IBM Case Study
IBM Extreme Blue CUSEC Case Study Competition
January 13 – 15, 2011
This competition mimics the overall Extreme Blue summer internship experience. In teams of 3-4, develop an approach to the proposed Amusement Park Case. All teams must submit a page of point form notes on their approach. Up to seven teams will be selected to present in front of an open audience.
The Amusement Park
Apply IBM’s Smarter Planet concepts (Instrumented + Interconnected + Intelligent) to a real or hypothetical amusement park (the client) of your choice to deliver increased customer satisfaction, safety and profitability, as well as competitive differentiation via the innovations made possible by your architecture.
Brainstorming – starting January 13
Work in teams of 3-4. You should discuss the following aspects in developing your solution. Assigning one person to each of these areas is recommended.
- Client – select and describe the client (real or hypothetical) and their challenges and objectives.
- Instrumented – types of sensor devices to be used, types of data to be gathered.
- Interconnected – how data will be integrated, stored and accessed, visualized and reported on.
- Intelligent – what new capabilities and actions are now possible, and how are they driven.
Given the brevity of both the written submission and the presentation, participants should focus on exploring opportunities for creativity and innovation, rather than on developing an in-depth technical solution.
Written submission – deadline January 14, 15:00 h
Submit one page of point form notes which summarize the impact your approach will make in each of four areas: competitive differentiation, customer satisfaction, safety, and profitability. Be sure to include your team name and a list of team members. Based on submissions received, up to seven teams will be selected as finalists to present their solutions the following afternoon. Please e-mail your submissions to ibm.cusec.case.study@gmail.com by 3:00pm. A list of finalist teams will be posted by 5:00pm on January 14.
Pitch competition – January 15, 13:30-14:30 h
Everyone is invited! Finalist teams will present their approaches before an open audience and a panel of judges. The presentation format is a four minute pitch without slides that covers the opportunity, solution, value to the client and value to IBM. Each part should last for about a minute, and it is recommended that each of the four parts be covered by a different team member.
Real Extreme Blue pitches are only 4 minutes long. Your team will receive a warning at four minutes and be cut off at five minutes. Plan for this! Be as concise as possible, and make every word count. Judges will deliberate after the session, and up to three winning teams will be announced at the Extreme Blue info session later in the afternoon.
Extreme Blue information session – January 15, 16:00 h
Everyone is invited for a brief presentation on the IBM Extreme Blue Program, as well as the announcement and distribution of awards to the Case Study Competition winners. Please take this opportunity to learn more about Extreme Blue. You’ll be glad you did!
The IBM Extreme Blue Summer Internship
Extreme Blue is one of the most comprehensive and challenging leadership development internship programs in the world. The Case Study Competition offers you a small taste of what it’s like. Are you up for the real thing?
- TAKE ownership of a real emerging business opportunity for IBM.
- PROVE it will work! Build the technology and the business case.
- COLLABORATE across IBM divisions, locations and product teams.
Your team
- Some of Canada’s best students — three technical, one business — with skills perfectly matched to your project.
- Mentored by top IBM technical and business leaders.
- Engaging IBM experts worldwide.
Your chance to shine
- In the spotlight! Face-to-face with an IBM executive almost every week.
- Take it on the road! Pitch it to IBM senior executives at Extreme Blue Expo in Armonk, NY.
- Your mentors will empower you to promote your project, your team, and… yourself.
Are you ready to start something big?
This summer’s Extreme Blue is open to business and technical students as well as new grads. We’ll have teams in Toronto and Ottawa, May 9 – August 19, 2011.
Visit ibm.com/extremeblue to apply.
