University of Michigan Triumphs at the 2010 National MBA Human Capital Case Competition

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- A team of six students from the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business captured first place at the 2010 National MBA Human Capital Case Competition, sponsored by Deloitte and GE. The fourth annual competition, hosted by Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management on Oct. 15-16, included teams from 10 of the top graduate schools across the country competing to model, address and resolve real-world human capital challenges.

Cornell University's Johnson School of Management and School of Industrial Labor Relations, and Boston College's Carroll School of Management, earned second and third place, respectively.

"This event has become more challenging and competitive over the past four years, and each year we aim to provide an engaging and rewarding experience that will enrich students preparation for their future careers," said Garth Andrus, a principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP. "Faced with a complex case study under intense time constraints, this year's students demonstrated incredible enthusiasm, dedication and precision. In today's highly competitive environment, where human capital struggles monopolize the corporate agenda, these students proved that they could meet the demand for cutting-edge solutions that link talent strategies to the business and are, therefore, vital for corporate growth and sustainability."

The Ross School of Business winning team included:

• Stephanie Charette
• Nick Danoff
• Emmy Gladney
• April LaCroix
• Michelle Lin
• Kate Schrinsky

Prior to the competition, teams received the human capital case and were given 10 days to analyze the issue and prepare their solutions for presentations on an anonymous basis at the Owen Graduate School of Management before a team of esteemed judges, including:

• Orlan Boston, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP
• Tammie Potvin, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP
• Troy Henagan, HR manager, Power Services and Legal, GE Energy
• Lillian Hunt, HR manager, Legal, Employer of Choice, and Leadership Programs, GE Home and Business Solutions

"Actively identifying and developing the next generation of leaders is core to a company's success and central to the way GE operates. As a sponsor of the National MBA Human Capital Case Competition, we are excited to have the opportunity to see talented students in action solving complex business problems," said Nancy Abbott, GE's executive sponsor for the competition and a Human Resources leader at GE Capital.  "Past competitors have impressed us with their creativity, their ability to work under pressure and their grasp of the importance of a strong human capital strategy. We are eager to begin this year's competition and work with another talented group of future leaders."

The Harvard Business School case, set in 2008 and used in the competition, examined how the HR function at a global media conglomerate could achieve a strategic fit between corporate culture and talent management, and more effectively align its corporate HR strategy with the overall business strategy. The case included complex human capital challenges, such as competitive marketplace conditions, internal structural challenges and divisions, and cross-divisional management and development restraints.  

"The current economic climate continues to strain the hiring landscape, making today's job market more competitive than ever, even for those students with advanced business degrees," Tim Vogus,   faculty advisor for Vanderbilt's case competition team and assistant professor of management "This event encourages students to strengthen their communication, analytical and research skills, which are important attributes to being successful in any profession and workplace. Vanderbilt and companies like Deloitte and GE are helping develop the required skill-set of today's MBA students, and are investing in talent and innovation to prepare the workforce of tomorrow."

According to Deloitte, students' exposure to and experience with complex, real-life business challenges will help them gain a competitive advantage over other applicants and will increase their chances of employment. So not only does this competition help its participants when they jump into the job market, but it allows organizations like Deloitte and GE to stay at the forefront of progressive and sustainable business solutions by getting insight into fresh, innovative ways to approach current business challenges by these promising students.

This year's finalists included teams from the following graduate programs:

1. Carroll School of Management (Boston College)
2. Goizueta Business School (Emory University)
3. Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University)
4. Kenan-Flagler Business School (University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill)
5. The Johnson School (Cornell University)
6. Marriott School of Business (Brigham Young University)
7. Owen Graduate School of Management (Vanderbilt University)
8. Ross School of Business (University of Michigan)
9. Anderson School of Management  (UCLA)
10. Yale School of Management

For more information about the competition, please visit http://www.humancapitalcasecompetition.com/.  For more information about Deloitte's Human Capital practice, please visit http://www.deloitte.com/us/humancapital.

As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries.

SOURCE Deloitte