Case Cracking Training Aid 

Although the following document may look intimidating, our academic team put a great amount of time and effort into crafting the following training handout.

Our goal is for you to understand the following as a set of general guidelines and not an absolute set of rules that must be followed in order score the maximum amount of points at competition.

This training handout is grouped into the following subsections:

  1. General Tips

  2. Recommended Structure

  3. Oratory Presentation Skills

  4. Demeanor

  5. Category Specific Tips

A special thank you to our 2023-2024 Academic Team for putting together this resource.


General Tips

  • Always be polite. Treat it like a normal conversation at first and make sure to greet the judge and introduce yourself.

  • Make the most of your notes, write some notes but leave dedicated room for visual aids to show the judge. This will help walk them through your thought process.

  • Keep a maximum of three drawn out models throughout your presentation, you want to ensure the judges focus is still on you, “the presenter”.

  • “Fake it til you make it”

    • Remember: the judge doesn’t know what your strategy for cracking the case was nor how you want to present the information. If you forget something, keep going and try to tie it in later, don’t backtrack or give off the impression you’ve forgotten something.

  • Case Prep:

    • During this time, read over the case and note down the following:

      • The company.

      • The judges role (are they the CEO, a director or a VP?)

      • Your role.

      • What is it they are asking you to do? (your mandate)

    • It helps to write out the 5 performance indicators with a bullet under each so you know you hit them (for the rubric/grading).

    • Make sure you budget time for the introduction and conclusion.


Recommended Structure

 
 

introduction

  • Don’t dive straight into the case, start with something to break the ice.

    • I.e. A personal story, an anecdote, a quote, could even be a relevant stat, etc…

    • This ice breaker should have relevance to the case, you’ll want to conclude your presentation by bringing it back at the end.

analysis

  • Use the rule of three: aim for 3 points you want to mention, depending on the case, feel free to go with 2 or 4 but never more/less than this.

  • Importance of using models to help your analysis

    • I.e. Porter’s 5 Forces. Only mention what the model represents and the parts relevant to your analysis.

    • Some industry specific can help you stand out, get to know your category and the firms that operate within it.

  • In most cases, there will almost always be one or more key performance indicators (KPIs) you will need to cover in this section of your presentation.

solution

  • Get creative but make sure you stay within the boundaries of reality; you’ll lose the judges when they go from “that’s a cool idea” to “that’l never work”.

  • If you’re proposing something physical like a product or ad, feel free to draw it out to support what you’re saying.

  • Identify who your target audience is. This could be a specific customer segment, the company itself, specific employees, etc...

  • Keep it high level, don’t mention too much of the technical details for the various components of the solution.

    • Do spend time to explain the technical components related to key performance indicators (KPIs) identified in the case.

  • Remember that your goal in this section is to sell them on how this is going to work/fix the problem.

risks

  • Your mindset for this section should be “you might be wondering if we thought abour x, well we did and this is how you’ll mitigate it”.

  • This section should be short and sweet, keep it to three risks which vary across impact and likelihood.

  • Great opportunity to use a model here which can be drawn really fast.

 
 
  • If you are running short on time, mention all three risks but only explain the mitigation for the most important of the three.

  • Your focus should really be on the mitigation and its feasibility, not poking holes in the solution you’ve just proposed.

implementation

  • Great time to highlight any important timelines or deadlines outlined in the case.

  • Your focus here should be around key milestones and the results it will yield for the company.

  • This reinforces the notion of feasibility and ensures you are reiterating how your solution will solve the problem that has been outlined.

  • Feel free to draw this out if you feel like it will make explaining it easier.

conclusion

  • This is when you seal the deal!

  • This is where you give a super high-level overview of what you identified as the core problems, the key analysis points to remember and what you're proposing as the solutions.

    • Be sure to answer “how” you plan to solve the problem.

  • Make it memorable, if you’ve thought about anything catchy that can be said about the solution, this is where you should say it, you want the judge to remember you.

  • End your conclusion with a tie back in your ice breaker from the start.

