan and subsequent presentation outlining possible business expansion and possible risks.

Global Case Competition at Harvard

19th february - 30th april 2024, hybrid with in-person events in cambridge, ma, our next edition.

The relevant registration forms and tickets will be available on the "Tickets" page. Please keep in contact with our social media pages on LinkedIn and Instagram to stay updated. 

The Global Case Competition at Harvard

Connecting the world's brightest minds, feb 19 - april 30, 9th edition.

The Global Case Competition at Harvard is the world's most prestigious student-organized case competition. Since 2016, we bring together the best students of economics and finance throughout the world and offer them fantastic opportunities: to meet like-minded students, world-leading institutions, and renowned guests.

For the ninth edition of the competition, all participants will have the opportunity to engage in 3 weeks of rigorous  case-solving. Everyone has the choice to join in person, enjoy a meet and greet reception, networking in Boston, before ending the weekend with an amazing Gala. The competition is a unique opportunity connecting the world's smartest academics from the around the world. Participation in the event is a great opportunity to interact with the invited companies, financial institutions, guests, and partners. We give our participants the chance to learn and interact with other students from across the world, cultivate a powerful network, and engage with professionals within the industries of management and finance.

The Global Case Competition at Harvard was an enriching experience in which we had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in a complex transaction and evaluate the real-world implications during a dynamic and unprecedented period in the economy. The GCCH provided us with the opportunity to exercise effective teamwork skills, expand our quantitative financial modeling knowledge, meet other talented individuals from across the world, and prepare for our professional careers.

by Auburn Tigers, winners of GCCH 2023

Past Partners Include...

The 2023 Gala Event:

The 2022 Gala Event:

Jacob Poulsen

Seven tips for winning case competitions.

• May 27, 2021
• No Comments
• Tips & Tricks

The case competition has become a cornerstone not just of business school, but of many university and even high school experiences as student contests expand the education space at all levels. Many students are – however – unfamiliar with how case competitions function, let alone how to effectively prepare for them. Here are 7 tips for winning case competitions.

1. Be human-centric.

Get out there and talk with people! It is critical to do secondary research. Wherever feasible, you should base your ideas on solid primary research. When you are able to reference interactions with folks who are “living the problem,” the judges will be more than pleased. One partner reminded us that “CEOs are humans, too,” and that their own unconscious biases and hectic schedules may impede them from finding a holistic solution to all problems.

2. Know your numbers

It’s always pleasant to answer to a judge’s dubious inquiry with, “Yes, and we have statistics to back it,” during Q&A time. If you’re going to respond quickly, be sure you’ve done your homework. While just relevant figures should be supplied, an appendix is a useful addition for all the numerical material you might wish to use during follow-up questions. Also, make sure you practice speaking convincingly about how you arrived at your final figures.

3. Maintain a laser-like focus

When it comes to tackling an innovative problem, there are always a lot of intriguing options. The most compelling solution is often the most successful strategy. Explain why you picked it and flesh it out in depth for the audience. A single, profound, and well-studied answer will wow the audience far more than a series of wide and superficial ones.

In most winning presentation, the teams suggested solutions ideally positioned to solve unique subproblems of the overall case. They were able to demonstrate that they had done the hard work of prioritizing results for the case-company by focusing on one of the many current pain issues.

4. Aesthetics

It’s impossible to overestimate the importance of a visually appealing presentation. Your audience will be aware and engaged as a result of this. Simple design features and straightforward, clear slides will go a long way. Don’t be afraid to be creative with graphics and vivid visuals if you want to take it a step further. Succesful teams bribe the audience, by employing clear slides with beautiful and coherent graphics.

5. Think of actionable solutions

Finally, judges want ideas that seem real — ones they can put into action quickly, within their existing budget, and are pleased to share with internal stakeholders. Make a detailed plan for how you’ll launch your project, including how much money you’ll need and what current resources you may use.

You can always lay out a plan for how your solution may improve and expand as you scale if you want to add some sparkle (three, five, or ten years down the line). Succesful teams concentrate often present an implementation-plan in their presentation, to show a glimpse of what a “full-scale” version may look like. This let the judges see how their idea may have an immediate impact and how it may lead to something bigger and more significant.

6. Focus on story-telling

Business language and figures may appear impressive, but if the assessors aren’t engaged, they may overlook your solution’s ingenuity. Storytelling may help you stand out from the crowd and connect with your audience. To showcase how this solution will impact the lives of consumers and stakeholders, share passionate and impactful tales from personas or real individuals you interacted with. Following the first advice, speaking with individuals in different parts of the problem will allow you to tell interesting human stories.

7. Have fun

Make sure you have a good time! That may seem corny, but if you’re not interested in the subject area, it’s difficult to imagine and build out a commercial solution under time restrictions. Find teammates with whom you like spending together and let your excitement shine on pitch day.

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BCG’s Best Tips for Excelling in Case Competitions

We asked our partners at the Copenhagen office of BCG for tips and tricks to excel (Pun intended) at case competitions. This is their key learnings.

• Solbjerg Plads 3, 2000 Frederiksberg
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Business Case Studies

• Getting Started
• Case Analysis
• Finding Case Studies in the Library
• Free Case Studies
• Buying Cases
• Writing Case Studies

About Case Competitions

Preparing for case competitions, case competitions library resources.

• Case Interviews
• Case Method (Teaching)

Business schools and organizations host case competitions, where teams present solutions to diverse business cases.

• Sauder's CUS Case Competition Club Provides support to undergraduate students who are interesting in becoming case solvers. The club has internal competitions, as well as a current list of external competitions subsidized by the CUS and the Dean's Office.

If you are competing, it is useful to find out about the case competition in which you are participating. Use Google to search for your case competition, and explore the website fully, looking for terms like Archives , Resources , Press Releases , or Media to find information about previous cases and competition winners. YouTube may also have highlights from past competitions.

