Steps to Success
Plan
- Read and thoroughly analyze the case individually and as a team
- Meet, hypothesize, and discuss potential solutions to the problem
- Select two to three strong solutions and briefly outline the main points of each one
- Outline research, analysis, and modeling required of each solution
- Assign responsibilities and set deadlines and requirements for each member
Analyze
- Utilize resources available online and through McCombs to research the assigned topics (Business Information Center has various resources for company and industry analysis)
- Save and make a list of the most relevant, detailed, and quantitative to support a certain solution
- For each solution, determine the insight that it brings and how this supports a certain solution
- Have each member present their ideas and insights, and then come to an agreement about the solution the team will pursue
Prepare
- Structure arguments into an organized outline
- Introduction: Provide background on the case problem, a breif outline of your presentation and your solution, and key research findings that led you to your solution
- Solution: Thoroughly describe your solution to the judges in an organized manner. Add titles and images to represent each part of your solution to help judges follow your presentation. Also consider having a creative name for the solution and plan (e.g. the three A's to profitability).
- Financials and Risks: Analyze your solution financially to display that it is indeed viable for the company. DCF models for the project are often times employed for more experienced teams, but other teams have been successful with simple incremental revenue and cost models. Also show the risks of your solution and how those will be mitigated.
- Conclusion: Outline your solution one more time to the judges and consider adding a timeline for your implementation strategy. Furthermore, consider having a slide that shows alternative solutions and the reasons for rejection. Another team may present one of those solutions.
- Appendices: Put citations and excerpts from your strongest sources as well as tables from your financial model in this section. During the presentation, you will likely not get to cover every argument for your solution, but these appendix slides will be very useful for Question and Answer Period. Furthermore, judges can appreciate this evidence when they look through your printed copy.
- Create a slide deck that outlines all of your points
- Use simple and professional templates for slide design. Make sure the color scheme, font, and structure of the entire presentation is cohesive.
- Practice the presentation many times to make sure each member is comfortable with their parts and that the presentation fits within the time constraints.
Present
- On the day of the presentation, make sure that you have all of the required materials and arrive on time for the first meeting.
- It is recommended that every team have backup copies of the USB, presentation, and clickers for the event (Clickers can be checked out from the McCombs Media Services)
- Order the presentation so each participant presents on section instead of multiple exchanges throughout the presentation.
- Anticipate questions, and answer them as soon as judges ask. Do not ask them to wait to see other parts of the presentation.
- Every participant should participate in the Question and Answer Period, and make sure not to cut off other members as they are answering.
- Be very polite and professional with the judges. Make sure to greet and thank all of them as you enter and leave the presentation room.
- Have fun!