The Ross School of Business’ Case Competition team took first place at the ninth annual MBA National Case Competition, held Jan. 3-5 at Deloitte University in Westlake, Texas according to PR Newswire.
Business graduate students Thomas Corness, Jessica McClain, Jason Rock and Andrea Schiff earned a total of $20,000 in scholarships for their win. The competition, which challenges students to develop innovative solutions to business problems, hosted 1,000 students from top MBA programs across the country in the regional competitions, with only 64 advancing to national finals.
The U-M team came in first place for their innovative presentation on a growth strategy for sweetgreen, a healthy fast food chain. The restaurant model would value transparency, nutritional value of menu offerings and environmentally sustainable business practices. The company, which operates in almost 100 locations throughout the U.S., sent leaders to judge the competition in addition to other industry and Deloitte leaders.
“This year, we challenged the teams with a case focused on creating a growth strategy for a startup health-conscious restaurant chain,” Bill Lam, principal of Deloitte Consulting LLP, said to PR Newswire. “The participants approached the case with passion and determination for helping guide a socially conscious, purpose-driven brand. The competition provided the MBA students great exposure to the realities of working in a dynamic, ever-changing business world.”
Competing teams suggested business development growth through expanding product offerings, creating innovative formats for target consumers, utilizing digital opportunities and identifying the requirements needed to execute those strategies.
Runners-up included Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business, University of Virginia Darden School of Business and New York University Stern School of Business, which came in fourth place.