Below is a selective list of case competitions:

• Case Competitions / The Case Centre Annotated list of case study competitions, including deadlines for submission and lists of past winners.
• Copenhagen Business School. CBS Case Competition Includes links to case solving tools and and cases from 2008 to present.
• McGill Management International Case Competition Content varies, but archives contain a synopsis of the case and some of the presentation slides of case winners.
• Foster School of Business, University of Washington. Global Business Case Competition.
• American Marketing Association. AMA Collegiate Awards & Competitions
• USC Marshall School of Business. Marshall International Case Competition
• Eller College of Management. Collegiate Ethics Case Competition
• Business Source Ultimate Additionally, use article databases like Business Source Ultimate and search by the name of your case competition.
• John Molson MBA International Case Competition Guide (2018)

It is a good idea to get familiar with library resources that can help you analyze cases. The business school that hosts a case competition will often have many of the same resources to which UBC Library subscribes.  

Explore the following research guides for basic strategies and resources:

• Company Research (Pay attention to the pages for Annual Reports, Profiles, Finance/Analyst Reports, SWOT.)
• Industry & Market Research (Pay attention to the Industry Overviews page.)
• International Business
• << Previous: Writing Case Studies
• Next: Case Interviews >>
• Last Updated: Jan 17, 2024 11:02 AM
• URL: https://guides.library.ubc.ca/businesscases

47 case interview examples (from McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.)

One of the best ways to prepare for   case interviews  at firms like McKinsey, BCG, or Bain, is by studying case interview examples. 

There are a lot of free sample cases out there, but it's really hard to know where to start. So in this article, we have listed all the best free case examples available, in one place.

The below list of resources includes interactive case interview samples provided by consulting firms, video case interview demonstrations, case books, and materials developed by the team here at IGotAnOffer. Let's continue to the list.

• McKinsey examples
• BCG examples
• Bain examples
• Deloitte examples
• Other firms' examples
• Case books from consulting clubs
• Case interview preparation

Click here to practise 1-on-1 with MBB ex-interviewers

1. mckinsey case interview examples.

• Beautify case interview (McKinsey website)
• Diconsa case interview (McKinsey website)
• Electro-light case interview (McKinsey website)
• GlobaPharm case interview (McKinsey website)
• National Education case interview (McKinsey website)
• Talbot Trucks case interview (McKinsey website)
• Shops Corporation case interview (McKinsey website)
• Conservation Forever case interview (McKinsey website)
• McKinsey case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)
• Profitability case with ex-McKinsey manager (by IGotAnOffer)
• McKinsey live case interview extract (by IGotAnOffer) - See below

2. BCG case interview examples

• Foods Inc and GenCo case samples  (BCG website)
• Chateau Boomerang written case interview  (BCG website)
• BCG case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)
• Written cases guide (by IGotAnOffer)
• BCG live case interview with notes (by IGotAnOffer)
• BCG mock case interview with ex-BCG associate director - Public sector case (by IGotAnOffer)
• BCG mock case interview: Revenue problem case (by IGotAnOffer) - See below

3. Bain case interview examples

• CoffeeCo practice case (Bain website)
• FashionCo practice case (Bain website)
• Associate Consultant mock interview video (Bain website)
• Consultant mock interview video (Bain website)
• Written case interview tips (Bain website)
• Bain case interview guide   (by IGotAnOffer)
• Digital transformation case with ex-Bain consultant
• Bain case mock interview with ex-Bain manager (below)

4. Deloitte case interview examples

• Engagement Strategy practice case (Deloitte website)
• Recreation Unlimited practice case (Deloitte website)
• Strategic Vision practice case (Deloitte website)
• Retail Strategy practice case  (Deloitte website)
• Finance Strategy practice case  (Deloitte website)
• Talent Management practice case (Deloitte website)
• Enterprise Resource Management practice case (Deloitte website)
• Footloose written case  (by Deloitte)
• Deloitte case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

5. Accenture case interview examples

• Case interview workbook (by Accenture)
• Accenture case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

6. OC&C case interview examples

• Leisure Club case example (by OC&C)
• Imported Spirits case example (by OC&C)

7. Oliver Wyman case interview examples

• Wumbleworld case sample (Oliver Wyman website)
• Aqualine case sample (Oliver Wyman website)
• Oliver Wyman case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

8. A.T. Kearney case interview examples

• Promotion planning case question (A.T. Kearney website)
• Consulting case book and examples (by A.T. Kearney)
• AT Kearney case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

9. Strategy& / PWC case interview examples

• Presentation overview with sample questions (by Strategy& / PWC)
• Strategy& / PWC case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

10. L.E.K. Consulting case interview examples

• Case interview example video walkthrough   (L.E.K. website)
• Market sizing case example video walkthrough  (L.E.K. website)

11. Roland Berger case interview examples

• Transit oriented development case webinar part 1  (Roland Berger website)
• Transit oriented development case webinar part 2   (Roland Berger website)
• 3D printed hip implants case webinar part 1   (Roland Berger website)
• 3D printed hip implants case webinar part 2   (Roland Berger website)
• Roland Berger case interview guide   (by IGotAnOffer)

12. Capital One case interview examples

• Case interview example video walkthrough  (Capital One website)
• Capital One case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

12. EY Parthenon case interview examples

• Candidate-led case example with feedback (by IGotAnOffer)

14. Consulting clubs case interview examples

• Berkeley case book (2006)
• Columbia case book (2006)
• Darden case book (2012)
• Darden case book (2018)
• Duke case book (2010)
• Duke case book (2014)
• ESADE case book (2011)
• Goizueta case book (2006)
• Illinois case book (2015)
• LBS case book (2006)
• MIT case book (2001)
• Notre Dame case book (2017)
• Ross case book (2010)
• Wharton case book (2010)

Practice with experts

Using case interview examples is a key part of your interview preparation, but it isn’t enough.

At some point you’ll want to practise with friends or family who can give some useful feedback. However, if you really want the best possible preparation for your case interview, you'll also want to work with ex-consultants who have experience running interviews at McKinsey, Bain, BCG, etc.

If you know anyone who fits that description, fantastic! But for most of us, it's tough to find the right connections to make this happen. And it might also be difficult to practice multiple hours with that person unless you know them really well.

Here's the good news. We've already made the connections for you. We’ve created a coaching service where you can do mock case interviews 1-on-1 with ex-interviewers from MBB firms . Start scheduling sessions today!

