MBA News & Announcements
Case Studies Earn Recognition
DANBURY - Six Western Connecticut State University students, who wrote two case studies for a Chinese bus manufacturer exploring strategies for breaking into the U.S. market, have earned Honorable Mention recognition in a nationwide competition sponsored by Business Week magazine and the Society for Case Research (SCR).
Students from WCSU's Ancell School of Business (ASB) Master of Business Administration (MBA) program teamed up with students from SIAS International University in Zhengzhou, China, to conduct case research for the Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Company.
The Honorable Mention awards recognize two WCSU/SIAS teams - each composed of three ASB and two SIAS students - who wrote case studies on different issues of interest to Yutong in entering the U.S. market.
WCSU participants completed the case studies as part of an M.B.A. marketing course taught by Associate Professor of Marketing Dr. Karen L Koza during the fall semester in 2006.
The awards for the WCSU/SIAS teams represented two of just eight citations - including first, second and third place designations and five Honorable Mentions - that were granted in the 2006-07 student case-writing competition.
The annual contest, open to students in business and M.B.A. programs across the United States, requires each team to research and write a case incident study based on a real-world business decision by an actual company, and to provide a teaching note offering a plan for use of the study in classroom instruction.
The WCSU M.B.A. students who participated in the award-winning case studies are: "A Brand Awareness Dilemma: Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Company," Jonathan Cohen of Monroe, Margaret Devane of Mahopac, N.Y., and Laura Rose of Naugatuck; and "Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Company: A Route to the U.S. Market," Melissa Rath of Danbury, Bill Tran of Bethel, and Doriana Zoto of Newtown.
Dr. Koza noted the case studies were written as part of a larger student-industry collaboration between WCSU and SIAS students and the Yutong Bus Company during the 2006-07 academic year.
Students in the fall 2006 MBA class researched a wide range of issues for Yutong, covering areas such as country-of-origin issues, strategic branding, market segment opportunities, prospective U.S. partnerships and growth strategies.
Dr. Koza observed the participating students benefited from working with the management of a company facing real market challenges, and from the international nature of the project.
The WCSU/SIAS student teams represented the first international collaboration to submit cases to the Business Week/SCR competition, she said.
"We required that they use a live company and work with our sister university in China when they were developing and writing the case studies for two reasons," Dr. Koza said.
"First, actively working with a live company provides a richer learning environment for the students. Second, growing the relationship between WCSU and SIAS is important for enriching the global dimension of the students' learning experience.
"Our objective was not to win any awards, but rather to continue to build a strong and viable relationship with SIAS, and have fun in the process," Dr. Koza observed. "And in the end, our students walked away with these two awards, and we are so excited."
The university will receive engraved plaques recognizing the students, Dr. Koza and WCSU for their achievement.
Texts of the award-winning studies also will be made available for public access in a publication or on a website affiliated with the contest sponsors.
Those seeking additional information may call the Office of University Relations at 203-837-8486.
