How we bagged the place of National Winners of TATA Steel-a-thon -By Roshni Panda from XIMB

We were in a state of denial and disbelief when we were announced the National Winners of TATA Steel-a-thon. It is a moment that we are going to cherish for a long long time! So far, we have taken part in several case study competitions. We have treated each participation as a learning experience and have been trying to get better and better. Undoubtedly, TATA Steel-a-thon has been one of the most coveted competitions.

The case study

When the problem statements were released, we were thrilled to have multiple options, and it was not easy to decide which one to settle for. From that point onwards, we were excited to make a fair attempt to solve the chosen case and prove our mettle. 

Anticipating what this year's cases could be, we had started prepping for the competition even before the cases were launched by surfing through previous year's videos and all the material, we could get our hands-on. As soon as the cases were out, we went through them meticulously before coming to a decision. 

Going ahead with TATA Pravesh problem statement, we made a small framework of our own regarding how to go about it. The most challenging phase was just after the pre-finale results were announced. The time was running by quickly, and we had to rethink a lot of points to put forth. The night before the grand finale was a tedious one, but we made through it!

All about the winning team

Obviously, it would have been a much more fun experience if we were together on the campus. But to be honest, we did not face that big a challenge working in the remote mode. We have been in this scenario for a while now and have adapted well to it. Sometimes, we had creative blocks, and there were days when we had other academic commitments. But the team stuck through everything with flawless coordination and crystal-clear communication.

We wouldn't call it conflicts but healthy brainstorming sessions where we ideated and discussed the possibility along with the pros and cons of every idea we came up with. This helped us delve deeper into the topic and touch base with different aspects of the case. When it comes to resolving, we think it's more about how no idea went unheard and undiscussed. We were patient and respectful of anything that was proposed and ensured that we covered all the points to reach an effective conclusion. Being great friends was a bonus that helped us throughout our journey.

While all of us contributed equally to the case study, each of us had a bit of an edge over some topics which eventually helped us bag the title of National Winners of TATA Steel-a-thon. Nishchay overlooked the finance and strategy part while Arishna and Roshni worked on the marketing and distribution part. Each of us contacted different stakeholders involved and could gather fruitful insights, which helped us progress in the case study. Primary research played a crucial role in assessing the situation and coming up with an effective solution.

The extraordinary experience

In the finale round, there were ten teams from different case domains. We feel all the teams had put their best foot forward and were tough competitors for us. All the teams had provided a well-researched, detailed presentation and had beautifully explained their proposed ideas, and answered the questions bombarded at them.

TATA Steel-a-thon was one of the biggest corporate competitions we were really looking forward to. The competition was organized and framed in a very structured and systematic way. When the case was launched, we had many options to choose from different domains, making it easier for us to decide between the business problems we felt most connected with. 

All the rounds happened very smoothly and there was a clear flow of communication at each step, which made it very easy to understand the expectations to meet with. With the immense help from the organizers of the D2C platform, the finale round proceeded with utmost clarity and no miscommunication occurred from either end.

Learnings and takeaways

It has been a great learning experience for all of us. We learned how crucial a role all the stakeholders of a company play in a business’s success. Talking to the customers and other stakeholders involved gave us some deep insights about the functioning of the industry as a whole which in turn turned out to be fruitful for our solution and presentation, helping us bag the trophy of National Winners of TATA Steel-a-thon in the end. 

Time management and fulfilling our tasks before the scheduled deadlines are one of the vital skills we acquired in these few days. We also got accustomed to each other as teammates and understood the importance of team dynamics.

Unforgettable moments

It was a night before the pre-finale round submission was due when all the three of us were quite tired and had reached a roadblock on how to proceed with a particular topic. While joking and discussing random stories, we fell upon an idea from where it just clicked, and we were able to come up with some innovative ideas that played a crucial role in our presentation. We think it was the joking around and bonding over different stories and experiences which helped clear the mental block. It boosted up our creative front and we could discuss some fresh and innovative ideas.