Related articles:

5 Famous Business Competitor Case Studies Of All Time

Look at any good or famous business competitor case study examples, and one thing immediately becomes clear:

Done well, this approach to competitive analysis can help you identify your competitor’s strengths and weaknesses and your own, all while determining those crucial gaps in the market that represent a golden opportunity for your brand.

However, doing not so well and a competitor case study can soon balloon into an overwhelming waste of time which may provide you with a tonne of data on your competition yet offers no real insight on how to use that data to gain a competitive advantage.

To help ensure yours is done well, I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to doing competitive analysis the right way, outlining not only what to look for when analyzing your competition but how to take what you find and put it to work for your business.

What is a Business Competitor Case Study and Why Do You Need One?

Typically, when we think of a business case study, we think of the traditional “Here’s how a business came with a solution to a particular problem.”

For example, there’s a famous case study focusing on the multi-national coffee supply chain Starbucks . After “hitting a wall” in their sales and revenue, the brand found a solution by closing down a significant number of their stores and “reinvigorating” their branding, essentially focussing on quality over quantity.

Other businesses can learn from the Starbucks case study and those like them and, where appropriate, apply what worked to their own brand.

A business competitor case study operates similarly, albeit with some notable differences. In this case, the problem doesn’t belong to another business but your own.

That problem or challenge could be:

• How do we increase our revenues and/or revenue streams?
• How do we re-engage with lapsed/former customers?
• How do we increase our ROI in social media or digital marketing?
• How do we increase our market share?

Or it could be any number of other challenges.

Whatever the case may be, carrying out this kind of competitive analysis helps you find the solution by looking at your main competition. If growing your market share is your main priority, identifying a weakness that your competitor has can help you develop new ideas on how you can offer customers something they’re simply not getting from that competitor.

If your digital marketing is leaving a lot to be desired, surveying the landscape to see where you’re falling behind can help you pinpoint precisely where you’re going wrong.

What’s more, making effective use of this competitive intelligence can help you to identify changes in both your audience and the industry as a whole, highlighting trends you can capitalize on, new audiences you could potentially target, or simply new ways to reach and engage with your existing target audience.

5 Famous Business Competitor Case Study Examples

1. the army crew team.

The Army Crew Team is an all-time classic business competitor case study that has a lot to teach us about how we work as a team. The coach of West Point’s varsity Army Crew team took his eight top individual rowers and placed them together in one boat. In a second boat, he placed his eight second-tier rowers.

The team in the second boat consistently beat the team in the first boat, despite the first boat consisting of better performing individual rowers. The case study shows that, collectively, a team can be more than the sum of its individual parts and that there’s more to getting great work out of a team than simply gathering together your star performers.

For businesses looking at the best ways to get the most out of their teams, this is an essential case study to look at.

See also: Twitter Competitors Analysis

2. Malden Mills

Two weeks before Christmas 1995, the Malden Mills factory burned to the ground.

Employees feared and assumed that they’d be unemployed until the factory was rebuilt, but the company’s CEO, Aaron Feuerstein, invested $25 million of company money to ensure those employees would still have a wage and benefits while the factory was rebuilt.

In one regard, this worked out well. When the factory reopened, the employees who had been well taken care of worked harder than ever. Productivity was at an all-time high and business boomed. In another regard, the cost of paying for the factory rebuild as well as taking care of employees landed Malden Mills in bankruptcy court three times.

This famous case study is used time and time again to present an argument for the pros and cons of philanthropy and making difficult decisions regarding employee satisfaction.

3. Apple Inc.

For the longest time, Apple was known as “Apple Computers” a name that perfectly summed up their focus on the personal computer market. In 2007, however, they dropped the “computers” part and simply became “Apple Inc.” This was more than just a name change for the company, it was part of an entire rebranding a shift in focus from personal computers to iPods, iPhones, iPads, and the like.

It was a strategy that paid off for them. Apple was already a well-known company beforehand, but after their “rebirth” in 2007, they truly became not only a household name but one of the most successful and profitable businesses of all time.

This famous case study is used a lot to demonstrate the benefits of taking the company in an entirely different direction rather than trying to compete in an already overcrowded market.

The ‘ Cadbury Ethical Dilema ‘ is a popular case study that is frequently presented to MBA students taking part in business case study competitions. Chocolate manufacturers Cadbury had prided themselves on their strong values and fair ethical practices. So it came as a huge blow to the brand when it was discovered that child labor was being used to produce cocoa on Côte d’Ivoire cocoa farms.

The House of Representatives passed legislation in the US which meant that companies who could prove their chocolate was produced without forced labor could print “slave-labor free” labels on their chocolate.

Naturally, this would paint companies who couldn’t prove that in a bad light, so the industry as a whole asked for time to essentially clean up its act. When the agreed deadline for doing so came to an end, Cadbury were left with a dilemma – did they continue to stall for time or did they find another way to ensure ethical management of their supply chain?

This case study remains famous for pointing out the difficulties in managing ethical practices and is well worth looking at for considering the impact that the practices of others in your supply chain can have on your business.

5. Coffee 2016

Another well-known case study that should be familiar to anyone who ever competed in a business case study competition in the last few years. Student teams were asked to come up with ideas for improving the returns generated by everyone involved in the production and consumption of coffee from the grower right through to the consumer.

The case was famous as it has so much to teach businesses and business students alike about marketing practices and supply chain logistics.

How to Create a Business Competitor Case Study

So, that takes care of the what and the why, but what about the how? Below, you’ll find a simple nine-step process to help you get the ball rolling with your own competitor analysis.

1. Determine Which Products/Services to Evaluate

If your business offers more than one product or service, you may find that analyzing your competitors becomes much less of a headache when you focus on just one of them or at least one type. For example, if you make sports clothing, you may choose to focus on your competition in the running gear market or concentrate on developing a strategy to increase revenues from your line of sports shoes.

If you’re a digital marketing agency, you might want to narrow down your competitive research to just Search Engine Optimization or how you can improve the service you offer to a web design client.

