The Management Auction - Decide, Bid, Build

Format:

- Team event, online and offline.

Overview:

- In the real world, managers rarely get everything they want. Every decision is a trade-off, and success belongs to those who know what matters most and allocate limited resources accordingly. The Management Auction turns this reality into a competitive game, challenging participants to think like decision-makers, bid like strategists, and defend their choices like leaders.

Round 1: Decision Making (Online):

- Before managing resources, participants must first show sound judgement. This round presents situational and aptitude-style questions modelled on management entrance examinations, testing how well teams read a situation and arrive at the right call under time pressure. The round will determine which teams advance further.

Round 2: Management Bidding (Offline):

- This round puts strategy and negotiation at the forefront. Each team is handed a business problem and a limited budget with which to bid for resources, including Men, Money, Machine, Material, Technology, Time, and Information. With every resource carrying a different weight, teams must decide what to fight for, what to let go, and how their final combination will create the most value.

Final Evaluation: Build (Offline):

- The auction closes and the strategy takes shape. Teams present how their acquired resources come together to solve the business problem, and are judged on the soundness of their allocation, the logic of their strategy, the value they create, and the clarity of their presentation.

Rules:

• Number of Rounds: 2 + Final Evaluation (Decision Making → Management Bidding → Build).
• Team Size: 1–3 members per team.
• All team members must be from the same institution.
• A student cannot be part of more than one team.
• Each team may submit only one entry per round.
• Round 1 responses must be completed within the stipulated window; late entries will not be considered.
• Round 1 must be attempted independently by the team. Any form of malpractice, use of unfair means, or collaboration with other teams will result in immediate disqualification.
• Round 2 is mandatory in-person; shortlisted teams unable to attend offline will be removed from the competition.
• Bidding budgets, resource values, time limits, and auction rules for Round 2 will be shared with shortlisted teams beforehand and must be strictly followed.
• All bids once placed are final and cannot be withdrawn. Teams may not trade or transfer resources with other teams unless explicitly permitted by the organisers.
• Any violation of the above rules will result in immediate disqualification of the entire team
• The event format and rules are subject to change prior to the commencement of the event.

General Instructions:

• Multiple Event Registrations: Teams may register for multiple events conducted on the same day. However, if a team qualifies for subsequent rounds of two or more events with overlapping schedules, it must choose and continue with only one event. The organisers will not delay or reschedule events to accommodate such conflicts.
• Team Composition: Teams may add, remove or replace members until registration closes. After that, the team composition is final, and no addition, substitution or replacement of team members will be permitted. Any unauthorised change in team composition may result in disqualification.
• Punctuality & Schedule: Participants must report at the designated venue within the specified reporting time and adhere to the event schedule. Teams are responsible for managing their participation across multiple events. Delays caused by participation in another event will not be considered grounds for postponement.
• Rules & Decisions: All participants must abide by the rules and instructions of the organising committee and event coordinators. Judges' decisions regarding evaluation and results, and the organising committee's decisions regarding rules, scheduling and conduct, shall be final and binding.
• Disqualification: The organising committee reserves the right to disqualify any team or participant for violation of the rules, misconduct, unauthorised changes in team composition, or actions that disrupt the smooth conduct of the event.
• Schedule Changes: The organising committee reserves the right to modify event timings, venues or procedures in case of unforeseen circumstances. Any changes communicated through official channels shall be binding on all participants.
• Certificates: All participants will receive an e-certificate.
• Prize Distribution: The prize distribution will be based on the total number of participating teams. For up to 4 teams, only the First Prize will be awarded; for 5 teams, the First and Second Prizes will be awarded; and for 6 or more teams, the First, Second and Third Prizes will be awarded. These criteria will be followed accordingly and will remain final.