APEX Biz-IT Global Case Challenge, an annual International Collegiate Business-IT competition initiated in 2009, is organized by the Singapore Management University. The 6th APEX Biz-IT Global Case Challenge was held between May 4
th to May 8
th in 2014. On behalf of Business School, Shantou University, the Infinity Consulting team, composed by Peiyu Deng (2010 Accounting), Liuying Yu (2011 Accounting) and Ruitao Lin (2012 Business Administration), participated in the competition with their instructor, Professor King Wu. As a well-known competition, APEX Biz-IT 2014 have attracted 22 teams separately from America, Canada, France, Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong. During the competition, team members participated in various social activities and actively promoted Shantou University Business School. In addition, the Infinity Consulting team has impressed the judger by consummate quantitative analysis skills.
[The Workshop]
On May 4th , Stephan Schablinski, Supply Chain Project Leader in DHL Asia Pacific and many other well-known experts of supply chain gave us a lecture about "green logistic". Meanwhile, they discussed how their companies undertook these technological trends practices. As the second part of the workshop, Professor Steven Mille, Dean of the Management Information Singapore Management University, as well as his students introduced the latest scientific research capacity of the carbon footprint and the container program. Focusing on environmental protection and big data, the workshop had us take a close glance at the attractive technology.
[Fierce competition]
The 6
th APEX is with high intensity. Every team needs to analyze the AB case within 24 hours and design solutions for Global Freight Asia, a non-profit organization. Based on the guidance from associate professor King Wu and other teachers, our team immersed very efficiently in the game. After 24 hours, our team gave a ten minutes presentation and five minutes question and answer session to the judges. In the afternoon, the team got the opportunity to participate in the wild card. On May 8, the team even got the opportunity to participate plate competition, using materials provided by the organizers funds to do a new program. After all these sections, the team learned a lot of Sustainable development strategies. What we gained from APEX was not only the ability to utilize knowledge in real world business, but also the business mindset, which is staying clam and never lose hope.
[Socializing]
The Singapore Management University has organized a variety of social events besides the competition, including a welcome dinner that each team must prepare a three minutes introduction to all the other teams. Our team sang a piece of Chinese song to show our enthusiasm and promote the Chinese culture. After the brief self-introduction, every team can exchange their school uniforms with each other. Our teammates also distributed brochures and postcards of Shantou University. This helped others participants had a better understanding of our school. At the end of competition, our teammates especially has established deep friendship with teams from National University of Singapore and Minnesota school.
[Impression from the Infinity Consulting team]
In the competition, the whole team enhanced the ability of analyzing business environment and business decision-making, and also found the way to adapt to rapidly changing business world with optimism. There is no doubt that we cannot be who we are without the help of associate professor King Wu and the guidance of the other teachers. During this competition, the team has gained international perspective, improved social skills, which had a profound effect to every member’s future. We sincerely thank Business School and the Li Ka Shing Foundation to offer this opportunity to us.