That’s not to say that you can’t research more than one aspect of your business, but doing so may mean that you end up producing data that isn’t always relevant and doesn’t help you to make the kind of strategic decisions you really need to make.

2. Determining Your Competitors for a Business Competitor Case Study

On the whole, your business is likely to have three types of competitors.

Direct Competitor

A direct competitor is any business that sells the same product or service in the same category to meet the same need for the same audience. Your biggest competitor, the one people most closely compare your business to, is more than likely going to fall in this category, as are any others that are actively competing for your share of the market.

If you sell sports shoes to female marathon runners, another company that sells sports shoes to female marathon runners would be your direct competitor. If you run a local car washing service and another business three blocks over also offer a local car washing service, they’re in direct competition with you.

Indirect Competitor

An indirect competitor is a business that sells a different product or service to meet the same need of the same audience. A common example is fast food restaurants.

McDonald’s and Burger King both sell fast food burgers (products) to hungry people (audience) so that those people can fulfill that hunger (need). If I’m hungry and want the convenience of fast food and the delicious taste of a burger, I could spend my money at either restaurant, which makes them direct competitors.

However, if I’m just hungry and want something convenient, whether it’s a burger or not, I might choose to go to McDonald’s or head next door to Pizza Hut or Subway. All three brands are in the same category (fast food), all three brands meet my need for a convenient way to satisfy hunger, but all three do so with different types of products, making them indirect competitors.

Replacement Competitor

A replacement competitor meets the same needs for the same audience but using different products or services in a different category. For example, I could choose to go to McDonald’s to fill my hunger, but I might also choose to go to Target and buy ingredients to make a homemade dinner.

To go back to the car wash example I used earlier – If you run a local car wash and the auto repair shop next door sells car cleaning supplies, that would make them a replacement competition. Your customer could choose to substitute using your service to buy some cleaning supplies and do the job himself.

Potential and Future Competitors

When determining your competition, it’s worth noting that just because a business isn’t currently in your market segment doesn’t mean they won’t eventually. This is why it’s worth noting your potential and future competitors too.

Potential competitors are those who may sell the same products, even with the same category but haven’t yet entered your market. For example, a company that operates exclusively in the next town, city, or state over to you may not be a direct competitor yet, but they have the potential to be if they chose to move into your town/city/state.

Likewise, if you run a limousine hire service focusing exclusively on corporate clients and another company across town focuses exclusively on limousine hire for weddings, they too have the potential to be a competitor. A future competitor is much more likely to become direct competitors, such as an expanding national chain.

To really get the most value out of your eventual competitive analysis report, it pays to consider all of these types of clients and their impact on your business.

How to Find Your Competitors for a Competitive Analysis

There are some competitors that you don’t have to look very hard to find. You know they’re there. They are the businesses and brand names that are hard to ignore, the ones everyone compares you to do.

Still, don’t just limit your research there.

Head to Google.

Search for the kind of keywords you’d expect people to use for your business.

Who else comes up beside you?

Search for your business name.

What are other businesses paying for Google ads around your business?

What about social media? Who are people talking about?

You can also use tools such as the Audience Overlap tool provided by Alexa , which helps you to not only track down your competition but develop and deliver on your entire competitive intelligence project. Don’t discount offline methods either. Magazines, trade publications, and even asking your target audience directly via focus groups, surveys, and so on can all prove helpful.

3. Start Your Research

Although Google can be a very powerful tool for finding out about your competitors, don’t just limit yourself to a quick search or browse their website. Yes, that’s important, especially if you’re both predominantly online brands. If your competitors have a physical presence, it’s important to check that out too.

You may want to treat this the same way you would a typical market research project and get a group of people to experience your competitor’s business, their customer service, sales experience, products, and so on. That way, you get a much wider range of opinions and can look for trends and common themes that can influence the strategic decisions you need to make to gain a competitive advantage.

4. Analyze Your Findings

With the research done, it’s time to collate what you’ve found into your competitive analysis report. This may take the form of graphs, charts, written insights, anything that can help you present a compelling business case as to why your brand needs to be made.

5. Identify Action Points

Speaking of which, the point of analyzing your competition isn’t to pay attention to how many social media followers they have or how they compare to you in terms of brand recognition; it’s to provide you with actionable steps that you can take to achieve your business goals.

So with that in mind, figure out what you’re actually going to do due to your competitor research. Will you be rethinking your price points? Revamping your customer service? Starting again with a completely different digital marketing strategy?

6. Take a Snapshot of Your Business Pre-Changes

Before you implement those steps, be sure to look at how your business is currently performing.

Consider your main KPIs and any data relating to how you’re currently doing. After all, it’s going to make it much easier to determine if the steps you’ve taken have been effective when you’ve got some real, measurable statistics to play with.

7. Implement the actions

This next step may sound simple, but it’s where the real work comes in. Whatever actionable steps you decide to take, whether it’s coming up with a brand new social media plan, establishing yourself as a market leader, or simply ensuring that every client receives first-class customer service, now’s the time to make that happen.

8. Measure the Results

When you’ve made your changes, measure your results.

Compare where you are now to where you were when you took that snapshot in step six.

9. Repeat as necessary

Last but not least, it’s important not to fall into the habit of thinking that competitive analysis is a one-and-done affair.

If there’s one universal truth about the business landscape, it’s that things change constantly. New trends emerge, new customers arrive on the scene, once loyal customers become former customers. As such, it’s important to analyze your competition as a regular component of your overall competitive strategy.

What to Include in a Business Competitor Case Study

You’ve now got a complete strategy to put your competitive analysis report together, but what exactly should you include in that report, and what aspects of your competitor’s business should you research?

The following are essential aspects that will help you to put together the most effective competitor case study.

1. Features

Starting with the basics, look at your customers’ product or service, which competes with yours, and note all of its features. For the best results, do this for each competitor and add your findings to a spreadsheet. This will make it easy to compare products and see what you’re missing.

It may even show you what your competitors are missing, highlighting a hidden advantage that you may not have previously capitalized on.

2. Market Share

Determining their market share will help you identify who your main competitor is and who you and who you may need to focus your attention on.

