Case Study Competitions- Details, Winning Strategies, And More!

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Case study competitions are the best exercise for your grey cells which makes use of all your mental faculties as well as your decision-making abilities. No wonder this 'show and tell' of corporate operations and market studies play a crucial role in competitions across universities and corporate organizations alike.

These case study competitions have changed the hiring landscape across all industries with many more joining the league. Organizations conduct business case competitions to reach out to top talent and assess their management and leadership skills. These businesses often offer enticing prizes like pre-placement interview opportunities as well as cash prizes to attract the target audience. There are multiple advantages to these challenges, and many organizations have started conducting corporate case study competitions and hackathons as annual events.

Naturally, students from all streams across the nation want to be a part of this trend. You too can be a part of and win these competitions with the right approach. This article lists all the details about case studies, ways to approach a case study competition, and tips to increase your chances of success in them. Have a look!

The ABC Of Case Studies

Have you ever wondered what a case study actually entails? Well, case studies are simply teaching tools that enhance and test the practical knowledge of students. A case study asks students to make a detailed analysis of a market situation, an organization, or a particular situation/ problem. The students are then required to use their problem-solving skills to rectify the complications or come up with innovative solutions to the problem statement at hand.

For example, a vast majority of learning in management courses occurs through case studies and they form an integral part of the business school experience. These case studies could be related to any functional area of an organization. Such as a marketing case study, or a case relating to the finance, operations, HR, or IT departments. They could also entail studying the overall workings of an organization and then ask students to come up with a business solution that is the best course of action for the respective organization. 
Note that the proposed solutions must be clear, evidence-based recommendations, based on in-depth research of the organization and the market conditions. These recommendations are meant to provide the company with solutions to real issues.

Now that we know the basics, let’s look at the type of case studies and their classifications.

Types Of Case Studies

There is a wide range of case study types and methods of classifying them into categories. These types are then further divided into sub-divisions depending upon the subject, situation, goals/ objectives, etc. But there are four most widely accepted types, which are:

Illustrative Case Studies

These are also referred to as descriptive case studies. As the name suggests these start with the description of a situation that needs to be analyzed. They generally describe one or two circumstances to familiarise the reader with the business problem/ situation that is the main subject of the study. 

The readers then make observations based on the description provided, compare them with relevant theories, and come up with actionable recommendations.

Exploratory Case Studies

These case studies are condensed forms of research studies that usually act as a precursor to much bigger studies with a deeper level of research. The main function of such studies is to find the answer to some pre-decided basic questions, which either prove or refute the need for further research and study on that subject. If the case study shows that further, more detailed research on the matter will be fruitful, researchers dive deeper into the subject matter.  

Collective/Multiple-Case Studies

As the title suggests, these studies make use of different (relevant) studies from all points of time which aggregate into the case for a new one. The collection of various studies leads to better generalization and addition of information without the extra expense of time and resources. 

Critical Instance Case Studies

As the name suggests, these studies focus on a single instance or phenomenon. They are somewhat similar to collective case studies in the way that these also entail collecting data from different sources. However, in contrast to cumulative studies, here the purpose is not to make generalizations, rather it's to focus on unique situations for study. Such case studies are useful for finding the relation between an event and its cause.

These are the most common case study types. Now, a case study competition will require a group to work as a team and present their analysis and consequent solutions in a compact and effective manner to the judges. It’s a straightforward process but requires great thought and preparation in advance if one wishes to win.

5 Tips To Boost Your Chance Of Success In A Case Study Competition

Listed below are 5 business case competition tips to help you prepare for and win case competitions/ challenges:

A Diverse And Well-balanced Team

Building a well-rounded team is critical when participating in a competitive case study competition. Everyone knows that a team that consists of members with diverse strengths, skill sets, backgrounds, methodologies, and competencies is comparatively better at thinking out of the box and coming up with amazing solutions. An ideal team, size-wise, consists of 4-6 people unless specified otherwise by the competition sponsors/organizers. 

Research Is Key

It is important that participants possess great research skills if they want to emerge as competition winners. This is because they will need to conduct thorough research on the topic/ situation/ problem at hand to come up with winning solutions. What one lacks in knowledge can be made up for only through proper research. The key takeaway here is- to hone your research skills before taking part in the competition, both through study and practice. You should know how to conduct comprehensive research using all offline as well as online resources available for the subject of your case study.

You could make use of websites like Unstop to take part in online competitions and business simulation games in order to get a fair experience of the workings of such a competition. 

Work On Multiple Ideas

Putting all your eggs in one basket isn't the ideal approach when it comes to such competitions. It is best to work on a couple of ideas at the same time and then select the most brilliant idea of the lot and make it your primary solution. Other business ideas can be used as backup options if something goes wrong with the initial plan of action.

Note that while you need to come up with data-driven solutions, don't forget to employ logic and reason in your solution.

Structure Of Competition Presentation Content Is Important 

Presenting and positioning your business solutions is just as critical as coming up with actionable recommendations for the problem at hand. Because if you don't present the information in a structured form, you won't be able to convey your idea to the judges. Your presentation should be professional, crisp, and effective all the same time. 

Another important aspect of making a successful presentation is the person making the presentation. This person should have excellent communication skills and must be confident and approachable. It is not important for all team members to present and speak individually. There might be members who aren't comfortable making conversations with people or speaking in front of large crowds. Everyone has their own set of skills and it is best to play them to their strengths.

So, structure your presentation right, and choose the best speakers to go forward (if all the team members could partake in it, all the better). Also, it is better if max 2 members handle the computer slides at a time- clutter doesn’t look good.

Be Prepared For Answering Questions

The next stage of these competitions is the QnA round. Here the panel will ask questions regarding your presentation and recommendations for the problem statement. It is best to come prepared for this round, rather than being caught unaware.

So contemplate what kind of questions could be asked depending on your research, strategy, sources, presentation, and the final solution. Prepare well-researched answers for these beforehand as this will give you an edge over your competitors. Keep handy extra information like topic-specific graphs, charts, and previous studies which you can pull up in the time of need. Being prepared for answers helps you finish on a high note.

Case study competitions require good team effort on top of individual dedication. If you wish to win, use all the help you can get. Unstop is a website that is dedicated to helping students in their academic endeavors and is one stop shop from where you can gather necessary ideas and experience.

Case study competitions are enjoyable and informative, they invoke team spirit and let the participant experience what actually happens inside a corporation. Look at it as a fun, active way to learn more, and be prepared for anything. Remember to stay organized, logical, and confident about your presentation, and the rest will fall into place. #BeUnstoppable

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