HBCU | Global Business Challenge | Spring 2022

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HBCU Global Business Challenge

A team case competition for undergraduate business students currently enrolled at invited HBCUs in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.  This is the first event hosted by a local HBCU for HBCUs to further develop our collective global mindset.  This Challenge, using an interactive online simulation, will occur from February 16, 2022, through April 8, 2022.

Competition Overview 

Global Challenge

Hello HBCU Undergraduate Business Students and Faculty Advisors

Do you dream of a career as a global business executive?  Are you interested in marketing, finance, supply chain, and cultures? Multinational corporations face challenges in all these areas when they compete.  Would you like to apply your business knowledge to help a company make strategic decisions in new markets?  If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, then this team case competition is perfect for you.  Through a fun, interactive online simulation, you will experience what it takes to make international market entry business decisions. 

What are you waiting for?

To accept this Global Business Challenge, form a team of up to four undergraduate business school students and a faculty advisor at your university.  Each university can form two teams of four undergraduate business students and one faculty advisor.  The role of the faculty advisor is to assist the team as they think through the material and interact with the Challenge Managers and Howard University School of Business. 

Complete the FREE Registration Form with your faculty advisor today!

We look forward to meeting you!

Global Challenge

HBCU Global Business Challenge Managers

Dr. Denise Streeter

Professor Anita Schmeid

Dr. Maru Etta 

Howard University 

Who can compete?

Invited HBCUs from the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia area. 

  • Currently enrolled undergraduates in the business program at the invited HBCUs
  • Proof of enrollment is required. See the Team Registration tab for more information.
  • Each invited HBCU can field two teams of four undergraduate business students and one faculty advisor. 

The Competition

  1. In this competition, you will compete with up to eleven other teams using an interactive online simulation over multiple rounds for a popular product being sold in the countries of your choice in the Asian markets.
  2. Training will be provided on the use of the interactive online simulation.
  3. To gain a truly global experience, in each round you will make decisions about country entry strategies, marketing, sales/pricing, distribution, finance/budgeting, and more.
  4. The Leader Board will track each team’s standing over the six-week period of the competition so that you can update/refresh your business strategies as you learn more about the product and its markets.
  5. Your company’s performance will be only one aspect of winning in this competition as your team will give a presentation to explain your team's strategies and decision-making.
  6. Overall, it will be a great time of bonding with your undergraduate classmates across the Business School and learning about the decisions made by a Global Business Manager. 

Schedule | Tentative Subject to Change

Registration Period

February 7, 2022 - February 22, 2022

Challenge Orientation and Training for Participating Teams | Online 

February 24, 2022, at 6 pm (Eastern Time) via Zoom

Reading and Practice Period

February 23, 2022 - March 2, 2022

Challenge Period

March 4, 2022 - April 20, 2022 

Team Reports Due

April 23, 2022

Awards Ceremony (online)

May 4, 2022, via Zoom (Time TBD)

Team Registration

REGISTRATION IS FREE!

To register, the team's faculty advisor must complete the registration form below for each team from your university.  It is hoped that each university will host two teams with two different faculty advisors.  If that is not possible, then one faculty advisor may support both teams of four undergraduate business students each. 

Please keep a separate Registration Form for each team.  Thank you. 

Proof of undergraduate enrollment must be provided for each student team member. 

Such proof must include:

  • University ID card clearly showing the student's name, school name, and expiration date; AND
  • A transcript with undergraduate courses listed for Spring 2022 semester; or
  • A letter from your school's student affairs/administration stating that the student is enrolled as an undergraduate student for the Spring 2022 semester

Judging & Awards

All teams must present their strategies and decision-making used during the competition to a panel of distinguished judges by a pre-recorded video.

  • Criteria on the presentation requirements will be provided to registered teams during the Challenge Orientation session.

Awards will go to the top three winning teams even if two teams are from the same university.  The decisions of the judges are final.

The awards are:

  • First Place - $3,000.00
  • Second Place - $2,000.00
  • Third Place - $1,000.00

Award money will be split equally among the winning student team members.  Winning teams will be announced during the Award Ceremony. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Global Business

Q1. Who can compete?

This competition is open to invited HBCUs from the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia area.  Each university may field two teams each of four undergraduate business students and one faculty advisor. No alternates are permitted. Each of the four members of the team must be currently enrolled, degree-seeking undergraduate students registered within the business school at the team's host university.  It is suggested that teams are composed of undergraduate students representing a different specific function in the following areas: Finance/Accounting, Marketing, Management/International Business, and Operations/IT.

Q2. May our University field only one team and still participate?

Yes.  Each university may field only one team and still participate.  However, each team must have four undergraduate student members to compete effectively. 

Q3. What is the length and nature of the case that will be analyzed?

The nature of the “case” is embedded in the interactive online simulation in which each team will compete. The simulation addresses multiple countries and covers multiple functional areas of decision-making. 

Q4. How can my team prepare for the competition?

