ITOM Annual Case Competition

Each year, the ITOM Case Competition provides SMU-Cox students with the opportunity to challenge themselves and apply their knowledge from different business disciplines to tackle complex, real-world problems faced by companies. The competition was introduced in the 2012-13 academic year when, in partnership with JC Penney, students were presented with a case study focused on the supply chain implications of the company's new store-in-store strategy.

Since its inception, the competition has been held annually, with the department collaborating with a different company each year to develop a case based on a real issue the firm is trying to solve. It is open to all graduate students at the Cox School of Business, primarily attracting participants from the MBA (both full-time and part-time) and MSBA programs. These students compete for prestigious prizes.

The 10th edition of the competition took place in 2022-23, featuring a partnership with the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas. This edition was notable for being the first time the department partnered with a nonprofit organization, and one that is beloved nationwide, not just in Dallas.

The case required students to forecast the upcoming cookie season, a critical task due to the long planning horizon and limited flexibility in order adjustments. Accurate forecasts are crucial for a successful cookie season, challenging participants to leverage their skills in data analytics, supply chain management, and financial analysis.

A total of 15 teams participated, with 5 finalists selected to present their analyses and recommendations to executives from GSUSA and faculty from the ITOM Department. Debra Rolling (Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, GSNETX), Ashleigh Lee (Director, Product Sales), Prof. Rowena Gan, Prof. Canan Savaskan and Prof. Chester Chambers served as judges for the competition.

The winner of the event was the A-Team (Xinyi Zheng, Winnie Huang, Yuchen Cao)

And the runner-up team were the Tagalongs (Benjamin McCright, Blaine Gibke, Cassin Dyson)

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