Introduction to

Case Competitions

with the Rotman Commerce Competition Team!

Agenda
Tips and Tricks to ace a case competition

1 What are case competitions?

2 How to solve a case

3 Components to a case solution

4 Examples and other tips & tricks

1 What are case competitions?
 What are case competitions?
Purpose of case competitions

1 What is a case?
A written description of a business challenge or
opportunity (usually in need of a new strategic
direction)

2 How do case competitions work?

Teams (3-5 people) compete to have the best
case solution
Typical competition structure:
Preliminary  Final Round  Winning Team

Typical format: Powerpoint Presentations/PDF

Typical presentation time: 10 minute
presentation + 5 minute Q&A
 What are case competitions?
Purpose of case competitions

1 What is a case?
A written description of a business challenge or
opportunity (usually in need of a new strategic
direction)

2 How do case competitions work?

Teams (3-5 people) compete to have the best
case solution
Typical competition structure:
Preliminary  Final Round  Winning Team

Typical format: Powerpoint Presentations/PDF

Typical presentation time: 10 minute
presentation + 5 minute Q&A
 What are case competitions?
Purpose of case competitions

1 What is a case?
Benefits of case competitions
A written description of a business challenge or
opportunity (usually in need of a new strategic
direction) Apply academic learning into real
world experiences

2 How do case competitions work?

Teams (3-5 people) compete to have the best
case solution
Typical competition structure:
Preliminary  Final Round  Winning Team
Network with industry professionals
and academic experts
Improve public speaking skills

Typical format: Powerpoint Presentations/PDF Improve critical and analytical

thinking
Typical presentation time: 10 minute
presentation + 5 minute Q&A
2 How to solve a case
Solving a case
General way to approach a case

1. Read your case

2. Hypothesize

3. Develop your problem statement

4. Identify sub-issues to inform objectives

5. Conduct analysis

6. Form your solution based on the informed objectives

7. Storyboard

8. Divide and conquer (i.e Financials, Powerpoint design, parts of the case, etc.)

9. Present your solution!

General framework for steps 1-3
General way to lay out the problem statement

What is the governing question that you are trying to answer with your solution?

Whose best interest are we What are we trying to

What is the context?
working on behalf of? achieve?

Problem Statement:
General framework for steps 4-6
General way to perform research and analysis
Research Approach Applicable Situation
1. Bottom-up Approach • Familiar topics covered in case
• Starting with the facts given in the case & a • Shorter length case (e.g., 3 hour, 5 hour)
hypothesis to conduct targeted research to support • Clear problem identification/direction after reading the case
your solution

2. Top-down Approach • Unfamiliar topics covered in case

• Start with macro-level research to derive issues and • Longer length case (e.g., 12 hour, 24 hour)
key findings which inform your solution • Unclear problem identification/direction after reading the
case

3. Combination Approach • A combination of the above situational factors!

• Conduct both targeted research to confirm a
hypothesis as well as macro-level research to cover
your bases

Determine your main solution based on your research and analysis!

General framework for steps 7-9
Main Focus: Storyboarding

What is Storyboarding? What an actual storyboard looks like

In technical definitions, storyboarding is the process

of literally drawing out your story. (i.e mickey mouse
animation).

Purpose of storyboarding
Storyboarding is a really great way to help guide your
audience to support your idea. This is crucial to case
competitions because good stories tend to stay in the
minds of judges and leave a good impression.
General framework for steps 7-9
Main Focus: Storyboarding

What is Storyboarding? What a case comp storyboard looks like

In technical definitions, storyboarding is the process

of literally drawing out your story. (i.e mickey mouse
animation).

Purpose of storyboarding
Storyboarding is a really great way to help guide your
audience to support your idea. This is crucial to case
competitions because good stories tend to stay in the
minds of judges and leave a good impression.
General framework for steps 7-9
Main Focus: Storyboarding

In case competition terms,

storyboarding has 3 components:

1 Storylining

2 Storyboarding

3 Effective communication
General framework for steps 7-9
Main Focus: Storyboarding

Storylining: Outlining your presentation slide-by-slide and

In case competition terms, determining the key takeaways for each slide
storyboarding has 3 components: *Emphasis is placed on creating the right message

1 Storylining

2 Storyboarding

3 Effective communication
General framework for steps 7-9
Main Focus: Storyboarding

Storyboarding is having your slides support and

In case competition terms, articulate your message
storyboarding has 3 components: *Emphasis is on visualizing ideas and arguments

1 Storylining

2 Storyboarding

3 Effective communication
General framework for steps 7-9
Main Focus: Storyboarding

Storyboarding is having your slides support and

In case competition terms, articulate your message
storyboarding has 3 components: *Emphasis is on visualizing ideas and arguments

1 Storylining

2 Storyboarding

3 Effective communication

This step makes sure that the entire team

understands the structure and main message of
the presentation before splitting up roles!
General framework for steps 7-9
Main Focus: Storyboarding
Inductive Structured Deductive Structured
Arguments Arguments
In case competition terms,
storyboarding has 3 components:
Types of
arguments
1 Storylining
• Top down approach (macro to micro)
2 Storyboarding • Bottom up approach (starting with
Pyramid hypothesis
3 Effective communication structure

• Tell what you want to tell them

• Then tell them
Road • Then tell them what you just told them
mapping
3 Components of a case solution
Components of a case solution
General structure of a case presentation

Purpose of a case competition

The definition of ‘best solution’ is often subjective. That’s why judges typically don’t look for the best solution but look
for the most persuasive presenters. In your allotted presentation time, your team is tasked with CONVINCING the
judges why your solution is the best business plan for the case.
Components of a case solution
General structure of a case presentation

Purpose of a case competition

The definition of ‘best solution’ is often subjective. That’s why judges typically don’t look for the best solution but look
for the most persuasive presenters. In your allotted presentation time, your team is tasked with CONVINCING the
judges why your solution is the best business plan for the case.

