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The McKinsey/HSBC Business Case Competition - Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the McKinsey/HSBC Business Case Competition?
- Who is eligible to join the Competition?
- How do I sign up?
- What is the format used for the Competition?
- Any more details on the day's program?
- When do the teams get a copy of the cases and where do the teams prepare their cases?
- What is the function of the coach and the assistant coach?
- What is the nature of the cases used and how should I prepare for the Competition?
- Will the coaches have access to the cases used in the Competition?
- What peripherals can and cannot be used when preparing the case?
- Do we need to bring our own office supplies when preparing the case?
- The presentation
- Is there a dress code for the Competition?
- The prize
- Will there be a new case for each round of the competition?
- Under what academic discipline do the cases used in the competition fall?
- I am not familiar with the HKU campus. How do I get to the different venues?
- Are there any facilities in the preparation room students can utilize?





What is the McKinsey/HSBC Business Case Competition?

The McKinsey/HSBC Business Case Competition ("The Competition") is a business case competition organised by the Asia Case Research Centre (ACRC) for undergraduate students






Who is eligible to join the Competition?

The Competition is open to full-time undergraduate students (local or exchange) studying in one of the nine universities in Hong Kong.






How do I sign up?

Any selected university can sign up a single team for the Competition. Teams should consist of 4 students who make up the team and a coach (faculty member). An assistant coach can be included at the discretion of the university. No student alternates are allowed.

The ACRC, as the organising committee, is in no way involved in the composition and selection process for the individual teams. Interested students from HKU should contact Dr. Venkat Subramanian or Dr. Benjamin Yen. Students from other universities should contact their departmental faculty.






What is the format used for the Competition?

Teams will compete one on one. The match-up will be determined by random draw. Each team will have a strictly enforced maximum of 20 minutes to make its case presentation, followed by a 10 minute question and answer session. All team members are required to participate in the presentation. Winning teams advance to the next round for the championship.






Any more details on the day's program?

The agenda for the day will be made available at a later time.

A preliminary agenda has been made available here .






When do the teams get a copy of the cases and where do the teams prepare their cases?

On the day of the Competition each team will be assigned a preparation room where they have to prepare the cases. Copies of the cases will be made available in this room.






What is the function of the coach and the assistant coach?

The coaches should help the students prepare for the Competition. They are not allowed to assist in the case analysis or preparation on the day of the Competition. They are nevertheless invited to all other activities on the day of the Competition.






What is the nature of the cases used and how should I prepare for the Competition?

The cases used at the Competition are unpublished business cases written by the Asia Case Research Centre. These will be cases on Asian companies or overseas companies doing business in Asia. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with some of the cases published by the Asia Case Research Centre in advance. ACRC case can be found at www.acrc.org.hk





Will the coaches have access to the cases used in the Competition?

As reference, a copy of the case(s) will be made available to the coach and, if applicable, the assistant coach on the day of the Competition.





What peripherals can and cannot be used when preparing the case?

You are not allowed to use computers and mobile phones when preparing the case. All mobile phones (including smartphones and PDAs) should be switched off and laptops are barred from the preparation room. Textbooks and other reference material are also off-limits. Basic calculators are allowed.






Do we need to bring our own office supplies when preparing the case?

Basic stationary will be provided but please bring any materials you deem necessary.






The presentation

The presentation has to be made in English. Overhead acetates and a whiteboard are allowed for the presentation. You are not allowed to prepare acetates and whiteboard before the day of the Competition.






Is there a dress code for the Competition?

Business formal. Teams are not allowed to wear or use anything that can identify them as students from a specific school or student body.






The prize

Members of the winning team will be offered summer internships at McKinsey & Company, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited or the ACRC.

All competitors will also be presented with a certificate recognising their participation in the event.






Will there be a new case for each round of the competition?

Three cases will be used for the competition, one for each round.






Under what academic discipline do the cases used in the competition fall?

All cases will be strategy and general management cases. In addition they can touch upon other disciplines such as marketing and accounting & control.






I am not familiar with the HKU campus. How do I get to the different venues?

A HKU student will be appointed to each team. This student will accompany the teams to the various venues and assist them in other competition related matters.

In addition, a map of HKU can be viewed here .






Are there any facilities in the preparation room students can utilize?

There is a whiteboard in the preparation room students can use.