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FIELD OF ENTRANTS EXPANDED TO 32 UNIVERSITIES
FOR
JOHN MOLSON MBA INTERNATIONAL CASE COMPETITION
Montreal, Tuesday, December 16, 2003 — With two more schools added to comprise a 32-university field, the 2004 edition of the John Molson MBA International Case Competition, which runs from January 6-10 at the Hilton Bonaventure Hotel in Montreal, is shaping up as one of the strongest in the 23-year history of the event. The competition, the largest of its kind and the oldest in North America, raised the number of participating universities to 32 because of an overwhelming demand. Canada will be well represented with 15 universities, including 2003 John Molson MBA-ICC champions Laval University, followed by the United States with 10, Germany three and one each from Sweden, Finland, New-Zealand and Spain. John Molson MBA students created the distinguished international competition in 1981 and they continue to host the event annually. The primary objective of the non-profit, student-organized event is to bridge the gap between the academic and corporate communities, which ultimately enriches students and executives alike. The competition format is a round-robin tournament consisting of five business cases, including one "live" case drawn from an existing organization facing actual business challenges. With three hours to prepare, teams of four students analyze and evaluate unpublished business cases using the skills, knowledge and experience acquired from their respective MBA curriculums. Students rely on their own abilities; tools such as PowerPoint and the Internet are not permitted. The final product is a hand-written presentation that demonstrates the rawness and purity of their ability to delve into the problem and develop a feasible solution. Once preparation is complete, they present their strategic solutions and a detailed plan of action to a panel of senior business executives. More than 200 senior business executives serve as judges, using their unique backgrounds, experience and perspectives to critically assess the participants' presentations. Teams are judged on creativity, insight, substance and plausibility of implementation. “The John Molson MBA International Case Competition is truly a unique event,” says Norman Raschkowan, Senior Judge and Chairman of the Competition’s Advisory Board. “It is difficult to find a medium that brings together the academic and business worlds. Students apply the theory they learn from their MBA programs into current business issues and are judged by executives with extensive corporate experience. Ultimately, it’s an enriching experience for all concerned.” About the judges All the corner offices will be empty during competition week as the elite of the Montreal business community serve as judges. More than 250 senior executives donate their time as judges and they play a big role in the success of the competition. Along with the expertise they bring to the event, it is also an excellent opportunity to network with tomorrow’s business leaders. This year’s judges include James Cherry, President of Aéroports de Montréal, Dr. Arvind K. Joshi, President and CEO of St. Mary’s Hospital Centre, Mr. Norman Rashkowan, Vice President Standard Life Investments, Mr. Peter Kruyt, Vice President, Power Corporation of Canada, Mr. Jim Little, Vice President, BCE Inc. and Mr. Benoit Labonté, President, Montreal Board of Trade. For more information on the competition, please visit www.mbacasecomp.com. -30-
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