3. Price points

Pay attention to what the competition charges and consider what insights you can gain about your own pricing.

4. Marketing types

Your competition’s SEO marketing strategy, where they invest their ad spend, the kind of social media marketing tools they use are all important.

What keywords are they using to draw traffic?

How do your competitor’s websites compare to yours?

What are their PPC campaigns like?

All of these questions will help you determine their strengths and weaknesses from a digital standpoint.

Don’t forget about other forms of media, either.

Do they advertise in print publications? If so, which ones?

What about TV, radio, and other advertising platforms?

5. Online popularity

How do they fare in terms of social media engagement and website traffic? How does that compare to your own online presence?

Here, you’re looking more at quantifiable numbers. Likes, follows, mentions, page views, etc., should all be taken into consideration. They may not be the most important factor for some aspects of your business, but if you’re looking to up the game with your marketing and communication strategy or your SEO strategy, these numbers are worth considering.

6. Public perception and reputation

Here, we’re focusing on quality over quantity. One company may have more social media mentions than you, but if all those mentions are negative, it’s a different story. Social listening tools can be a big help in discovering what people are saying about your competitor’s brand online and can prove to be a valuable way to discover the perception of your competitors from a client perspective.

Away from social media, you might also want to consider news releases, blogs, and news articles as a means of discovering what kind of reputation your competitors have in the wider media.

7. Search Engine Optimization

An SEO marketing strategy is vital for just about any business in the digital age, but how do the strategies of competing businesses compare to yours, and what can that teach you. Here’s where keyword research and looking at their inbound marketing strategy, their approach to content marketing, and technical SEO aspects will all be important.

What makes other businesses in your market unique? What do they promote as being their reason for standing out from the crowd? Along with any sales literature, you might want to look at their mission and values statements and the kind of language they use in social media bios to get a good idea of their USPs.

9. Strengths and Weaknesses

Any good business competitor case study will feature a list of competitors’ strengths and weaknesses and insight into what opportunities this presents for your business.

Just as you might do a SWOT analysis for your business, a similar approach may help you analyze what other brands do well, how that influences the things you need to improve on, and what they don’t do so well, and how you do can capitalize on that.

10. Geography

In this regard, when we talk about geography, we’re not just talking about the town, city, or region your competitors operate in. Although that’s important, it’s just as important to note whether they have physical bricks-and-mortar venues in those towns or whether they’re a strictly eCommerce or digital-only operation.

What are the Advantages of Conducting a Competitor Analysis?

Identify your own weak spots

Competitor analysis doesn’t just identify your competitors’ weaknesses and gaps in the market. It may also highlight gaps in any areas for improvement in your own company. By comparing your brand to others, you get a different perspective than you’d get from standard SWOT analysis, and this can pay dividends when it comes to driving your company forward.

Improve your marketing and SEO efforts

Competitive strategy analysis isn’t just about products, services, and customers. It can also identify the SEO techniques used by competitors and come up with appropriate keywords to help you improve your organic search results.

Define your Benchmarks and Fine-Tune Your KPIs

Input your findings into a competitive analysis template, and it will soon become apparent what areas your business needs to be focusing on. This can prove invaluable when it comes time to determine your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and decide what -and how- it measures.

Identify gaps in your talent pool

A competitor case study really influences every aspect of your business beyond the direct products or services you sell. Your HR team can use the information to help identify gaps in your talent pool. If there’s a newly emerging market trend that you lack the talent to capitalize upon, your team can use this information to help with the recruitment needed to fill that gap.

What are the Disadvantages of Competitive Analysis?

Too much data, not enough analysis.

It’s easy to get so overwhelmed with the sheer amount of data you can unearth on your competitors that you forget that it’s the analysis of that data that really makes all the difference. It’s important to think about what meaningful conclusions you can draw and what actionable steps you can take as a result.

The impact is lessened if not kept up to date

The landscape of business is constantly changing. It’s not enough to assess the competition when you first start out and then never update it. Industries change, new trends emerge, new competitors arrive on the scene, all of which demand that market research on your competitors remains a key part of your competitive strategy.

Benchmarking performance based on competitors is not always the solution

Comparing your own performance against your competitors may not work so well if your competitors do things wrong or badly. Sure, it’s great to be an industry leader, but if the overall performance of that industry lacks compared to what the market actually demands, you may need to come up with a brand new strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Business Competitor Case Study

Question: what is a business case study competition.

Answer: A business case study competition is an event in which student teams compete to develop the best solution to a particular business case study. Though such events aren’t always exclusively for MBA students, most of them are as case study competitions can be a great way to inspire creative thinking and develop skills.

Question: How often should I do a competitive analysis?

Answer: Ideally, competitive analysis should be performed monthly, but if that seems like overkill for your industry, commit to at least once per quarter.

Question: What should be included in a competitive analysis?

Answer: Every competitive analysis report will be different depending on the nature of your business and your industry. However, as a general rule, it should identify who your competitors are, your competitor’s weaknesses, strengths, and overall strategies. Above all, it should provide insight into how you use their strengths and weaknesses to your advantage, whether that’s making improvements where you’re lacking or highlighting to customers what your brand does better than a rival’s.

The Final Word on Creating a Business Competitor Case Study

Whether you call it competitive intelligence gathering, competitive analysis reporting, or compiling a business competitor case study, there are three key points that I want you to take away from this guide:

• Competitive analysis is about identifying your own strengths and weaknesses as much if not more than your competitors.
• All the research and data in the world is unhelpful if it doesn’t provide you with insights into what you’re doing right and what you could be doing better.
• This isn’t a one-and-done project. Analyzing the competition is something you should be doing regularly to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of your industry.
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Case Competitions: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners

Table of Contents

Introduction, what are case competitions, why participate in case competitions, 1. understanding the case problem:, 2. conducting thorough research:, 3. applying relevant frameworks and models:, 4. developing creative and implementable recommendations:, 5. real-life case examples:.

Welcome to the exciting world of case competitions! If you want to enhance your problem-solving skills, gain valuable experience, and showcase your analytical abilities, participating in case competitions is the perfect opportunity for you. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the ins and outs of case competitions, provide practical tips, and show you the best approach to solve case problems effectively.

