Case:Zero

About the Event:

CASE:ZERO – The Business Case Challenge is a multi-stage business strategy competition where teams act as elite consultants and corporate decision-makers tackling a live case study provided by a company associated with the placement process.

Unlike traditional static presentation contests, CASE:ZERO follows a dynamic, progressive format: teams receive evolving market conditions, resource constraints, real-time disruptions, and additional evidence as they advance.

Where relevant to the business case, teams are encouraged to incorporate social, environmental, and economic sustainability through alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 13: Climate Action

Round Wise Details:

Round 1: Case File (Diagnosis & Root Cause)

• Format: Analytical case submission.
• Mechanism: Teams receive the core company case study containing operational, market, and financial data. Teams must analyze the scenario, identify the root causes of the primary challenge, state key assumptions, and submit a evidence-backed case diagnosis to qualify for shortlisting.

Round 2: Strategy Room (Resource Allocation)

• Format: Capital management & strategic trade-offs.
• Mechanism: Shortlisted teams are allocated a fixed pool of fictional business capital alongside a menu of strategic interventions. Teams must make high-stakes trade-offs, allocate resources within budget limits, and structure a actionable strategy.

Round 3: Turning Point (Crisis & Adaptability)

• Format: Live strategic pivot.
• Mechanism: Teams face a real-time market disruption (e.g., sudden regulatory shifts, budget cuts, aggressive competitor entry, or supply chain failure) affecting their original strategy. Teams must adapt their operational plan and justify their revised decisions under pressure.

Round 4: Evidence Check (Data Verification & Gap Analysis)

• Format: Evidence audit & reliability check.
• Mechanism: Teams receive additional case intelligence, including incomplete, outdated, or conflicting data points. Teams must audit the evidence, verify information reliability, identify critical gaps, and refine their overall strategic proposal.

Final Round: Boardroom (Live Executive Defense)

• Format: Boardroom pitch & jury cross-examination.
• Mechanism: The top finalist teams present their comprehensive business recommendation before an executive jury panel. The presentation is followed by cross-examination testing strategic trade-offs, financial logic, adaptability, and defense of decision-making.

Rules and Guidelines:

• Eligibility & Team Size: Open to eligible college students. Teams must consist of 2 to 4 members. Each participant can join only one team.
• Resource Allocation Constraints:
• All teams start with identical core case data and fictional business capital.
• Capital has no monetary value and allocations cannot exceed the provided budget.
• Confirmed capital allocations are final unless explicit permission is granted by organizers.
• Data & Research Rules:
• Analysis must rely strictly on provided case materials and logical assumptions. Unsupported or fabricated data will be penalized.
• External/Internet research may be restricted during competitive stages to ensure focus on strategic analysis over search speed.
• Confidential company materials provided for the case must not be shared, recorded, or reproduced.
• Judging Criteria:
• Root-cause analysis & case depth
• Strategic logic & financial trade-offs
• Feasibility, implementation & evidence-backed reasoning
• Adaptability under shifting market scenarios
• Relevant SDG/Sustainability impact
• Presentation clarity & poise during boardroom defense
• Fair Play & Authority: Plagiarism, copying, or unauthorized external assistance will result in instant disqualification. The jury's evaluation and final rankings are final and binding.