To prepare for the competition, teams will receive training on the use of the online simulation software and time during a practice period to make decisions that will not impact their rankings.  Teams also will have a Reading Period to review the background material and learn about the business markets in which the competition is based. 

Q5. Do we have to purchase access to the online simulation?

No, this Challenge is fully funded by CIBER-CMCC, Interpretive Simulations, and Madden Shoes for your educational advancement. Each team member and the Faculty Advisor will have access to the team’s simulation account at no cost.

Q6. How can we access the simulation website?

Each team will have access to the simulation website from the location of their choice.  Teams must provide their own computers and internet access. The Challenge Managers cannot provide a loaner laptop to any student.

Q7. How many faculty advisors are there for each team? What is their function?

The Challenge allows for one faculty advisor per team.  It is hoped that each university will host two teams with two different faculty advisors.  If that is not possible, then one faculty advisor may support both teams of four undergraduate business students each.  The "faculty advisor" also may be a staff member of the University.

The role of the faculty advisor is to assist the team as they think through the material and interact with the Challenge Managers and Howard University School of Business. 

Faculty advisors are invited and encouraged to participate in many of the activities held during the competition, such as the Challenge Orientation, Award Ceremony, and more.  However, faculty advisors are not allowed to assist in Challenge decisions but may coach their teams by answering questions about options. 

Faculty advisors will be permitted to observe and record their own team member's presentations.  Attendance at the Award Ceremony is mandatory for all team members and faculty advisors.  

Q8. Can teams use other consultants during case competitions?

No. Teams are expected to produce original work solely attributable to the four undergraduate student members. Teams may not consult with advisors, other faculty, staff, team hosts, other students, or any other non-team members during the preparation of the strategy decisions throughout the Challenge period. Students are welcome to use books, internet web page information, or any other non-human resource to gather information. Participants must carefully cite and acknowledge all sources used in their work. 

Q9. Any other helpful hints in regard to case preparation?

It is always an advantage to be educated about current world issues. Teams should become familiar with conducting online searches for relevant information and sources.

Q10. What are your expectations for the team presentation? 

All teams must present their strategies and decision-making used during the competition to a panel of distinguished judges by a pre-recorded video. 

We highly recommend that the presentation of the case solution include all student team members in speaking roles. Teams should work to capitalize on the strengths of each individual team member!

Q11. How will the judging work?

Judging will be “blind”, meaning our judges will not be told and should not be led by the team to know which school the team represents. Teams should not include any graphics or words in the presentation that would identify your school, state, or country, and clothing should be neutral in color and not school-oriented in any way.

In the first round, the judges will view the pre-recorded video provided by all participating teams.

In the second round, the judges will view live presentations (via Zoom) of the finalist teams.  Teams in the second round should be prepared for questions from the judges. 

Q12. Will we receive feedback about our presentation?

Judges will provide feedback after the competition for learning purposes.

Q13. May we get a copy of the presentations of the other teams?

No. Sharing of the pre-recorded video presentations is discouraged to ensure the integrity of the competition.

The Awards ceremony presentations of the finalist teams will be recorded.  The judges will determine if the recording will be released.

Q14. May we take photos during the Awards Ceremony?

Yes. Photos may be taken during the online Awards Ceremony.

 

Registration Open for 2022 HBCU Global Business Challenge

Faculty advisors, please email us  HBCU.Challenge@howard.edu with any questions or concerns.  Thank you!

HBCU Global Business Challenge Registration Form

Faculty Advisor Name, E-mail, and Telephone

Student Team Member Information


Name of Student Team Member ONE*

Name of Student Team Member TWO*
Name of Student Team Member THREE*
Name of Student Team Member FOUR*
Terms of the Challenge


HBCU Global Business Challenge 

Last updated July 15, 2021 

Thank you for your interest in participating in the HBCU Global Business Challenge (aka "Challenge" or "Competition") hosted by Howard University.

The following Terms of the Challenge serve as an agreement between you and Howard University regarding the participation of your University's Team(s) in this Challenge.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS OF THE CHALLENGE CAREFULLY. 
BY REGISTERING FOR THE CHALLENGE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND ANY ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES TO BE ANNOUNCED THROUGHOUT THE CHALLENGE PERIOD. 

Team Composition 

  1. Each invited HBCU University may enter two teams to participate in the Challenge.
  2. Each team shall consist of four undergraduate business students and one faculty advisor. 
  3. A student can be a member of only one team. 
  4. The faculty advisor should guide only one team, if possible, but may guide both teams from the same university. 
  5. Team members must be undergraduate business students currently enrolled in courses at the HBCU in which they will represent.  Proof of enrollment must be provided with registration. 
  6. Please e-mail the Proof of enrollment documents for each student team member to: HBCU.Challenge@howard.edu.
  7. Teams found to have students who do not meet the above criteria will be disqualified. 

