April 2, 2002
Making a Case for the Red Cross
University of Pittsburgh Team Wins Competition
More than 100 MBA students faced-off on issues confronting the American
Red Cross at the Ninth Annual GW/KPMG MBA Case Competition at the Washington
Marriott Hotel March 23.
MBA students from the University of Pittsburgh’s Joseph M. Katz
Graduate School of Business won first place and a $1,500 prize. The
second and third place awards of $1,000 and $500 went to the University
of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Business Administration and
The George Washington University’s School of Business and Public
Management, respectively. A team from the University of North Carolina’s
Kenan-Flagler Business School won the consolation round.
Teams of MBA students from the competing 23 domestic and international
universities had one month to review the case, “The American Red
Cross: Chapter Services,” analyze the issues, and develop innovative
strategies for the non-profit organization.
The teams sought to answer questions such as:
How can the Red Cross better promote the wide array of services it offers,
from disaster assistance to health and safety training? How can the
national headquarters and local chapters strengthen their ties? How
can the Red Cross update and improve existing programs?
Each team of four students had 30 minutes to pitch its ideas, and then
respond to questions from judges for 20 minutes. Representatives from
the Red Cross, KPMG, and local businesses served on the judges’
panel.
The GW/KPMG Case Competition is the only such event that addresses issues
and challenges facing non-profit organizations. In recent years, the
competition has considered issues facing The John F. Kennedy Center
for the Performing Arts, National Symphony Orchestra, World Bank, International
Olympic Committee, and Habitat for Humanity.
Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu
