Managerial Challenge: Digital Transformation

Business Study Case Competition

REGULATION

The International Business School Americas, in association with public and private universities
and foundations from Europe and the United States, makes public the activities regarding the
Managerial Challenge: Digital Transformation Case Study Competition guided through the
present regulation.
Enrollment of groups: https://international.ibs-americas.com/group-inscription
Download the business case preparation guidelines:
https://cdn1.ibs-americas.com/digital-transformation/article.pdf

Main characteristics of the event: international case study competition organized for
university students and young professionals with the objective of promoting debate on
companies’ quest towards digital transformation accelerated by the COVID-19 impact on
economy. The best groups will be awarded with international academic scholarships.

Objective: Stimulate young students and adults to reflect on opportunities of innovation and
digital trends, particularly related to the economic downturn caused by the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic.

1. GENERAL DISCLOSURES

1.1 Managerial Challenge: Digital Transformation, Business Case Study Competition is

organized by IBS Americas counting on the support of California State University
Northridge, State University of New York at New Paltz, State University of New
York at Albany, University of La Verne – California, Fondazione CUOA in Italy and
Pearson College London;

1.2 The Managerial Challenge is a competition directed towards students and young
professionals interested in the event’s proposed theme and those who desire to
attend international programs and discussions to increase their critical and
creative capacities related to digitalization strategies.

1.3 The participation in all activities is 100% free.

2. PROFILE OF PARTICIPANTS

2.1 The event is mainly aimed at:

 A) Undergraduate degree students from all academic areas in the last 4
semesters of studies and those who have recently completed their university
studies.

B) Young Professionals from different economic sectors interested in business

management subjects.

C) Experienced Professionals from different economic sectors interested in

business management subjects.

2.2 After participating in the International Online Symposium: Digital

Transformation and the Future of Work, the participants are invited to form the
groups, debate about the theme and complete required activities described in this
regulation, within deadlines.

3. GROUP WORK DESCRIPTION

3.1 Theme:
- The impact of new technologies on business world, demanding changes, and
adaptations in companies as well as in career development.
- Digital-led changes amid the COVID-19 crisis as an effort of companies to reduce
the negative consequences of social distancing measures on business.
3.2 Participants: groups formed by a minimum of 3 members and maximum of 6
members. No exceptions.
3.3 Language: English, Spanish and Portuguese are the languages accepted for
this competition.
3.4 Format of delivery: groups are invited to develop a case study using the ideas
presented in the document “Guidelines for Case Study Preparation” summarized as
follows:

• The case study should focus a company in one of the three contexts below:

a. A company in traditional (offline) industries that implemented some digital

initiatives during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.

b. A company that managed to incorporate digital processes before the crisis and
reinforced their integration in the mid of the pandemic.

c. A company that was “born digital” before the crisis and managed to enjoy its
competitive advantage during the COVID-19 crisis.

• The case study prepared by your group will be evaluated based on the ability to
identify key elements of the digitalization processes and challenges faced by the
company, as well as the ability to identify and suggest creative and innovative
management suggestions.
 • Paper components:

- Opening page: name of the company (may be disguised as “company X”), name of
the group members, name of the academic advisor (not mandatory).
- Brief presentation of the company chosen for the case study: 1 to 2 pages containing
information about the case in question.

- Analysis of the chosen enterprise: how does your group evaluate the company
according to elements presented in this document? Justify your point of view: 3 to 5
pages with the description of how the chosen company is (or should be) adapting to
the new reality of the digital economy.

- Analysis of the chosen enterprise: how has the company undergone recent changes
in its integration into the digital economy? Outline in 3-5 pages the main steps the
company took in order to adapt to the current economic scenario and suggest other
ideas of additional digital transformations the company could implement in order to
boost its profits and remain competitive in the long-term.