    • Put a twist on it. I.e. Imagine you are now reliving the moment or anecdote except your solutions was put into place. How does that change your key takeaway(s)?


Oratory Presentation Skills

Practice! Book training sessions, present in front of friends and family, record yourself.

Give yourself a general outline of what you are going to say before presenting.

SPEED/RYTHM

  • Do not talk overly fast or slow.

  • Adjust your speed and tone to match what you are currently saying.

    • I.e. You may increase the speed of your speech and be more enthusiastic as your wrap up your explanation of the benefits your solution will bring.

  • Use pauses strategically. They can emphasize a point and provide a moment for your to formulate your next argument.

    • However, make sure not to pause for too long or too frequently.

    • Avoid “Deer in Headlights” pauses at all costs! Even if it means skipping information and moving on to your next point.

Flowing between ideas

  • Use transition words and sentences instead of simply moving on to the next point.

  • When presenting with a partner, add to each other’s argument instead of only presenting separate points. You want to show that you are both contributing to the best possible solution and understand it thoroughly, you are not simply dividing the workload in two.

    • I.e. “To add to what ___ said”, “taking this idea a little further”, “if we dive deeper into the risks, we find that”, etc…

tone/vocabulary

  • Match the content you are discussing

    • I.e. Pitching an expansion opportunity and providing advice to manage a PR disaster should not be presented with the same tone.

  • Pitch does not need to be level throughout, but unintentional variation should be avoided.

  • Use a professional vocabulary to the best of your abilities.

    • Avoid saying “yeah”, “bruh”, “super”, etc…

    • Avoid filler words.

    • Avoid stuttering.

    • Avoid overusing words like “but”, “also”, “like”, etc.

Using confident language

  • Be confident but do not lie.

    • I.e. “This might increase sales by > 40%” demonstrates a lack of confidence.

    • I.e. “This will increase sales by > 40%” demonstrates confidence but only requires a plausible scenario where sales do not increase by > 40% to be proven false or put into doubt.

    • I.e. “This can increase sales by > 40%” demonstrates confidence and will never be outright false.


Demeanor

Setting the tone

  • Be confident, polite and professional.

  • Approach judges table with confidence. Be cool, have open body language, good posture, keeping your chin up and most importantly smile!

  • Give a firm handshake with eye contact while greeting the judges with your name.

  • In your introduction, restate your name and title in the case, and address what role the judges will play (investors, board of directors, etc.)

  • Avoid turning your back to the judges while taking a seat.

    • Asking to take a seat is polite but not mandatory.

    • It is better to pull the chair out and sit rather than adjusting it after you’re seated.

throughout the presentation

  • Maintain a professional and confident tone.

  • Keep good posture, avoid leaning back in your seat as this shows disinterest and it is unprofessional.

  • Keep your body language open with your shoulders back.

  • Smile and use eye contact— with more than one judge. Eye contact should be divided evenly, avoid looking at any one individual for too long.

    • Keep the change in eye contact natural. Avoid changing at the end of each sentence, rather be random about it.

  • Be engaging with your gestures and facial expressions.

  • Avoid all swaying, pacing, nervous ticks, or moving in a way that could indicate nervousness.

  • Avoid playing with your hair, pen, collar, sleeve, or anything that could indicate nervousness.

  • Do not put your elbows on the table, keep it professional.

consideration in a partner or special event

  • If you’re not the one talking, remain engaged in the conversation. Demonstrate that you are actively listening.

  • Maintain eye contact with the judges and nod along. Do not get lost watching your partner nor the visual aids.

  • Smile and nod when your partner makes a good point. Showing facial expressions is extremely engaging for the judges.


Category Specific Tips

Accounting (ACT)

  • Bring a calculator. You will need it.

  • It’s not the end of the world if your numbers are wrong or don’t add up perfectly. What’s more important is showing a competent and logical thought process that can be explained through your journal entries, resolutions and statements.

Fashion Retail Management (FRM)

  • This Category is all about creativity. Apply new and innovative ways to co-align fashion trends with a business mindset.

