The NextBillion Case Writing Competition 2013

The NextBillion Case Writing Competition 2013

Take part in this global case writing competition to identify and publish best practices of entrepreneurship and to share this knowledge with the university community worldwide.

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Eligibility:

  • Entrants may include any individual student or student team. Students can be undergraduate or graduate level. Student entrants must work with and enter in collaboration with a school/university professor. The professor must agree to consider teaching the case in a course, if the case is selected as a winner.
  • Professors may also enter the competition either individually or as a team. The submitting professor, or one professor of a team, must agree to consider teaching the case in a course, if the case is selected as a winner.
  • Individuals (other than students or professors) may also enter the competition. However, they must still work with and enter in collaboration with a school/university professor. The professor must agree to consider teaching the case in a course, if the case is selected as a winner.

Judging Criteria:

1. Concept/Content

a. The case must meet the teaching objectives stated in the teaching note.

b. Minimum 10 pages; maximum 20 pages in length, including exhibits and appendices.

2. The topic must present a dilemma/decision point dealing with a social enterprise that seeks opportunities to improve lives of those at the Base-of-the-Pyramid – the world’s approximately four billion low-income producers and consumers. The social enterprise can be a for-profit or non-profit organization.

a. Sample case topics might be:

  • Private or public sector roles in poverty alleviation or social development
  • Microfinance
  • BoP consumer behavior
  • Market approaches aimed at creating positive social impact

b. Originality of concept presented

3. Teaching Note

  • Minimum 3 pages; maximum 10 pages
  • Must include a case analysis and pedagogy
  • Must include teaching objectives

4. Writing Quality, Data Clarity

  • Must follow MLA Style Guidelines
  • Any data presented must be clear and precise

Prizes:

  • 1st: $3,500
  • 2nd: $2,500
  • 3rd: $1,000
  • Two Honorable Mentions

*GlobaLens will publish the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place cases, as well as the two Honorable Mentions. Prize money will be paid in U.S. funds.

Schedule:

Application Details:

  • A comprehensive teaching note, between 3 and 10 pages, must accompany all case entries. Teaching notes must follow basic format and quality guidelines and include clearly written teaching objectives and a case analysis.
  • All entries must meet basic quality and structure guidelines
  • Case studies submitted must be between 10 and 20 pages in length, including exhibits and appendices.
  • Entries must include a 150 word abstract.
  • Case study entries must be previously unpublished, including any specific section of the case. If any part of a submitted case has been published, the entry will be immediately disqualified.
  • If a case study has been entered into or won other case competitions, this information must be disclosed on the entry form.
  • Entries must be submitted in English.
  • All case entries must describe a dilemma/challenge faced by a company or organization related to creating or sustaining scalable business ventures aimed at alleviating poverty, especially in the developing world.
  • Case topics should be about a social enterprise or a relevant Base-of-the-Pyramid (BoP) issue.
  • Winning case authors will be asked to sign a legal document assigning GlobaLens copyright ownership, as well as exclusive publishing rights. (For questions regarding publication of a winning case in a textbook, please contact info@GlobaLens.com.)
  • If there is non-public, proprietary information about an organization or company within the case, the organization/company must provide legal approval for the author to submit the case into the competition, as well as for potential distribution by case publisher, GlobaLens.
  • All submitted cases must follow current MLA Style Guidelines.
  • If the case protagonist is a real person, that person must sign a release form to allow their name to be used and potentially published by GlobaLens.
  • Plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.