Professional Responsibility Strategy Competition

Developed in partnership with the Center for Professional Responsibility in Business and Society and bp, this case competition challenges students to consider business problems in professionally responsible ways from the perspective of multiple stakeholder audiences. The case and the competition objectives are developed each year by BP business leaders and Center partners. Interdisciplinary teams of four students from different majors and colleges are selected by the PRSC organizers from the applications submitted. After 10 years, more than 320 students have considered and addressed global challenges. All teams present in the first round while three teams are then selected for the final round in which cash prizes are awarded to winners. Judges comprise of industry and faculty experts.

Team Formation

Those students selected to participate met their team members during the Kickoff and Workshop. Since an intended goal of this competition was to have participants work on an interdisciplinary team, team members ideally included one student from Law, one from Engineering, and the rest from different areas of Business.

Presentation Structure

This competition was designed to challenge students to consider how ethical and professional responsibility issues are influenced by stakeholder perspectives. Therefore, teams prepared two or three presentations with each focusing on the interests of a specific stakeholder group.

Competition Structure

Each presentation had a 30-minute time limit, including time for judges’ questions. All teams presented during the first round and were prepared to respond to the last case problem if they advance to the final round. Judges in the first and final rounds included industry and faculty experts who were familiar with the issues presented in the case.

Case Competition Objectives

The use of case competitions in business programs at American colleges and universities is a long-held and highly regarded tradition. While each competition has its own goals and format, they all provide students with an opportunity to explore business problems in new and challenging ways. At the same time, these exercises offer all the rewards and challenges of working in a team to accomplish a common goal.

Students have the opportunity to confront a real and current business problem. They are often able to work directly with a company and its representatives to gain knowledge about the organization, its mission, vision for the future, and the functional areas of its business – operations, finance, marketing, for example. In turn, companies receive fresh ideas for how to address a particular business issue from a group of students who bring new perspectives and insights to the situation.

How to help students?

1. Analyze business problems from multiple perspectives

2. Understand the interplay of the functional areas of business

3. Form convincing business decisions with incomplete info

4. Work productively in a team situation that closely mimics real-life business

5. Address competing points of view and confront ethical considerations

6. Apply principles of professional responsibility to business dilemmas