Competition Integrity 

  1. Teams are expected to produce original work. 
  2. Participants will not engage in plagiarism, either intentionally or unintentionally.  Participants must carefully cite and acknowledge all sources used in their work.  Judges may elect to use third-party resources to detect plagiarism. 
  3. Teams may not consult with non-team members during the preparation of the case analysis or anytime during the competition.  This includes anyone outside of the team, faculty, advisors, staff, ambassadors, and fellow students. 
  4. Faculty advisors may teach concepts related to the Challenge but must not provide suggestions for solutions to the student members of the team.
  5. Solutions from any sources must not be sought or obtained by students or faculty advisors on the team or provided to the team by others outside of the team. 
  6. All participants, including students, faculty advisors, and Challenge Managers, should act professionally and considerately during all communication and interactions throughout the competition.
  7. Participants will remain from any discriminatory, harassing, threatening, or harmful behavior of any other participant during all Challenge activities. Participants who believe themselves to be the target of, or witness to, such actions should report their concerns to Dr. B. Paul Choi, Chair, Department of Finance & International Business at Howard University bchoi@howard.edu. 

Team Withdrawal from the Competition 

  1. Teams may withdraw from the Competition at any time with written notice to the Challenge Manager at HBCU.Challenge@howard.edu
  2. Teams may be withdrawn from the Challenge as presented in this document. 

Training Participation 

  1. To ensure your familiarity with the Terms of the Challenge and the simulation, training webinars will be made available to all participants. 
  2. By registering to participate in this Challenge, each student and faculty advisor will be required to attend the training webinars or watch the recording at a later date on their own time. 

Simulation Account 

  1. To participate in this Challenge, each student and faculty advisor will be required to register for an account on the website of the host of the simulation, Interpretive Simulations. 
  2. You may be asked to provide a password in connection with your account. 
  3. You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and password, and you agree to accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account or password. 
  4. You agree that the information you provide to Interpretive Simulations, the host of the Challenge simulation, whether at registration or at any other time, will be true, accurate, current, and complete.
  5. You also agree that you will ensure that this information is kept accurate and up-to-date at all times. 
  6. Each team member must use their personal or school computer to access the simulation site for this Challenge and understands and agrees that your use, access, download, or otherwise obtaining of content, website materials. software or data through the simulation website is at your own discretion and risk and that you are solely responsible for any damage to your property (including your computer system) or loss of data that results therefrom. 
  7. If you have reason to believe that your account is no longer secure (e.g. in the event of a loss, theft, or unauthorized disclosure or use of your account ID or password), then you agree to immediately notify the leaders of this Challenge Manager at Howard University HBCU.Challenge@howard.edu AND Interpretive Simulations at support@interpretive.com.  You may be liable for losses incurred by Howard University, Interpretive Simulations, or others due to any unauthorized use of your simulation account. 

PowerPoint Presentation

  1. Teams must submit solution presentations of up to 12 PowerPoint slides (including cover and index) with 4 additional slides of appendices allowed for teams to support the pre-recorded video. 
  2. The Powerpoint file must use Times New Roman font with a minimum of 20-point type size and no more than 7 lines per slide. 
  3. Teams will need to submit both the PowerPoint file and a pre-recorded video into the portal to be provided for submission.

Tentative Pre-recorded and Online Oral Presentation Rules

  1. Each team will use PowerPoint slides to prepare a pre-recorded video to be viewed by the judges to select finalists.  
  2. We highly recommend that the presentation of the case solution include all student team members in speaking roles.  Teams should work to capitalize on the strength of each individual team member. 
  3. The presentations may not be longer than 15 minutes. 
  4. Dress is business professional for the pre-recorded video.  
  5. Sharing of the pre-recorded video presentations if discouraged to ensure the integrity of the competition. 
  6. If selected as a finalist, the team agrees to meet with the judges to give a live oral presentation and answer questions of the judges.  

Photo Use

  1. Teams will be encouraged to submit photos and/or videos of themselves during meetings and final presentations. 
  2. By registering for this Challenge, all team members and faculty advisors agree to have their image used on the website or other social media or advertising source to celebrate and promote this event. 
  3. Accordingly, all team members release HBCU Global Business Challenge Howard University, and all sponsors, partners, and agents acting on its behalf from any and all liability related to further dissemination of my photography of video imagery. 

Judging 

  1. Each team presentation will be judged by industry and /or academic representatives. 
  2. Judging will be "blind", meaning our judges will not be told and should not be led by the team to know which school the team represents.  Teams should not include any graphics or words in the presentation that would identify your school, state, or country, and clothing should be neutral in color and not school-oriented in any way. 
  3. In the first round, the judges will view the pre-recorded video provided by all participating teams.
  4. In the second round, the judges will view live presentations (via Zoom) of the finalist teams.  Teams in the second round should be prepared for questions from the judges. 
  5. The decisions of the judges are final.  You agree to abide by the results of the Challenge. 

Awards

Three levels of prizes will be awarded:

  • First Prize - $3000.00
  • Second Prize - $2000.00
  • Third Prize - $1000.00
Award money will be split equally among winning team members. Winning teams will be announced during the Award Ceremony. 
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