The teams of five students had four hours to get under the skin of two major global businesses and evaluate, analyse and formulate future strategic options and then present their recommendations to a judging panel. Last year’s winners and hosts UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, Dublin Institute of Technology, University College Cork and Waterford IT were the other schools represented.
 
The different business models of Ebay and Amazon was the subject of this year’s case study. The winning team of Mike Parkinson, Myles McHugh, Suzanne Ryan, Ashwin Kher and Roger Sweetman were praised by Robert Cooper, President, MBA Association of Ireland, for their “innovative ideas for future strategy”.

Mike Parkinson, Myles McHugh, Suzanne Ryan, Ashwin Kher and Roger Sweetman

 
“Incisive analysis, strategic thinking and an ability to operate collectively are key challenges of this competition, and these abilities are amongst the specific skills required of senior business leaders in today's challenged environment,” commented Cooper.  "Congratulations must go to the team from NUIG, which demonstrated these abilities. Indeed, the standard across all schools was extremely impressive and augers well for their future careers as business leaders.  It never ceases to amaze how MBAs can get under the skin of major business challenges and present credible solutions within a very short time period! "
 
NUI Galway was presented with the Waterford Crystal Perpetual Trophy by Professor Patrick Mc Namee (Chair of the Strategy Forum) and won the right to host the event in Galway in 2013.
 
Organised by the MBA Association of Ireland and now in its 7th year, the Inter-School MBA Strategy Forum is open to both part-time executive MBA and full-time MBAs of the Association's member colleges.

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For further information contact
Conor Horgan 086 8217211 chorgan@cullencommunications.ie