Case competitions are prestigious events where teams of students or professionals compete to solve complex business problems. These challenging simulations aim to emulate real-life scenarios that professionals encounter in the business world. Participants are presented with a case. It which often involves analyzing data, developing strategies, making recommendations, and presenting their solutions to a panel of judges. To know more, https://casebuzz.in/what-are-case-competitions-unleashing-the-power-of-collaborative-problem-solving/

Participating in case competitions offers numerous benefits and can significantly boost your personal and professional growth. Here are a few reasons why you should consider taking part in these invigorating events:

• Skill Development : Case competitions provide a platform for honing a wide range of skills, including problem-solving, critical thinking, analytical reasoning, teamwork, communication, and presentation skills.
• Real-World Experience : By simulating real-life business challenges, case competitions offer a realistic environment to apply your knowledge and develop practical business acumen.
• Networking Opportunities : These competitions bring together talented individuals from various academic backgrounds and industries, presenting excellent networking opportunities that can lead to valuable connections and future collaborations.
• Resume Enhancement : Participating and performing well in case competitions can significantly strengthen your resume, demonstrating your abilities to potential employers and opening doors to prestigious job opportunities.
• Fun and Rewarding : While case competitions can be intense, they also offer a thrilling and rewarding experience. The sense of achievement and personal growth that comes from successfully tackling complex problems is incredibly fulfilling.

Approach to crack case competitions

When it comes to participating in case competitions, the first and most crucial step is understanding the case problem at hand. This requires careful analysis and comprehension of the given scenario. To approach this effectively, it’s important to break down the problem into its key components and identify the underlying issues. By doing so, you can gain a clear understanding of what the case is truly asking for.

“Understanding the case problem is like solving a puzzle – the pieces may seem scattered at first, but once you put them together, the picture becomes clearer.”

To fully grasp the case problem, put yourself in the shoes of the key stakeholders involved. Consider their perspective, motivations, and potential challenges. This will enable you to approach the problem from a holistic standpoint, taking into account various factors that may influence the final resolution.

In order to tackle a case competition successfully, conducting thorough research is paramount. Start by gathering relevant data and information that pertains to the industry, market trends, and any other factors that may impact the case problem. This will provide you with a solid foundation upon which you can build your analysis.

• Effective research involves diving deep into credible sources such as industry reports, academic journals, and reputable publications to ensure accuracy and reliability of the information gathered.
• Engage in both primary and secondary research methodologies to uncover valuable insights. Interviews with industry experts, customer surveys, and competitor analysis are just a few ways to gather primary data.
• Do not underestimate the power of quantitative analysis. Utilize statistical tools and techniques to identify patterns, correlations, and trends that may be instrumental in formulating your recommendations.

By investing time and effort in comprehensive research, you equip yourself with the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions and provide well-rounded solutions.

Now that you have a solid understanding of the case problem and have conducted thorough research, it’s time to apply relevant frameworks and models to structure your analysis. Frameworks such as SWOT analysis, Porter’s Five Forces, or the Value Chain can help you dissect the problem and identify key areas of focus.

“Frameworks act as guiding principles, allowing you to navigate through the complexities of the case problem with clarity and precision.”

Ensure that the selected frameworks align with the specific case problem and are appropriate for the industry or sector in question. By using these frameworks as a roadmap, you can systematically analyze the case and uncover insights that may not have been apparent at first glance.

One of the distinguishing factors in a successful case competition is the ability to develop creative and implementable recommendations. After conducting thorough research and applying relevant frameworks, it’s time to think outside the box and propose innovative solutions.

• View the problem from various perspectives and consider unconventional approaches that may not have been explored before.
• Incorporate real-world constraints and limitations into your recommendations to ensure their practicality and feasibility.
• Test the viability of your recommendations using robust analysis and consider potential risks and challenges that may arise during implementation.

By pushing the boundaries of conventional thinking and embracing creativity, you can stand out from the competition and showcase your ability to provide unique solutions.

To illustrate the application of the approach discussed above, let’s delve into some real-life case examples. These examples will provide practical insights into how the understanding of the case problem, thorough research, relevant frameworks, and creative recommendations come together to crack a case competition.

“Real-life case examples serve as a source of inspiration and allow you to witness firsthand how the approach that we have discussed can yield remarkable results.”

• Company X: A Struggling Retailer : In this case, the problem revolves around a struggling retail company facing fierce competition from e-commerce giants. By understanding the challenges faced by traditional retailers and conducting thorough research on industry trends, the team can leverage frameworks such as the Osterwalder Business Model Canvas to identify opportunities for growth. Creative recommendations may involve integrating technology to enhance the in-store experience, implementing personalized marketing strategies, and exploring partnerships with complementary businesses.
• Start-up Y: Scaling in a Disruptive Industry : This case focuses on a start-up operating in a disruptive industry. By understanding the unique dynamics of the industry and conducting research to uncover customer preferences, the team can utilize frameworks like the Ansoff Matrix to explore growth strategies. Creative recommendations may involve targeting niche markets, leveraging strategic alliances, and innovating the business model to adapt to changing industry trends.
• Organization Z: Mitigating Environmental Impact : Here, the case revolves around an organization seeking to reduce its environmental impact. By understanding the organization’s current practices and conducting research on sustainability frameworks, the team can propose recommendations using tools such as the Triple Bottom Line and Circular Economy principles. Creative recommendations may involve implementing renewable energy sources, minimizing waste throughout the supply chain, and engaging stakeholders in sustainability initiatives.

In each of these examples, the approach of understanding the problem, conducting thorough research, applying relevant frameworks, and developing creative recommendations proves instrumental in cracking the case competition.

For more solved case studies, visit:

1. https://www.casecompetition.com/library/

2. https://www.shwetaarora.in/post/case-study-competition-ppt-example

Mastering case competitions is no small feat, but armed with the right knowledge and approach, you can excel in these high-stakes events. In this guide, we’ve explored the fundamentals of case competitions, provided tips for success, and outlined the best approach to solving case problems. Remember, practice makes perfect, so invest time in mock sessions, develop your skills, and embrace the thrill of tackling complex business challenges. Participating in case competitions is not just about winning but also about growing both personally and professionally. So, what are you waiting for? Start your case competition journey today and unlock your true potential!

