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Business Ethics Case Competition: What's in it for You?

Student presenting at the 2018 Business Ethics Case Competition

CESR’s annual Business Ethics Case Competition (BECC) is approaching quickly! Our case competition exposes Leeds students to the full complexity of making realistic business decisions that include ethical components and draw on topics of sustainability, social impact, and diversity & inclusion. If you participate, not only are you in the running for part of the $10,000+ prize money, but you also gain insights and develop professionally. 

babyÖ±²¥app the Competition

The ethical dilemmas explored in the competition range from topics in energy production to company supply chains, involving a wide range of stakeholders and their various needs. Teams will be given the case one week prior to the preliminary round of the competition, scheduled for Feb. 6, 2020, and will be asked to create and present a recommendation to a panel of judges. Presentations will take approximately 10-15 minutes, followed by questions. 

Resume Builder

This competition provides an opportunity for you to practically apply your business knowledge with an argument structured upon ethical reasoning. Having this hands-on experience is a critical portion of your resume.Case competitions showcase your analytical problem solving skills and ability to make a decision in a short amount of time, and explain your reasoning and justification. Employers seek out students with these types of experiences. It also draws attention to your passion for social responsibility and sustainability, which is a quality in increasing demand in today’s job market. 

Should your resume be selected by an employer, working with a BECC team may help you to answer key interview questions as well, including:

  1. Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way.  
  2. Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills.  
  3. Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem. 
  4. Give me an example of a time when something you tried to accomplish failed.
  5. Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead. 

Having a team experience outside of required courses such as BASE is extremely important for distinguishing yourself from the competition during the interview process. Weaving this experience into your interviews can help you distinguish yourself as a conscientious and mission-driven individual since you elected to take time out of your busy schedule to evaluate impactful business scenarios. 

Develop Business Leadership Skills

BECC challenges students to address real ethical dilemmas that occur in the business world today. The ability to practically apply your business knowledge to ambiguous cases will better prepare you to succeed in a management role after you complete your education. In the competition, judges look for case solutions that incorporate ethical considerations and are also viable from a business perspective. Learning how to not only balance the business decision with the ethical one, but rather to combine the two is critical to your case and your success in the business world. Managers that generate profit while following their moral compasses are highly desirable and successful. 

Do you want to sign up but are not sure where to begin? Read last year’s article by Molly MacEachen for advice on how to succeed in case competitions. Preliminary rounds will take place on February 6th. For more information, visit our website and !