What: Fifth annual Live Case Challenge
Who: The Faculty of Management at UBC’s Okanagan campus, Argus Properties and City of Kelowna
When: Thursday, April 7
- 4 to 6 p.m.: Presentations by the three finalist student groups in the University Theatre, Administration Building (ADM 026), UBC Okanagan campus, 1138 Alumni Ave.
- 6 p.m.: Awards ceremony and Argus Cup presentation in the Richard S. Hallisey Atrium (lower foyer), Engineering Management Education (EME) Building, UBC Okanagan campus, 1137 Alumni Ave.
Have you ever faced a challenge so complex that it felt like you needed almost 200 of you to manage it?
Third-year UBC Bachelor of Management students have teamed up to help the City of Kelowna solve a unique problem, as part of the fifth annual Live Case Challenge that launched Tuesday morning.
Every April, almost 200 students taking MGMT 390: Industry Analysis are given 48 hours to solve a real life problem on behalf of a client. Students are expected to draw on their knowledge of marketing, IT, leadership, communication, sustainability, regional development, and more in order to research and tackle a challenge presented by an organization in the community. Students compete for prizes as well as grades, as submissions and teamwork directly impact their class performance. Students did not know who the client organization was until the competition began, and must come up with solutions to present to expert judges in this intensive competition.
This year, the City of Kelowna (represented by the Planning, Transportation and Infrastructure departments) has a simple but huge challenge: how can the municipality immediately and significantly reduce the number of single-occupancy vehicle trips within the Kelowna area without excessive infrastructure investment?
According to a Transportation Association of Canada study, Kelowna is “demonstrably car-dependent,” with on-road transportation emissions the largest source of greenhouse gasses (GHG) accounting for over 65 per cent of all GHG emissions in 2007. The City of Kelowna’s Community Climate Action Plan outlines targets for (GHG) emissions, and identifies key actions like reducing vehicle kilometres travelled by 20 per cent.
Sponsored by Argus Properties Ltd., the Live Case Challenge showcases how collaborating with regional organizations, large and small, can develop flourishing and sustainable businesses, organizations, communities and regions. The winning team receives the coveted Argus Cup and a $5,000 prize.
–30–
