Business with Integrity Case Competition

The Tarriff Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility is excited to provide Penn State undergraduate students an amazing opportunity to analyze a contemporary issue in business and recommend a strategic plan that demonstrates business with integrity. In addition to being involved in a great educational experience to refine skills that are critical for ethical leadership in business, qualifying participants will have an opportunity to interact with executives representing a number of outstanding organizations.

The format for the Fall 2023 competition is planned to be in person. Students will have the opportunity to interact with business leaders and alumni – throughout the entire competition. Participants will also compete for prizes. This year’s competition is sponsored by Kohl’s, the Smeal College of Business, as well as Penn State’s Engineering Leadership Development (ELD) program and the Rock Ethics Institute.

Rules

All PSU undergraduate students are invited to participate in the Business with Integrity Case Competition, in teams of three or four students. One condition is that every team must have at least one student that is affiliated with Smeal, as either completing a declared Smeal major or tracking as a Smeal major.

Each registered team will be required to:

• collaboratively complete an analysis of the provided case study
• recommend a strategic solution that demonstrates business with integrity
• submit an executive summary of their analysis and recommendations
• submit a digital presentation (e.g. PowerPoint) that would support a verbal presentation not exceeding 20 minutes
• Provide link to a two-minute video, that demonstrates your ability to verbally pitch your idea
• One member from each team must attend the case insights webinar

Team submissions will be evaluated by a committee. Nine teams will be selected from that qualifying round, and will be sent an invitation to participate in the live semifinal round of the competition. Teams participating in the semifinal and final rounds will be assigned into brackets, with each team delivering a verbal presentation of their analysis and recommendations to the judges, and answering questions raised by the panel of judges about their presentation or the case in general. One team from each of the three brackets will be invited to the finals to make their presentation and answer questions a second time in front of a new panel of judges.

Winning Teams

All teams participating in the semifinal and final rounds will receive small tokens or recognition for excellence, with top teams receiving the following awards:

1^st place: Prize valued at $750 for each team member

2^nd place: Prize valued at $500 for each team member

3^rd place: Prize valued at $250 for each team member

Register here by September 28th

Fall 2023: Important Dates

Fall 2022 Competition Results

First Place: HMS Associates
Hannah Lee, Makayla Mann, and Sophia Darkes

Second Place: Hidden Gems
Colton Shiry, Grace Hubbard, Hunter Badamo, and Sean Gordon

Third Place: Kohca Kohla
Ansh Matta, Hayoung Lee, Rachel Chang, and Tanviin Saini

Fall 2021 Competition Results

First Place: MASK Consulting
Anna Shimek, Kyle Kroboth, Sarah Hunt, and Megan Martin

Second Place: YYDS
Jia Yu, JiaXi Yuan, Yi Zheng, and Jiahua Hong

Third Place: Finance Four
Jakob Iceland, Dongjin Kang, Aidan O'Sullivan, and Jaxon Zeli

Fall 2020 Competition Results (Held via Zoom)

First Place: Certified Fresh
Haskel Canagarajah, Sean Cullen, Erica Mi, and Chimwemwe Mitole

Second Place: GAME Theory
Gunnar Litz, Madeline McEachin, Allie Mollo, and Elizabeth Weiland

Third Place: Integrity ICONS
Alexandra Carmona, Saige Cestone, Abigail Falce, and Ryan Willson

Fall 2019 Competition Results and Finals Presentations

First Place: Lady Consultants

Team: Natasha Ferguson, Mary Brown, Emma Pirchalski, and Juliana Kaminski

Lady Consultants Finals Presentation

Second Place: RepuWatch

Team: Alysa Kuiken, Shaye Smartt, Kassandra Reagle, and Emma Rimbeck

RepuWatch Finals Presentation

Third Place: Ice Kohl'd

Team: Shane Cummings, Steven Zhang, Jack Vlazny, and Evan Zhang

Ice Kohl'd Finals Presentation