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Case Competitions

Student Experience

Pitch your ideas, put your business skills to the test, and compete in a case competition.

Participating in a business-related case competition is one of the best ways to develop critical business and presentation skills, gain practical real-world industry experience, and network with experts and potential employers. Partner with Carey faculty to fine-tune your presentation and case analysis skills. And then put your theories to the test and present to leading executives around the world. With competitions hosted at Carey and funding available to register and travel to outside competitions, at Carey Business School you can compete and win in some of the most prestigious case competitions worldwide.

2024 iOme Challenge

A team of four first-year MBA students and two MS in Finance students won the 2024 iOme Challenge. The iOme Challenge is a prestigious national student competition that tasks participants with analyzing the current state of retirement policy in the United States and proposing viable policy solutions to address the needs of their generation. Participating teams respond to the annual iOme Challenge question with an essay and public policy proposal. The six Carey students wrote their response paper titled, “Investing in Our Future: A Transition to Sustainable Retirement Security.”

2024 Venture Capital Investment Competition

A team of four Carey students won first place at the 2024 New England Regional Finals of the Venture Capital Investment Competition in Boston. This marks the first win in Carey history at the regional round of the competition. The VCIC is a competition where teams of participants act as venture capitalists for the day and evaluate startups for potential funding. The teams conduct extensive research, draft a term sheet for their selected startup, and present findings to a panel of professional venture capitalist judges.

Howard University’s 27th Annual MBA Exclusive Conference: 18th Annual Minority Case Competition 

A team of Carey students took home first place and $12,000 at the 18th Annual Minority Case Competition, held during the MBA Exclusive Conference at Howard University. This year’s competition was sponsored by the NobleReach Foundation and themed “Leveraging Innovation and Entrepreneurship for National Competitiveness.” The case focused on the United States’ response to substantial adversarial investments in digital infrastructure and the need to create a mission-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem to remain competitive. The Carey team developed a comprehensive strategy to build the ecosystem, aligning entrepreneurs, investors, universities, students, communities, and government agencies. The strategy aimed to ignite a wave of innovation that would transform the entrepreneurial landscape, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and responsible society. Students had a week to plan, strategize, and solve the case to then present their ideas to a panel of judges.

BioNJ Health Equity in Clinical Trials MBA Business Plan Case Competition

A team of Johns Hopkins Carey Business School students took home the first-place prize, winning $10,000, at the BioNJ’s inaugural MBA Business Plan Case Competition. The Carey team, consisting of five MBA/MPH students, developed a business plan that outlined a new health equity solution in clinical trials. The competition is designed to promote next-generation innovators and to identify new methods and models to strengthen clinical trial diversity and expand health equity.

MIT Sloan Operations Simulation Competition

A team of Carey students took first place, winning $2,000, at the 18 th annual MIT Sloan Operations Simulation Competition, held virtually on April 20-22, 2022. This marks the third win by a Carey team in the last four competitions, making Johns Hopkins the best-performing business school (tied with MIT Sloan) in competition history.

CFA Institute Research Challenge

A Carey student team placed first in the annual local DC/Baltimore CFA Institute Research Challenge . The competition requires students to research and analyze a publicly traded company, write a report, and present a buy, sell, or hold recommendation to a panel of industry experts.

Case Competitions Funding and Support

Carey Business School provides case competition teams with faculty and peer advisors, case preparation workshops, a list of over a hundred national case competitions, and funding for registration and other needs if necessary.

To request case competition resources, email [email protected].

Case competitions Carey participates in

The annual CFA Institute Research Challenge is a global competition requiring students to research and analyze a publicly traded company, write a report, and present their buy, sell, or hold recommendations to a panel of industry experts. Teams are judged based on their research, analytical, valuation, report writing, and presentation skills.

Danaher Case Competition

The annual Healthcare Business Association case competition is sponsored by global science and technology innovator Danaher Corporation. Student teams from universities across the nation traveled to Baltimore to compete for the $7,500 first-place prize, on a case judged by a panel of Danaher Health IT subject experts and business leaders.

Graduate Consulting Club Case Competition

The Johns Hopkins Graduate Consulting Club Case Competition’s annual competition brings together students and fellows from across the country to work on some of the most pressing challenges in today's health care sector. Interdisciplinary teams comprised of students from across multiple schools, programs and departments. 40 schools competed in the April 23, 2021 case competition sponsored by HighMark Health.

This intense, 48-hour simulated competition requires teams to improve the efficiency of a hypothetical near-bankrupt firm. Graduate students from top business schools across the globe aim to run the most profitable factory with rankings based on their ending cash balances.

Venture Capital Investment Competition

In this annual competition, student teams play the role of venture capitalists who are looking to invest in one of the startups presenting at the event. Student teams are assessed on the investment opportunities and pitching an investment strategy to the judges. The winning team of the local (Carey students only) competition win a spot in the regionals.

Past case competitions

Carey students placed second in the 2021 virtual Danaher Case Competition. This competition focused on the rapid growth of at-home lab testing and issues related to effectiveness, efficiency, and inequities in access.

KeyBank Ohio State University Minority MBA case competition

A Carey Business School team took first place, winning $10,000, in the KeyBank Ohio State University Minority MBA Case Competition.

Arthur Page Society - Student Case Competition

Carey student, Rhianna Taniguchi, placed first in the business school category with her submission, "Turning a Moment into a Movement: Why the NBA said 'Black Lives Matter.'"

UNC/Duke Case Competition

Carey students placed third in the UNC/Duke Case Competition. The competition brings together graduate students (Master’s, PhD, JD, MD) and provides the opportunity for teams to apply their analytical skills and creativity in a real-world context, by solving a real-world business problem.

MIT Operations Simulation Competition

For the second consecutive year, a Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School student team took the top prize at the annual MIT Sloan Operations Simulation Competition.

