Spring 2001 MBA Case Competition

Smith School Students Impress Judges at Spring 2001 Accenture MBA Case Competition

The Accenture MBA Case Competition, the third of four experiential learning modules (ELMs) for Smith School MBAs, took place May 11-16, 2001.

Undoubtedly the most anticipated ELM, the case competition is the first comprehensive test of strategic thinking and analysis skills that first year MBAs encounter. At the start of the five-day competition, teams composed of three to five students are given a general management case dealing with broad strategy issues facing a company. The teams submit their analyses and recommendations in written and oral presentations. Four teams advance to the final round, which is judged by a panel of business leaders who play the role of the company's board of directors.

This year, teams were challenged with a case concerning a biotechnology firm that is emerging as a leader in monoclonal antibodies in the pharmaceutical industry. Students were asked to assess potential partnerships and suggest recommendations and future direction.

"In a very quick 44 hours, students were able to analyze a case in an industry that is foreign for the majority of them and develop well thought-out proposals that a client could implement," said second-round judge Teresa Parkey-Barao, director of business communications. "Additionally, we had 5 groups and each group had a very diverse approach to the case. The creativity and diversity was very impressive."

The winning team - Marios Chiromerides, Chi-Chun Liao, Wayne Kirkman, and Michael Geist - stayed up all night on Sunday working on their paper and said, "Once we came to our final decisions and recommendations, we were prepared to defend them to the death!"

The team found the case challenging, interesting, and even fun! "We really enjoy working together and through working together we all produce much higher quality work than we could individually."

The four teams advancing to the finals were:

• Marios Chiromerides, Chi-Chun Liao, Wayne Kirkman, Michael Geist (C10 - Gold)
• John Mulligan, Elena Romanova, Daniela Trucco, Deidre Lee (C4 - Silver)
• Ahmed El-Said, Paula Cecere, Miruna Bobes, Ibrahim Dusi, Michael Leasure (C5 - Silver)
• Danielle Sabathier, Jennifer Pontius, Jay Astle (C2 - Bronze)