Thursday, 06 April, 2017

MBA students from the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) recently showcased their tactical skills in strategy and management during the UAE Global Management Challenge operated by Beaufort Associates, a management consulting and advisory services firm in Dubai. The Global Management Challenge (GMC) is the world’s largest strategy and management competition based on a simulation that mirrors a typical manufacturing company. The aim of the competition is to provide university students and corporate professionals the opportunity to gain experience in strategy and management learning. UOWD’s team, The Wizards of Wollongong, was amongst 222 teams who participated from across the UAE competing against other universities such as Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), IMT Dubai, University of Strathford, S.P Jain, Middlesex University and BITS Pilani. The participating teams were responsible for managing a manufacturing company as its senior management. With limited capacity as the management of the virtual company, the teams had to take decisions relating to the sales and marketing, production, human resources and finances of the company. The challenge consisted of three elimination rounds with the final round taking place at the Al Futtaim Automotive Academy. The winning team would be chosen based on the best Investment Performance for the shareholders of the virtual company at the end of the challenge. After a gruelling three months, UOWD’s team – The Wizards of Wollongong, made it through to the National Finals. The winners were announced during a gala dinner at the Intercontinental Hotel in Festival City with UOWD’s team earning a spot in the Top 8. The Wizards of Wollongong, comprising of Yukti Laheja (team leader), Yusuf Rupawala and Imad Badri, MBA students at UOWD said that the GMC was the most enriching competition that we ever participated in and that the fierce nail-biting competition amongst the teams was a thrilling experience. “We had absorbed the simulation completely and honed our strategy formulation skills. We are now better aware and prepared with all aspects that a business involves around. As a team, we never left any stone unturned to come up with the best output”, Yukti commented. The UAE Global Management Challenge was launched in 2013. More than 1500 participants have taken part in the competition during its first 3 editions and included students and managers. The winners of the UAE challenge will compete with the winners of more than 30 countries in the international final which will take place in Doha, Qatar in April 2017