It is a big week for Wilfrid Laurier University’s Lazaridis School of Business and Economics as they are in the midst of hosting their inaugural international case competition Oct. 7-13. Nine teams from five countries are competing to solve real-world business problems known as “live cases” in which teams are presented with a problem and asked to research, analyze and present creative and strategic recommendations for the business under immense time constraint.

With title sponsor TD Bank, the competition pits top academic teams from China, Mexico, the US, Hungary and Canada against one another in an intense exercise in applying business theories and concepts to current organizational issues. One of the cases is an intensive five-hour sprint, and the second is a 24-hour problem-solving marathon.

“The Lazaridis School is a recognized powerhouse in case competitions, both throughout Canada and around the world,” says Micheál Kelly, dean of the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics. “I believe we are leaders in these events because our programs prepare students to think for themselves, providing them with a skillset to adapt to a world of ever-growing complexity and solving problems nobody has ever confronted before. The Lazaridis International Case Competition allows us to shine a spotlight on our school and the region as it provides a unique opportunity for participants to learn about the role technology plays in the changing business world.”

The first of its kind in the area, the Lazaridis School of Business International Case Competition introduces and showcases Waterloo Region’s attractions to visitors from around the world. From its unique technology eco-system to the exuberant community life celebrated by Oktoberfest, the region’s bountiful resources add excitement to an already thrilling event.

In addition to Wilfrid Laurier University, schools participating in the competition in include:

• Purdue University (Krannert) West Lafayette, Indiana, USA 
• University of Vermont, Grossman School of Business Vermont, USA
• Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, China
• Budapest Business School Budapest, Hungary
• McGill University Montreal, Canada
• Concordia University, John Molson School of Business Montreal, Canada
• Tecnológico de Monterrey Mexico City, Mexico
• Simon Fraser University, Beedie School of Business BC, Canada 
• University of Ottawa, Telfer School of Management Ottawa, Ontario

The Lazaridis International Case Competition recognizes and thanks its additional corporate sponsors:

• Shopify, HP, Cisco, Desire to Learn (gold sponsors)
• Sun Life Financial; Fluent; Global; ON Semiconductor; Deloitte; PPI (silver sponsors)

For more information, please visit the conference website at lazicc.com.