Students in Niagara University’s Holzschuh College of Business Administration's cost management systems course will present their case analyses to a panel of academic and seasoned business professionals during a case competition on April 23 from 1-4 p.m. in the atrium of Bisgrove Hall on the NU campus. The competition, which is sponsored by Lumsden McCormick CPA, is the first of its kind in the upstate New York region.
“There is no better tool to prepare students for the world of work than the case study method,” said Patrick O'Meara, assistant professor of accounting, who teaches the course. “At the heart of most cases are the assessment of problems and the provision of solutions. This focus provides students with the opportunity to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills — most notably, preparation, judgment, and self-confidence.”
Based on financial and non-financial information about a fictional potato chip manufacturer called Snaks Ahoy!, five teams of students will provide their recommendations on a series of business decisions that "management" needs to make. Their presentations will include summaries of the challenges facing the company and their potential solutions, as well as an implementation strategy. The top two teams will win a cash award.
Judging the contest are William Smith, director of Our Brands at Tops Markets; NU alumnus Johnathon Miles, '11, MBA’12, principal, Brisbane Consulting Group; Robert Morreale, NU chief financial and innovation officer; Phil Cantanese, director of centers and college outreach; Dr. Ian Burt, associate professor of accounting; and O'Meara.