Tips for Case

Competition Success
Dr. Paul N. Friga

Dr. Paul N. Friga 1

Table of Contents

„ TEAM Framework (teamwork)

„ FOCUS Framework (analysis)
„ Ti ffor Analysis
Tips A l i
„ Tips for Deliverables
„ Tips for Delivery

Dr. Paul N. Friga 2

Tips for Teamwork (TEAM)
„ Talk to each other regularly
z Meet as a group to brainstorm
z Split things up but deliver updates to the group
z Schedule team update sessions to review progress
z Discuss the roles each person will play

„ Evaluate how things are going

z Set goals and check with each other

„ Assist each other as you go and

assign based upon interest/skills
z Be supportive and help out as needed

„ Motivate each other by finding out

what is important to each person
and focus on the end result
Dr. Paul N. Friga 3
Tips for Analysis (FOCUS)
„ Frame the problem
„ Identify the key question
„ Develop appropriate issue trees for investigation (MECE)
„ Map out options (pro/con) – take an early position as a hypothesis

„ Organize your approach

„ Develop a high level work plan (who, what, when) - document
„ Sort the tasks and data needed by the relevant issues

„ Collect the data

„ Focus on the data provided in the case AND run numbers!
„ If allowed, gather relevant data from the internet (e.g. competitors)
„ Consider doing online surveys during the competitions (plan ahead)

„ Understand the results

„ Use frameworks to sort through results
„ Ask “so what” to test the impact of recommendations

„ Syynthesize your
y storyy
z Communicate the 3
3--4 most important buckets of the primary message
„ ABSOLUTELY STOP ANALYSIS AT 80/20 – LEAVE PRACTICE TIME
Dr. Paul N. Friga 4
 Tips for Analysis
1. Be creative – your ideas must be memorable and
exciting but at the same time well supported
2. Analyze Options – draft out many options and
d
document t pros/cons
/ based
b d upon fifindings
di ((prioritize
i iti
for the final deck but include other options)
3. Take a position - focus on one key theme with a
few major supporting ideas – present it all up front
with a zinger story slide
4. Back it up – your analysis should have quantitative
support (build assumptions if necessary) and show
h
how you considered
id d other
th options
ti
5. Play Devil’s Advocate – push other views and
have careful Q&A processes (anticipate everything)
6
6. Run and present scenarios – including base case, case
worst case and best case
7. Practice case (Run Through) – make sure that
your team does a practice case just like the real
eventt but
b t with
ith feedback
f db k ffrom faculty
f lt and
d students
t d t
Dr. Paul N. Friga 5
Tips for Deliverables
1
1. Tailor them to the audience (learn who the
judges are if you can)
2. One person should create the final slide deck
(can work with input from others)
3. Think of the primary message you are trying
to convey (your title) and make sure that this
point is supported by the data (each slide)
4. Gather samples of past presentations to use
as templates (contact Dr. Friga for samples)
5. Create supporting appendices as you go
(data charts/graphs with titles) – “ghost ghost
charts” don’t wait until the very end
6. Cover risks and mitigations as well as other
options you considered
7. Use trackers on slides and section dividers
to ensure that the audience knows where
you are at all times (and make them creative
andd related
l t d tto th the case – e.g. parts
t off an
airplaneDr.or a sections of a wallet)
Paul N. Friga 6
Tips for Delivery
1
1. Use the pyramid principle – have one
primary point to your story supported by a
logical flow to the presentation (e.g.
recommendations and the buckets are the
reasons why h it makes k sense; or
recommendation and steps to implement; etc.)
2. Have a discussion with the judges – not a
formal
o a “presentation”
p ese a o tone o e–aan eenthusiastic
us as c
discussion about some exciting opportunities
for improvement; show flexibility
3. Have a very strong introduction – set the
stage in an interesting and engaging way way,
introduces the situation/complication and tells
the whole resolution up front (include the
financial impact)
4. Comprehensiveness – be sure to tell about
options you considered but rejected and why
and discuss the contents from the appendix
5
5. Q&A – list the questions you anticipate in
advance and know the answer and who will
address Dr. Paul N. Friga 7
Most of all…

„ Have fun! There will likely be the typical form- form-

norm--storm-
norm storm
t -performf cycle
l bbutt find
fi d something
thi you
like in each team member and use a little humor
once in a while to lighten things up! And get to
know each other socially y before the event. Reflect
on what you learned at the end and then go
celebrate! Dr. Paul N. Friga 8