  • Take into consideration current trends and fads as well as trends in consumer mindsets. This includes environmental aspects, technology, politics, etc.

  • Identify what larger fashion companies are doing successfully and apply those key aspects as recommendations for your case.

  • Don’t be afraid to look at what smaller start-ups or local companies are doing well too.

  • Be artsy and creative whether that includes sketching out a design for a product or graphing expected sales, etc.

Human Resources Management (HRM)

  • Apply concepts learned in Organizational Behaviour (ADM2336) and Human Resources Management (ADM2337) with respect to managing employees.

  • Look at concepts such as employee motivation, hiring and retention of employees, renumeration, dealing with problems in the workplace, etc.

  • Understand change management.

Restaurant and food services management (rfsm)

  • Talk about what is currently happening/changing in the restaurant industry and apply similar ideas/predictions to the case (i.e. marking tactics).

  • Mention a bit of marketing where appropriate, such as the willingness of consumers to pay for _____ or demographics and their taste preference.

  • Incorporate modern technology in your solution to differentiate your client from the competition.

Management consulting (MCO)

  • Stay up-to-date on current events. You will need to relate your recommendations to realistic macroeconomic trends (i.e. inflation).

  • Know some basic finance and accounting, such as determining NPV or performing a cost-benefit analysis for a project.

Business to Business (B2B)

  • This category leverages the power of relationships in business (consumer needs, expectations, demands).

  • It is absolutely crucial you know who the target demographic is. Pay special attention to why your company is best suited for this transaction.

International Marketing (int)

  • We strongly recommend you refer to Hofstede’s cultural dimensions.

  • Understand different needs in major global markets. (USA, China, Germany, Japan, etc.)

  • Mention the 5 P’s (Product, Price, Place, People, and Promotion) as they often tend to come up in cases.

  • Mention the target demographics and why your promotional plan will best target that specific demographic.

  • Always use statistics to back up your points (Yes, you can make them up! Make them sound realistic).

  • BONUS: Mention competitors to the product or service and why your plan will create/maintain a competitive advantage over them.

Sports entertainment marketing (SEM)

  • Make this up, players you have, draft picks, attendance, statistics, etc. Judges live it when you make up random stats and facts about your sports franchise.

  • Using a whiteboard as a prop and drawing graphs that supports your point is an acceptable strategy.

  • Create timelines and make the judges understand the flow of your solution.

Advertising Campaign Challenge (ADC)

  • For National’s, ensure to prepare the presentation and report EARLY (not last minute). Craft rich vocabulary when practicing your presentation!

  • Creativity and innovation to the campaign is essential for your team to stand out and capture the judge’s attention.

  • Ensure each presenter has confident and polished presentation skills (speak clearly, be engaging, and show energy while hitting the main points).

  • Be sure to learn about specific metric-analysis tools. These can be external (Google Analytics) or internal (proprietary company software).

Project Management institute (pmi)

  • Know the difference between agile and waterfall project methodologies.

  • Create broad timelines and organize tasks accordingly. You can’t go wrong with a GANTT chart.

  • Know the general process of a project, including but not limited to: business requirements, defining scope, budgeting, options analysis, approval and implementation phases.

Start-Up pitch competition (seed)

  • Have an idea of the business you want to realize (industry, product, etc.).

  • Be careful when calculating the profit and financial statements. Keep is simple but don’t avoid bad numbers.

  • Answer the following questions: Potential opportunities, competitors, market entry method, target audience, etc.

Stock Pitch (STCK)

  • In the division of responsibilities, your team must become a subject matter expert on your company and their industry.

  • Be prepared, there will be a lot of information, a lot of statistics, most of which you will need to know.

  • When presenting, be clear, concise and stay on topic. There’s no time to ramble.

  • Don’t vomit information on the judges. The goal is to convince them to invest. Be energetic and present your arguments in a logical fashion.

  • Anticipate what questions the judges might ask. If that information is not readily available on your slideshow, make an appendix you can refer to on demand.