SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC
Sask Polytech School of Business case club applies skills to a real-world challenge facing Indigenous tourism

Saskatchewan Polytechnic School of Business students demonstrated their business skills and problem-solving abilities at the Winter City Case Competition held at NAIT in Edmonton over the February break. Organized by NAIT, the event saw participation from seven post-secondary institutions with a total of nine teams competing.

Image Credit: Genevieve Ogbonna

Joshua Glew, Innovation and Learning instructor, created Sask Polytech's case club for School of Business students at the Prince Albert campus last fall. "There are many benefits to participating in a case club," he says. "I wanted to provide our School of Business students with the opportunity to work on their critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and presentation skills. Case competitions are also great networking events for students offering opportunities to interact with industry professionals, judges and sponsors. These competitions can also boost a student's confidence and resume, helping them stand out in a competitive job market."

The Winter City Case Competition provided students in the Business diploma and Business Management post-graduate certificate with the chance to collaborate with Indigenous Tourism Alberta on a real-world challenge: how to attract more Indigenous people to a career in tourism. Working as a team, the students developed solutions and recommendations for Indigenous Tourism Alberta. Despite not clinching the top spots, "Sask Polytech students had a flawless presentation," says Glew.

The Winter City Case Competition wasn't just about winning, it was a chance for students to put into practice what they learned in class and in the case club over the last six months. It provided a platform to refine presentation abilities and gain hands-on experience in tackling complex business issues. Students were fully immersed in the case, spending a day at Métis Crossing, Alberta's first major Métis cultural interpretive destination. There they learned about the importance of Indigenous tourism through a variety of activities and teachings from industry professionals. This was a great opportunity to network with their fellow competitors and gain insight into the client's perspective.

"My favourite part of the case competition was the exchange of knowledge," says Genevieve Ogbonna, a Business Management post-graduate certificate student from Nigeria. "It's great to meet other industry professionals, share ideas and further connect with them on platforms such as LinkedIn." Ogbonna worked in human resources before moving to Prince Albert to study at Sask Polytech. She enjoys how the case club encourages everyone to bring diverse perspectives and approaches to the same problem.

Mustafa Tajani is also a Business Management post-graduate certificate student from India. He shares that there are many benefits to participating in the case club and it encourages students to apply classroom learning in a practical situation. "It's a great opportunity to apply a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis, PESTEL strategy and Porter's five forces to an actual business," he says. "I recommend all business students join the case club. You will gain more practical knowledge and experience, which will be helpful when you graduate."

"I'm excited for the School of Business case club," says Kristen Craig, dean for the School of Business. "Thank you to Joshua for taking the initiative to start this club. Through initiatives like the case club, led by dedicated instructors like Joshua, our students have the opportunity to refine skills learned in the classroom. These case competitions are more than a contest; it's platform for students to collaborate, innovate and network. Congratulations to all participants for their dedication and commitment to excellence."

The presence of the CEO of Indigenous Tourism Alberta as a judge underscored the real-world applicability of the students' recommendations. Students' insights may be considered and integrated into the organization's strategy in the future, emphasizing the tangible impact of the case competition and students' work.

"We are extremely proud of our students for their outstanding performance," says Glew. " The success at the Winter City Case Competition has inspired plans to expand participation across campuses and increase team representation in the competition circuit next year."

This was the second annual Winter City Case Competition hosted by NAIT and the first time Sask Polytech attended with a team. The students and faculty thoroughly enjoyed the experience and look forward to taking what they learned this year to represent Sask Polytech at future competitions.

Sask Polytech's case club meets once a week at Prince Albert campus. The students often work together to analyze and break down case studies from Harvard Business Review (HBR). They also polish their presentation and public speaking skills. "In the case club students take on roles in case studies that surpass their previous experience, often roleplaying as leaders of teams or entire organizations. These challenging assignments help students build self-confidence," says Glew. "As students gear up for their future endeavors, I know they carry with them the invaluable lessons and experiences gained in the case club, ready to make a meaningful impact in the world of business."

For more information about the Sask Polytech School of Business and their programs, visit saskpolytech.ca/business.

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