Thank you!

The first Public Policy Case Competition at Georgia Tech was a success!  Check out this video for a brief overview of the event, and feel free to explore the site to learn about the teams, winners, judges, and case.

SPP Case Study from Brian Starnes on Vimeo.

Background

The Case Competition, hosted by Public Policy Graduate Student Association (PPGSA) at Georgia Tech is an inter-school, inter-institution event bringing students together to build relationships and apply their skills in a real-world policy case.

During the competition, teams will have 24 hours to develop and present their policy proposal for the given case. The competition simulates the real policy analysis process of a multidisciplinary issue in the context of a deadline-driven format with conflicting potential outcomes. The study will require both quantitative and qualitative (e.g. narratives, politics) reasoning as well as memo writing and presentation skills.

The Case Competition will be a rich experience in interdisciplinary problem solving. It will offer networking and social opportunities and act as a showcase platform for recruiting purposes. This event will increase visibility of the respective schools and the University System of Georgia.

For sponsors, the case competition provides an intriguing context to further their missions and/or brands and offer strategic input in the growing role of public-private partnerships and the sophisticated network of actors needed to deliver and govern publicly provided services and goods.

The Case

Details on the case will be released on August 25, giving all teams 24-hours to research and develop their policy solution.

Teams will be provided with a set of data, summary materials, and specific questions to address in their proposed policy solution.

Final Deliverables

• A policy memo of maximum 2 pages (<800 words) (+ max 2 pages of tables if necessary)
• A PowerPoint slide deck not to exceed 15 slides
• A presentation not to exceed 10 minutes followed by Q&A
• All memo and presentation materials become public domain upon submission

Eligibility

Teams of students at Georgia universities are invited to join this case competition. Multidisciplinary teams (i.e. teams comprised of students from various backgrounds such as public administration and policy, management, economics, etc.) will be encouraged.

Incentives and Sponsorships

• PPGSA has raised over $1000 for prizes.
• The maximum prize awarded to any individual will not exceed $75.
• Prizes will be distributed in the form of American Express gift cards.

The competition is sponsored and hosted by:

Georgia Tech’s Ivan Allen College School of Public Policy

Additional support and sponsorships are generously provided by:

• Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)
• Georgia Tech Career Services
• Kennesaw State University, The Graduate College
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• Roosevelt Institute Campus Network

Program

• Teams will register on-line by the first week of classes in the fall 2011 semester (August 21 - 25, 2011). A maximum of 10-12 teams will be allowed to participate on a first-come, first-serve basis, with the exception and expectation that each participating institution will be represented by at least one team
• Teams will consist of between three and five students.
• Registration information, case information, schedule updates and other relevant information will be posted on-line at the Georgia Tech SPP website spp.gatech.edu/case-competition and is on Facebook
• The case will be delivered via email to each team at noon on Thursday, August 25, 2011.
• Presentations will be on the afternoon of Friday, August 26, 2011, at 2:00 PM at the Student Center on Georgia Tech’s campus.
• Following the presentations, all competitors are invited to share good cheer, camaraderie, and snacks at the Student Center.
• The program will be open to the public.

Tentative Agenda

• 1:30-2:00 Judges arrive; welcome, introductions, instructions, settling in for judging
  Teams sign in at registration desk; assigned to a time and judges panel
• 2:00-2:15 Welcome remarks by Dr. Diana Hicks, Chair of Georgia Tech School of Public Policy
  Housekeeping notices by PPGSA competition organizers
• 2:15-3:30 First round of competition presentations and judging. Teams have access to a prep room or other gathering places on campus but cannot attend the judging until after they present
• 3:30-3:45 Notification of teams to participate in the final round
• 3:45-4:15 Coffee break, networking, preparation time for teams in the final round
• 4:15-4:50 Final round with 6 judges; finalists may not enter the room until their presentation; all other participants are invited to attend
• 4:50-5:00 Announcement of winners, award of prizes, invitation to reception
• 5:00-6:00 Networking and reception

Judges and Judging

The case competition will be judged by panels of several experts including faculty and industry representatives.
Judging will use a rubric prepared by competition organizers for the specific case chosen.

The Teams

Teams are expected from (alphabetically):

• Emory University
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• Georgia State University
• Kennesaw State University
• University of Georgia
• West Georgia University

Registration has been closed.

Competition will open for registeration on Sunday 8/21 and ends Thursday morning 8/25.

Note: Roosevelt Institute teams can be comprised of undergraduate students and need not be from the same institution.

The Results

The first Public Policy Case Competition at Georgia Tech was a success! Thank you for your attendance and participation.

The case asked students to assess the redevelopment of the Fort McPherson military base in Southwest Atlanta.  The fort will be decommissioned within the next several weeks, and the recent economic downturn and housing crises both at the regional and national levels have called into question some of the existing plans for reuse.  The teams prepared a diverse set of policy proposals, ranging from incremental improvements to existing plans to a re-envisioned development that would become a science and technology learning and research center, logistics hub, etc.  Please see this page for a list of teams and their respective presentations and policy memos. 

PPGSA identified a diverse panel of judges to assess each team's performance:

• Trey Childress, Partner, Purdue Partners
• Dr. Jennifer Clark, Associate Professor, School of Public Policy, Georgia Tech
• Darlene Hawksley, Director of Real Estate and Business Engagement, McPherson Implementing Local Redevelopment Authority
• Marlit Hayslett, Director of The Office of Policy Analysis and Research Georgia Tech Research Institute
• Racquel T. Jackson, Senior Urban Planner, City of Atlanta Planning Office
• Dr. Xavier Le Faucheur, Associate, McKinsey & Company
• Deborah Scott, Executive Director, Georgia Stand-UP

Randy Gibbs, Cecelia Shutters, and Carole Bryden from Georgia Tech took top honors, and a team representing Georgia State received second place.   Both universities had two additional teams named as runner-ups.  The next Policy Case Competition is tentatively scheduled for January 2012 at University of Georgia.

For pictures, please visit http://pubpolicycasecomp.shutterfly.com

A special thanks to the student organizers!

• Sanjay Arora, planning: PhD Student in Public Policy, Georgia Tech
• Peggy Berg, planning: Masters Student in Public Policy, Georgia Tech
• Kaspars Berzins, planning: PhD Student in Public Policy, Georgia Tech
• Michael Cassady, case author: Masters Student in Computer Science, Cornell
• Chris Esposo, case author: Masters Student in Economics and Mathematics, Georgia Tech
• Tamara Hutto, advertising: Masters Student in Public Policy, Georgia Tech
• Valeriu Tocitu, case author: Masters Student in Aerospace Engineering and Robotics, Georgia Tech
• Jennifer Yun, advertising: Masters Student in Public Policy and City Planning, Georgia Tech