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MBAs tackle real-life challenges
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“As expected, the depth and breadth of ideas presented in the competition were wonderful—and actionable.”
Instead of using a stale Harvard Business case, student finalists in the School of Management’s 14th annual MBA case competition applied their problem-solving skills to a real-world situation closer to home: how to boost the economy of the Village of Wilson after the recent closing of the Pfeiffer Salad Dressing plant.
Recommendations were diverse, from making Wilson—a Niagara County community on the shores of Lake Ontario—a Wi-Fi village to processing organic applesauce in the now-vacant manufacturing plant to leveraging tourism opportunities.
Wilson Mayor Patrick Kelahan, a UB MBA alumnus, worked with the School of Management to develop the case. He also served as a judge for the competition, along with SOM Dean Arjang Assad; Joseph Bell, vice president of acquisition integration, Moog; Karen Howard, vice president of finance and CFO, Columbus McKinnon; and Kathleen Neville of Neville Consultants Inc.
“My goal in reaching out to the UB School of Management was to leverage the perspective the MBA students gain through their studies by applying their knowledge and creativity to a challenge faced by hundreds of communities in New York: What do we do now that our primary employer has closed or reduced staff?” says Kelahan. “Wilson recognizes that it must embrace diverse ideas and consider other directions if the community is to remain viable. As expected, the depth and breadth of ideas presented in the competition were wonderful—and actionable,” he adds.
Judges evaluated participants on the quality of their analyses, the creativity and clarity of their recommendations, the quality and detail of their implementation plans, the quality and style of their oral presentations, and how well the students defended their recommendations in their question-and-answer responses.
“This type of real-world learning is a key component of the UB MBA experience,” says David Frasier, assistant dean and director of the MBA, MS and PhD programs in the School of Management. “And using a real case in which the outcome could have a positive economic impact on a Western New York community makes it ideally suited to UB’s mission.”
Winning the competition, which included cash awards of $300 each and entry into the George Washington University International MBA Case Competition on March 19 and 20, were second-year MBAs Alex Banfai, Chris Bodkin Alina Cofas and Dave Gordon.
They offered six recommendations:
• Consolidate some governmental operations and functions, including payroll and employee benefits; purchasing; medical insurance; and contracted and public works services, such as fleet maintenance and refuse collection.
• Build a new wastewater treatment plant.
• Make Wilson a “wireless” village.
• Build a community-owned and –operated artisan marketplace.
• Convert the former Pfeiffer building into a gourmet food incubator.
• Build a health center/recreational resort, combining an elective surgery clinic with a hotel, spa and fitness center.
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