Waikato Management School Case Competition

Students seize opportunity to become business consultants for a real NZ firm

First launched in 1996, the Waikato Management School Case Competition is a practical assignment as part of STMGT303 Applied Strategy, which is the capstone paper for the subject major in Strategic Management.

Working in teams, students are given a detailed case study of a real New Zealand company to analyse over a two-week period, much as if they were employed as real-life management consultants.

Their challenge? To develop a five-year strategy to grow the company's sales, profits and revenue, by leveraging its core strengths and expanding into new national or global markets. Each team also writes an in-depth business report about their strategy for the judges to consider.

Clients involved with the WMS Case Competition in previous years have included the likes of Zealong Tea, Zuru Toys, Annah Stretton Fashion, Yealands Wine Group, and Tainui Group Holdings Ltd, to name just a few.

On a day known as 'Super Friday', each of the competing teams gives an inspiring presentation about their strategy to a judging panel of WMS lecturers and tutors.

The best four teams are chosen as finalists for the Waikato Management School Case Competition; proudly sponsored by PWC.

Each team gives a 10-minute presentation in front of a public audience. They must also respond to some tricky questions from the panel of external judges, comprised of  industry experts.

After some healthy debate, the judges choose a winning team based on a 50:50 weighting of the written reports and presentations.

At the end of the evening, all the finalists are presented with a certificate and the winning team is announced. The winning team goes home with a $2,500 cash prize sponsored by PWC.

Friends, family and members of the public are very welcome to come along on the night and enjoy the action!