General Structure/ Main Components of a case presentation*

Introduction/Executive Summary: Implementation:
Present the main problem Presenting the ‘how’ to your solution
of the case and proving its feasibility

Analysis: Financial Forecast:

Present key data/research that will Present financial estimate (i.e. start up
back up your recommendation costs, incremental revenue, etc.)

Recommendation: Risks and Mitigation:

*Insert your creative/feasible/ Present any potential risks to your
awesome solution here  * solution and your contingency plan
*NOTE: This is a general structure. Use with discretion
Components of a case solution
General structure of a case presentation

Purpose of a case competition

The definition of ‘best solution’ is often subjective. That’s why judges typically don’t look for the best solution but look
for the most persuasive presenters. In your allotted presentation time, your team is tasked with CONVINCING the
judges why your solution is the best business plan for the case.

General Structure/ Main Components of a case presentation*

Introduction/Executive Summary: Implementation:
Present the main problem Presenting the ‘how’ to your solution
of the case and proving its feasibility

Analysis: Financial Forecast:

Present key data/research that will Present financial estimate (i.e. start up
back up your recommendation costs, incremental revenue, etc.)

Recommendation: Risks and Mitigation:

*Insert your creative/feasible/ Present any potential risks to your
awesome solution here  * solution and your contingency plan
*NOTE: This is a general structure. Use with discretion
Components of a case solution
General structure of a case presentation

Purpose of a case competition

The definition of ‘best solution’ is often subjective. That’s why judges typically don’t look for the best solution but look
for the most persuasive presenters. In your allotted presentation time, your team is tasked with CONVINCING the
judges why your solution is the best business plan for the case.

General Structure/ Main Components of a case presentation*

Introduction/Executive Summary: Implementation:
Present the main problem Presenting the ‘how’ to your solution
of the case and proving its feasibility

Analysis: Financial Forecast:

Present key data/research that will Present financial estimate (i.e. start up
back up your recommendation costs, incremental revenue, etc.)

Recommendation: Risks and Mitigation:

*Insert your creative/feasible/ Present any potential risks to your
awesome solution here  * solution and your contingency plan
*NOTE: This is a general structure. Use with discretion
Components of a case solution
General structure of a case presentation

Purpose of a case competition

The definition of ‘best solution’ is often subjective. That’s why judges typically don’t look for the best solution but look
for the most persuasive presenters. In your allotted presentation time, your team is tasked with CONVINCING the
judges why your solution is the best business plan for the case.

General Structure/ Main Components of a case presentation*

Introduction/Executive Summary: Implementation:
Present the main problem Presenting the ‘how’ to your solution
of the case and proving its feasibility

Analysis: Financial Forecast:

Present key data/research that will Present financial estimate (i.e. start up
back up your recommendation costs, incremental revenue, etc.)

Recommendation: Risks and Mitigation:

*Insert your creative/feasible/ Present any potential risks to your
awesome solution here  * solution and your contingency plan
*NOTE: This is a general structure. Use with discretion
Components of a case solution
General structure of a case presentation

Purpose of a case competition

The definition of ‘best solution’ is often subjective. That’s why judges typically don’t look for the best solution but look
for the most persuasive presenters. In your allotted presentation time, your team is tasked with CONVINCING the
judges why your solution is the best business plan for the case.

General Structure/ Main Components of a case presentation*

Introduction/Executive Summary: Implementation:
Present the main problem Presenting the ‘how’ to your solution
of the case and proving its feasibility

Analysis: Financial Forecast:

Present key data/research that will Present financial estimate (i.e. start up
back up your recommendation costs, incremental revenue, etc.)

Recommendation: Risks and Mitigation:

*Insert your creative/feasible/ Present any potential risks to your
awesome solution here  * solution and your contingency plan
*NOTE: This is a general structure. Use with discretion
Components of a case solution
General structure of a case presentation

Purpose of a case competition

The definition of ‘best solution’ is often subjective. That’s why judges typically don’t look for the best solution but look
for the most persuasive presenters. In your allotted presentation time, your team is tasked with CONVINCING the
judges why your solution is the best business plan for the case.

General Structure/ Main Components of a case presentation*

Introduction/Executive Summary: Implementation:
Present the main problem Presenting the ‘how’ to your solution
of the case and proving its feasibility

Analysis: Financial Forecast:

Present key data/research that will Present financial estimate (i.e. start up
back up your recommendation costs, incremental revenue, etc.)

Recommendation: Risks and Mitigation:

*Insert your creative/feasible/ Present any potential risks to your
awesome solution here  * solution and your contingency plan
*NOTE: This is a general structure. Use with discretion
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
4 Examples + Other Tips and Tricks
Tips & Tricks
Things to keep in mind when doing a case competition

• Practice presenting out loud and to others

• Don’t be afraid to poke holes in your solution; address any issues in appendix or by expanding
your solution

• Make sure each slide has a ”key takeaway”

• Use visuals to make your idea more compelling (ex: mockups, diagrams, financial graphs)

• Allocate the majority of your presentation time to the solution

• Brainstorm potential questions that judges may ask; add your answers to the appendix or
include it in your solution

• Use research and statistics to defend your solution

• Practice makes perfect!

Thank you for listening!