Competition Information

 EACH TEAM WILL BE COMPRISED OF THREE CURRENTLY ENROLLED STUDENTS WORKING ON THEIR FIRST UNIVERSITY DEGREE (UNDERGRADUATES).

  • The case will be kept confidential until two weeks prior to the competition. The case will be distributed to teams around October 24th.
  • To prepare for the competition, teams may want to practice analyzing business cases such as Harvard Business School Cases. Original work is expected from all teams. During the preparation weeks teams may not consult with non-team members including faculty, advisors, staff, and fellow students.
  • Team members may use references sources in the public domain, such as books, the university business library, the internet, etc. Please pay attention to copyright issues.
  • Being educated about current world issues is always an advantage.
  • Content and delivery of the case presentation will count for 2/3 of the score. Language usage and grammar will count for the remaining 1/3.

RESOURCES

  • Participants may access any of their university’s libraries and online databases.
  • Laptops will not be provided during competition. Teams will need to bring their own laptops.
  • Teams need to provide two USB flash drives with their presentation on the each USB drive. Please make sure the flash drive does not have any school logos or emblems.

PRESENTATIONS

  • Each team will give their presentation three times to a different panel of judges each time. Three teams (from each language) will advance to a final round where they will give their presentation a fourth time.
  • First, second, third, and final round presentations will all be 15 minutes, followed by a 10 minute question-and-answer session with a panel of judges. If a team finishes its presentation early, it will go right ahead into its 10 minute question-and-answer session.
  • Be prepared for questions from the judges. The judges may be expert firm executives or board members.
  • Teams are not allowed to change any presentation slides in the first three rounds, however adaptations in delivery are acceptable. Teams that are advanced to the final are allowed to modify their presentation.
  • No practice rooms will be provided on the day of competition. However students may find empty hallways or study rooms to practice if desired.
  • Please bring your own laptop if you think you will need it. We only provide computers in presentation rooms. During the actual presentation the provided computer must be used.
  • Do not include any graphics or words in the presentation or wear any clothing with school or country logos that would identify your school, state, or country. This will keep it anonymous for the judges.
  • Teams are allowed to introduce themselves to the judges and shake hands with them during the 5 minutes setup period.
  • We highly recommend that the presentation of the case include all team members to capitalize on the strengths of each team member.

CASE PRESENTATIONS AND POWERPOINTS

  • Teams are required to produce an Executive Summary (1-2 pages) to be given to the judges at the beginning of each round.
  • Team are required to use a PowerPoint slide deck to aid in their case presentation.
  • Be prepared for the unexpected and have a back-up plan. For example, if the laptop fails, you may want to have hard copies of your presentation ready to hand out. Please print six slides on each page for the hard copy.
  • If teams are unable to set up their presentation within the five minute period allocated, they must use their prepared slide handout copies in place of the powerpoint presentation.
  • Choose fonts carefully to ensure that your slides show the same way on different computers. Common fonts include Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman, Palatino. If you use unusual fonts, copy the font onto the flash drive so you can load it onto the presentation laptop computer during your preparation time.
  • Each team needs to bring at least 9 copies of the Executive Summary and paper copies of the PowerPoint slides to the presentation: three copies will be handed by the team to the judges each round during the 5 minute set up period.
  • Teams are required to bring TWO USB drives. One will given to competition staff to ensure that the presentation doesn't change throughout the day. The team will keep the second USB as backup.
  • No props will be allowed (posters, charts, etc.)
  • No audio will be allowed in the presentation.

COACHES

  • In addition to the three team members, each team may be accompanied by a coach. However, teams may not consult with the coach during preparation of the case analysis or on the day of the competition. Any changes the students make to the presentation after the third round may not be influenced by the coach. Changes should be based on judges feedback and team collaboration.
  • It is strongly suggested that the coach work with the team on 2-3 practice cases before the competition case arrives.
  • Faculty advisors will be permitted to observe all three first, second, and third round presentations in their team's presentation room, but must remain the entire time. Coaches must either choose to observe all three teams presenting in the room or not at all.
  • Coaches are advised to avoid sitting with their team during the opening ceremony because judges will be present during the ceremony.
  • Coaches are advised to avoid making any gestures or comments during any round that may lead judges to know with which team they are associated.

JUDGING

  • All rounds will be judged by a panel of judges fluent in the language and knowledgeable in business.
  • To prevent bias, judges will not know which teams they are judging. Please do not include any identifying marks in your presentations or wear any clothing with school or country logos (this includes backpacks and flash drives.
  • Teams will draw a fictitious name during the opening ceremony and should refer to their team by their new name until the awards ceremony.

OTHER INFORMATION

Spectator Information

Only team advisors, BYU employees, official videographers, and special guests may observe the first round. Team members will not be allowed to view the presentations of competing teams in the first three rounds. However, all participants and advisors may observe the final round of presentations, including finalists after their own presentation. Finalists are not allowed to oberve other teams before they present or they will be disqualified. Photography and video recording by unauthorized persons is strictly prohibited in this competition.

Attire

Formal business attire is appropriate for this competition. Dress for a business setting. Women are strongly encouraged to wear appropriate length skirts.

Supplies

The presentation rooms will be technologically equipped, to facilitate PowerPoint presentations, but it is the responsibility of each team to bring all necessary supplies and equipment. 

Copying and Printing (more information)

It is recommended that all necessary copying and printing be done before arrival at Brigham Young University. However, printing is available on campus for $0.07 per page.

2014 Planning still in progress. Schedule subject to change.

8:00am - 8:30am            Judges Orientation
8:30am - 9:00am            Opening Ceremony
9:00am - 10:10am          First Round of Presentations
10:10am - 10:30am       Judges' Break
10:30am - 12:15pm       Second Round of Presentations
12:15pm - 1:15pm          Lunch
1:30pm - 3:10pm            Third Round of Presentations (updated with commentary from judges)
3:20pm - 3:45pm            Group Pictures
3:45pm - 4:00pm            Finalists Announcement
4:05pm - 5:45pm            Final Round of Presentations
5:45pm - 6:00pm           Judge’s Deliberation – Finalists ranked
6:00pm - 7:30pm           Dinner, Speaker and Award Ceremony
6:30pm - 7:00pm           Speaker
7:00pm - 7:10pm           Award Announcement



Print Page