Rubric
From the Round 1 submissions, finalist teams will be selected to present their case analysis and recommendations to a panel of judges at the 2025 EMI Conference on November 6, 2025.
The finalists will be chosen by a panel of Round 1 judges who will score the preliminary submissions based on the following criteria:
Content (80%):
| Criteria | Weight |
| Quality of Analysis | 40% |
| Quality of Recommendation | 20% |
| Implementation/Plan of Action | 20% |
| Creativity of Ideas | 20% |
Form (20%):
| Criteria | Weight |
| Handling of Questions | 40% |
| Presentation Style | 60% |
Content (80%):
Teams will be assessed on the scope, thoroughness, and depth of their analysis. Teams should showcase that they have conducted deep research, addressed all key components of the problem, conducted qualitative and quantitative analysis, and addressed major threats/opportunities.
- Quality of Recommendation
Teams will be assessed on the realism and practicality of their recommendations, which should be strategic. Teams will also be assessed on the justification of their recommendations. Teams should ensure recommendations logically tie-in to the analysis and therefore be backed by data. Teams should consider the anticipated impact of their recommendations on the organization and its stakeholders.
- Implementation/Plan of Action
Teams will be assessed on the thoroughness and achievability of their implementation plan. Teams should propose an implementation timeline, address short term and long run considerations, conduct an analysis of unforeseen problems/risk and identify realistic ways to mitigate risks.
Leaders of the 21st century should think outside the box. This is greatly encouraged in the case competition. Teams will be assessed on their ability to employ out-of-the-box thinking to maximize the value of their recommendation to stakeholders. Teams should move beyond simply processing information and push themselves to come up with unique and innovative recommendations.
Form (20%):
Teams should demonstrate forethought and preparation for questions. Teams should be able to defend their position, be persuasive and precise, and be balanced across the team.
Teams should display great communication skills and professionalism. Teams should thoughtfully manage their presentation time. Presentation slides should progress in a logical sequence and be visually aesthetic. When relevant, teams should try to effectively use infographics to communicate findings.
