GBCC (Global Business Case Competition) is an annual international Case Competition, sponsored by the University of Washington. This competition had fifteen years’ history and so far it had attracted countless prestigious universities, including Copenhagen Business School, National University of Singapore, McGill University, University of Hong Kong etc. 2014 Global Business Case Competition slogan is "Live Global, Think Big, Create Connections", which is intended to provide participants with global business experience and communication patterns in a simulated environment to solve real business problems. This is well coincide with Shantou University Business School’s "Function in Commercial Road, the Heart Reaches Universe" educational philosophy. To participate in this competition, our School sent Team Phoenix, consisted by Hu herd (2010 International Economy and Trade), Cai Lishan (2010 Business Administration), Wang Lingling (2012 Finance), Zou Kaixin (2012 International Business Management) to Seattle, and with outstanding performance in the fierce competition, this team became the Top4 in the finals.
In this competition, the team members experienced a fierce case analysis competition and they also participated in various social activities and gained a profound friendship with each team. Moreover, this team also showed Shantou University Business School style on the international stage.
[Fierce competition]
The competition gave the case of Nike apparel supply chain, requiring teams to play as the task force and the Nike senior management to recommend three new countries for clothing suppliers and solve the problem of trace ability, and finally give the appropriate clothing market strategy. In total, 12 teams participated in the first round, after the knockout game, four teams who won in the preliminary round would get into the winner finalists and compete for the final championship. Unfortunately in the draw, our team drawn into Group D which competed with the hosts University of Washington and Western Washington University, but then the players quickly adjusted to the status, went all out to prepare for the game, developed a scientific team plan, 48 hours around the clock just for the search of large amounts of data, analysis and selection of an alternate from over two hundred countries. And finally, they figure out the three countries which are India, Vietnam, Nicaragua as Nike clothing production countries, and also proposed to make the audience impressed by an excellent marketing plan and well completed financial analysis. In the fierce group knockout, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Thailand, Chulalongkorn University, UK University of Warwick and other leading universities did not entered the final, but STU team stood out with remarkable performance, as well as University of Melbourne, Australia, Canada Concordia University and the Global Team.
[Preliminary Round]
During the competition, the team successfully finished the presentation of the preliminary round. In the feedback part of the preliminary round, the judges gave their high praises since the team had excellent data to support and the team fully prepared spirit and plan’s creativity, flexibility and attention to environment protection and energy. The instructor involved in watching other teams in the same group also took the initiative to congratulate us, expressed that they derive some inspiration from our team’s presentation.
[Final]
After lunch, the President announced that the final list of the competition includes: Melbourne University, Concordia University, Global Team (4 were from different undergraduate composition of the team), Shantou University. Our team was the first to present the finals (in less than one hour’s preparation). Based on the feedback, we quickly modified the contents of the PPT. In the Q & A session, the judges sharply raised various issues, some of which are out of the case but against the current contents of the textile supplier problems. That causes team members unexpected but also let the players see report improving space. Champion eventually won by the Global Team.
[Social]
Aside from the fierce competition, our team actively participated in various social activities organized by the organizers. During that period, our team made all the participants from around the world impressed by Chinese culture and Shantou University and also gained a precious friendship.
Skit show Chinese customs
Each participating team used their own country’s style to show their country's cultural practices is GBCC tradition. Our team chose to introduce the Spring Festival family reunions, red envelopes and other customs. In the end, we sang a famous Chinese folk song "Jasmine" and won full applause.
Exciting baseball game
Under the leadership of the organizers, all participating members watched a baseball game (Seattle Army vs Los Angeles Dodgers).The game was so exciting and made all members feel the American baseball warm atmosphere.
Benefit of company visits
Seattle is also where the Starbucks, Boeing, Costco and other world famous enterprises head office are. As GBCC sponsors, these companies provide the opportunity for teams to visit the overall dialogue executives.
[Team Insights]
Thanks to this competition, the team not only enhanced their ability to actually apply the textbook knowledge to the real company operation, analyze the business environment, and make business decisions, but also improved the ability to adapt to rapidly changing business world. In this competition, our team broadened our international horizon, exercised our social skills, which will have a positive impact on our future employment and education.
Meanwhile, we sincerely thank the Li Ka Shing Foundation, Shantou University Business School for giving the opportunity and support to us. Besides, we are truly grateful to professor King Wu and English language Center’s teachers Sohani and Chanchal for their guidance.
Writer: Hu herd
Zou Kaixin