- Conclusion: 1 to 2 pages of suggestions and recommendations for managers and

future professionals based on the company analyzed. Your ideas should address the
following questions: What are the competencies and skills current managers need to
acquire in the new digital era? What are the abilities and knowledge future
professionals should develop to succeed in the new labor market driven by
automation and digitalization? How can a young professional excel among others and
deliver a superior contribution to a company in the current context?

4. GENERAL SCHEDULE AND DEADLINES

June 25th and 26th: online International Symposium

July 6th: deadline for group registration
July 7th: online preparatory meeting (optional)
August 3rd: deadline for papers’ submission
August 15th: announcement of the best papers

5. REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION

5.1 Registration for participants is free of charge and must be done online through
registration links that will be shared by the coordination, within deadlines.

5.2 All participants will receive a certificate of participation.

5.3 Participants are invited to form groups of 3-6 members and enroll in the
Managerial Challenge. All group members will receive certificates for their
participation.
 5.4 Groups can ask support from an academic advisor for the development of their
work. Academic advisors named in the papers will also receive a specific
certificate for their participation.

5.5 Participants are invited to participate in the online preparatory meeting to

clarify any doubts about the work submissions. The orientation session is to be
held on July 7th at 1PM (New York time zone).

6. AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

6.1 Winning groups will receive up to U$ 200,000 in academic scholarships to

institutions sponsoring this event in California, New York, London, Italy, and Brazil
according to the following criteria:
Groups in the Undergraduate level (valid for all Management Programs):
6.1.1 Each group member of the first three best papers will earn a U$ 4,000
scholarship (all Management Programs) or a U$ 4,500 scholarship for
the programs at the CSUN/ULV or a U$ 5,000 scholarship for the
programs at the SUNY.
6.1.2 Each group member of the fourth to the tenth best papers will earn a
U$ 3,000 scholarship (all Management Programs) or a U$ 4,000
scholarship for the programs at the CSUN/ULV or a U$ 4,500 scholarship
for the programs at the SUNY.
6.1.3 Each group member of the tenth to the thirtieth best papers will earn a
U$ 2,800 scholarship (all Management Programs) or a U$ 3,800
scholarship for the programs at the CSUN/ULV or a U$ 4,200 scholarship
for the programs at the SUNY.
Groups in the Post-Graduate level (valid for Advanced Programs in London and
California):
6.1.4 Each group member of the first three best papers will earn a U$ 4,000
scholarship for the Advanced program at the Pearson College London or
a U$ 4,500 scholarship for the Advanced programs at the ULV.
6.1.5 Each group member of the fourth to the tenth best papers will earn a
U$ 3,500 scholarship for the Advanced program at the Pearson College
London or a U$ 4,000 scholarship for the Advanced programs at the
ULV.

6.2 Validity of the scholarships: the prizes can be used at any of the Business
Management programs offered by the sponsoring institutions in cooperation with the IBS
Americas until the year of 2022. The full list of programs is available at IBS Americas website.
The enrollment in the international program should be completed until August 31st of 2020.

6.3 Evaluation Criteria: projects will be evaluated by the IBS Americas committee
based on the ability to identify key elements of the digitalization processes and challenges
faced by the company, as well as the ability to identify and suggest creative and innovative
management suggestions.

6.4 The evaluation committee will choose the best 10 (ten) works and will publish
them on the IBS Americas website as well at IBS Americas social media.

6.5 The present scholarships are individual and cannot be combined with other
scholarships earned by the participants or any other person.

6.6 The scholarships can be transferred to other individuals, subject to the analysis
of program coordination and cannot be sold or retrieved in monetary format.

6.7 Participants are responsible for travel and logistic expenses.

7. WAITING LIST

7.1 In case one of the participants of the winning groups cannot attend the
international programs, the scholarships will be cancelled and transferred to
the eleventh best group and so on.

7.2 The waiting list of groups will be announced individually for each of the
participant groups.

8. RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES

8.1 All decisions regarding to this Case Study Competition will be taken by the
event coordination.

8.2 Participants are invited to send questions and suggestions to the

coordination, which decisions can be revised at coordination discretion.

8.3 Such revised decisions are final.