Note to Editors: The case competition is not open to the public but reporters and photographers are welcome. The competition round of most interest begins at 2 p.m. March 8 at the Boulder Marriott, 2660 Canyon Blvd. To attend, please contact Chris Cahill at (720) 530-3116.
While corporate scandals continue to dominate headlines, the CU-Boulder Leeds School of Business will host a 15-team competition to see who can present the most socially responsible, ethical or environmentally sustainable solution to a business problem.
The Leeds School of Business/Net Impact Case Competition will be held March 7-8 in Boulder and will bring together about 60 MBA students from universities across the nation and Canada. Each team will analyze a business case and provide a solution to a problem related to an area of corporate social responsibility, sustainability or business ethics.
"This competition will offer MBA students from across the United States and Canada the opportunity to explore topics through the evaluation of a real-world business case," said Chris Cahill, chair of the organizing committee of the competition and a first-year MBA student at the Leeds School. "The competition will be educational and will provide a venue for discussion on topics ranging from corporate social responsibility to environmental sustainability."
The competing teams will address a business case that will be kept confidential until March 7, when the teams arrive on campus. Each team then has the remainder of the evening to work out financial, ethical, sustainability and feasibility issues, before presenting their results to a panel of industry and academic judges on March 8.
"Net Impact's focus on corporate social responsibility aligns well with the Leeds School's dedication to the connection between business and society," said business Dean Steven Manaster. "It is particularly appropriate that we host this event."
Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three teams in the competition, with $1,600 going to the first place team, $800 to the second place team and $400 to third place. Participating schools include CU-Boulder, Indiana University, University of Denver, University of North Carolina, UCLA, Cornell, University of Alberta and several others.
The Leeds School of Business/Net Impact Case Competition is organized and run by MBA students at the Leeds School. This is the second year the competition has been held at CU-Boulder. The event is not open to the public.
Net Impact is a network of future business leaders committed to using the power of business to create a better world. Comprised of more than 5,000 members from 70 local chapters, it offers a portfolio of programs to help members broaden their professional goals while building their networks.
"Central to this competition is the idea that business can and should look at decisions in a broader social context and with greater ethical consideration than has been done in the past," Cahill said.