Intro to Carlson Case Teams

Summary

This video serves as an introduction to the Carlson Case Challenge Program, offering students insight into the opportunities provided by case competitions. The presenters, experienced consultants and educators, outline the benefits of participating in case challenges, which emulate real-life consulting scenarios. The program helps students sharpen critical thinking, teamwork, and presentation skills through local, regional, and global competitions. Additionally, the video highlights how case experiences can boost personal and career growth, with alumni attesting to their impact on internships and future careers. Students can learn more through seminars, case classes, and global team opportunities.

Takeaways

• 📚 The Carlson Case Challenge Program offers two videos to orient new participants, covering eligibility, benefits, and an introduction to case competitions.
• 🚀 The program aims to help participants turbocharge their personal and career objectives by enhancing skills like critical thinking and presentation.
• 👥 The presenters, Corey and Ken, have extensive experience in both industry and academia, and have been coaching case teams for over 13 years.
• 🔍 Case competitions are viewed as proxies for real-life consulting and management roles, requiring quick thinking, teamwork, and strategic planning.
• 🏆 Carlson offers various levels of case competitions: local for confidence building, regional for testing knowledge, and global for advanced skills and representation.
• 🌍 Global case competitions provide opportunities to compete against top universities worldwide, offering broad learning and real-world challenges.
• 💼 Participation in the case program helps develop skills valuable for consulting, management, and entrepreneurship, such as presenting to senior executives and creating actionable strategies.
• 📝 The program emphasizes the importance of feedback and continuous improvement, with direct face-to-face feedback provided after presentations.
• 🎓 Carlson teams have a strong track record in global competitions, competing against prestigious universities and gaining valuable experience.
• 🔗 There are multiple ways to get involved, including taking a dedicated case class, participating in various competitions, and applying for global teams, with options for all skill levels and interests.

Q & A

What is the Carlson Case ChalleNGe Program?

The Carlson Case ChalleNGe Program is an initiative at the Carlson School of Management that provides students with the opportunity to participate in case challenges, helping them develop critical business skills by solving real-world problems. It includes local, regional, and global competitions, preparing students for consulting and management roles.

Who are the instructors involved in the Carlson Case ChalleNGe Program?

The program is led by Corey and Ken, both of whom have extensive backgrounds in industry and consulting. They have taught at Carlson for over 15 years and have been involved in case team coaching for at least 13 years.

What are the main goals of the Carlson Case ChalleNGe Program?

The program aims to help students 'turbocharge' their personal and career objectives by developing critical skills such as strategic thinking, problem-solving, and presentation. It provides students with opportunities to simulate real-life consulting and management challenges.

What is a case competition, and how does it differ from a case challenge?

A case competition typically involves teams of students working together to develop a solution to a business challenge and presenting it to a panel of judges. A case challenge can be framed as competing against oneself to improve, whereas a case competition emphasizes competing against other teams.

What are the different levels of case competitions at Carlson?

Carlson offers case challenges at three levels: local, regional, and global. Local competitions focus on building confidence, regional competitions test knowledge and presentation skills, and global competitions provide more formal training and opportunities to compete against top universities worldwide.

What are some of the benefits of participating in global case competitions?

Global case competitions offer broader learning opportunities, cross-functional team experiences, strategic problem-solving, and real-world exposure by presenting solutions to senior leadership. Participants also get the chance to travel internationally and represent the Carlson brand at prestigious universities.

What types of cases are typically presented in these competitions?

Case topics can range from startups and acquisitions to broader strategic challenges like market expansions. Examples include figuring out how to help 'Fitness House' adapt post-pandemic, or how 'Grab,' an Uber competitor, can create a passive social impact while competing in Asia.

What are some skills that students gain from participating in the case program?

Students improve their creativity, critical thinking, and confidence in presenting ideas. The program helps students develop skills for pitching projects, selling ideas to management, and gaining hands-on experience for careers in consulting, finance, entrepreneurship, and more.

How does the feedback process work in the Carlson case program?

Students receive direct, growth-oriented feedback from executive judges after presenting their case solutions. This feedback is considered crucial for continuous development and is often face-to-face, helping students improve for future competitions or professional scenarios.

What are the next steps for students interested in the Carlson Case ChalleNGe Program?

Interested students can take part in seminars, case 101 videos, or apply for case classes like IDSC 3511. They can also participate in various case competitions advertised in BSB Weekly. For global teams, students can apply, try out individually, receive feedback, and if selected, begin formal training.