Published: March 26, 2000

First-year MBA students at CU-Boulder evaluated the International Olympic CommitteeÂ’s management strategies at the seventh annual GW/KPMG National MBA Case Competition on March 24-25 in Washington, D.C.

The competition, sponsored by George Washington UniversityÂ’s School of Business and Public Management and KPMG Peat Marwick, provided students with the opportunity to compare their skills with MBA students from top schools including Georgetown University, the University of Illinois, Vanderbilt University and Virginia Tech University.

Marketing Professor Atanu Sinha led the team as it analyzed this yearÂ’s case.

"The event provided a forum for the students to work in a pressure-filled situation of healthy competition, where they were measured against the best of their peers from top schools," Sinha said.

The MBA students hope to develop pivotal management strategies for the IOC as it prepares for future Olympic Games.

The team consisted of Tomas Elphick, Karen Kingsbury, Melissa Knott, Brooke Mayer, Tracy Stonehocker and Julie Welch. The students incorporated Internet technology to create a plan with a global scope.

"I am proud to be associated with this group of six students – one will not find a more dedicated and responsible group to represent the College of Business," Sinha said. "They are truly dedicated to the cause of non-profit organizations, either having worked with them or having been associated with them in some other capacity prior to joining the MBA program.

"This competition provided them with unparalleled opportunities to learn about working together as a team in a short period of time, to apply their learning from MBA classes to sticky real-life problems and to provide fresh input on running and growing non-profits," Sinha said.