Amazon Case Competition

The Carey Business School team took the top spot at the 2020 Reaching Out MBA conference— the largest gathering of LBGTQ+ business students and alumni.

Harvard Global Case Competition

A team of Johns Hopkins students placed third in Harvard University’s annual  Global Case Competition  on April 25, 2020. The team, which included four Carey students, team faced off against 160 other teams from around the world.

Kellogg Biotech and Healthcare Case Competition

A four-member team of Johns Hopkins University students, including two from the Carey Business School, has won first place in the 16th annual Kellogg Biotech and Healthcare Case Competition.

A Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Global MBA team took top prize in the 15th annual MIT Sloan Operations Simulation Competition, held April 7, 2019, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

• Danaher Virtual Case Competition 2020
• Carey Places at Harvard Case Competition
• Carey MBA student wins case competition at...

Part 1 of 6: Revenue Questions

Over the years, I’ve been a judge in various case competitions from the CFA Research Challenge to the SCG Bangkok Business Challenge at Sasin. On top of sitting on that side of the ‘bench’, I’ve also racked up thousand hours of presenting experience as a sell-side analyst to fund managers. More on that in a bit though.

Today’s article is the first part in a series about the questions you should expect as a participant in such case competitions. There are six common areas to expect questions on (which we’ll cover across the series of these articles):

• Revenue growth
• Gross profit growth or margin and growth
• Net profit margin
• Asset growth and financing
• Share price and market perception

In Part 1, we’ll begin by discussing what you might get asked about revenue.

If you want to get down to it, we’re all ‘presenting’ ourselves on a daily basis. I’m always presenting myself and my ideas, and you are, too. Whether it’s to your colleagues, your boss, your friends, even your mom and dad, you’re always presenting your ideas. They’re not always on board with you sometimes, so it’s important to present your case properly. It’s just a matter of how focused you are on the presentation that you’re giving and, in particular, on the judges in front of you.

As I explain to my students in the Valuation Master Class, focus on getting the forecasts right as it’s the heavily weighted majority portion of most case competitions. Expect that 80% of questions will be about your forecasts and the remaining 20% about your valuation. On top that, judges want to understand the story of your presentation. Which is part of the reason why that 80% is so important because a company’s profit growth is its story.

(Of course, if you’re presenting a start-up company, you don’t have to worry about share price and market perception, but we could probably replace that with an exit strategy, i.e., what’s your exit plan?)

So, here are the three main questions you need to cover about revenue:

• What are your key assumptions about the revenue drivers of this company?
• What’s driving the revenue?
• In what ways are your revenue growth assumptions different from the past?
• Here is where you need to tell the company’s story.

For example, I am the co-founder of a B2B coffee roasting company in Thailand called CoffeeWORKS. About ten years ago, we expanded into a new distribution channel supplying hotels. What was the impact on revenue when we moved into that channel?

Well, it caused a significant one-time increase in revenue, the biggest since the year we started the company. The new channel also continued to build higher and higher revenue growth over time too. This is the story of the way our revenue changed at that moment in time. Your presentations should provide similar narratives to explain revenue growth.

Review and build out these points to cover the three main questions for your upcoming case competition:

• How are your revenue growth assumptions different from consensus? If you’re an analyst like I was on the sell-side going to the fund manager, this is critical. The fund manager already knows everything that’s out there in the market. They see all the reports daily, and all of that information is already reflected in stock prices. So, the only thing that the fund manager really wants to know─or any investor or judge─is, “What do you know that is different? Explain to me what you know that the market doesn’t know yet.”
• To reach your revenue growth assumptions, do you expect management to make significant changes from their prior management style? If you’re looking at a company that’s grown organically, it’s hard to argue that they’re going to grow further through mergers and acquisitions (M&A). If you look at a company that’s been growing through M&A, it’s hard to argue that it’s suddenly going to switch to organic growth.
• What level of confidence do you have in your revenue growth assumptions? Don’t waiver. Do your due diligence on your forecasts to have confidence in your assumptions. The two go hand-in-hand.
• What are the strongest opposing views that could prove your revenue forecast wrong? Do you want to win an argument? Start with your opponent’s potential core arguments against your case. Know the opposing views inside and out.
• What is your assessment of the competitive environment of the company’s market? In the Valuation Master Class, I teach my students that they should be focused on Porter’s Five Forces as it offers the best structure. The SWOT Analysis, to me, is a little bit more of brainstorming rather than a comprehensive study of an industry.
• What are the company’s constraints to growth? Whatever those constraints to growth are that are holding a company back, make sure you know all about them.
• Are there risk reduction benefits from expanding into new products and markets? At CoffeeWORKS, we started with the office coffee service. Later, we added in supplying restaurants and coffee shops─two very different markets which provided very different behaviors for the two revenue streams. After this, we began supplying coffee to hotels; a revenue stream based on tourism. The different characteristics of those different product lines brought our total revenue together to actually reduce its volatility. So always think about how you can reduce business risk through new products, new markets, new regions, and new areas.
• Why was our market share flat?
• What are we doing to increase our market share?
• What is it that is causing our market share to rise?
• These are very important questions for the management of any company.

That’s it for revenue!

So, here are my personal tips for business case competitions:

• Always tell a story.
• Focus and repeat how you arrived at the above three main points over and over again.
• Talk to the judges as if they were potential investors.
• View the Q&A session as your chance to help the judges better understand your case, and don’t forget; have fun!
• And finally: Be prepared for the most important question you will be asked: the one you don’t know the answer too! Don’t panic though. Respond as I would, “Wow! That’s an interesting question that nobody has ever asked me, and I haven’t thought about. Here are my preliminary thoughts; positive and negative, and I’m going to do more work on that particular point too.”

Keep an eye out for the remaining parts in this series where I’ll talk about gross profit margin, net margin, asset growth and financing, valuation, share price, and market perception. Until next time!

The Valuation Master Class provides you with the head start needed to achieve the equity analysis edge you need in case competitions. Over the course of five modules, you will accumulate a portfolio of 56+ practical valuations on real-world companies. No other course provides the same opportunity to hone your equity analysis skills in the same way.

Sign up today!