The Case 101 program is designed as a four-part preparatory series aimed at equipping undergraduate students with the analytical, financial, and presentation skills necessary to succeed in case competitions such as JDCC. Through a progression of workshops, students are introduced to the foundational principles of structured problem-solving, research synthesis, financial feasibility analysis, and persuasive communication. Each session integrates interactive exercises with applied theory, ensuring that participants not only learn technical frameworks but also gain practical experience in their application. Guest speakers from professional industries such as consulting, finance, and marketing provide additional insights, contextualizing academic tools within real-world business decision-making. The program culminates in a mock case activity, allowing students to demonstrate their learning in a low-stakes environment while receiving feedback from academic mentors and industry professionals.
Session 1 is dedicated to establishing the fundamentals of case analysis. This includes an introduction to the structure of case competitions, clarification of judging expectations, and an overview of essential analytical frameworks such as SWOT and issue trees. Students engage in guided exercises to distinguish core problems from surface-level symptoms and practice framing solutions with logical clarity. This foundation sets the stage for deeper exploration in the subsequent sessions.
