Walk the Talk Case Writing Competition
How to Write a Case
Objective: To help students develop case writing skills, to encourage application of ethical principles taught by the Center for the Integration of Faith and Work, and to create new cases for the SBA's annual series of Walk The Talk Lunches. Cases are one-page vignettes that discuss an ethical decision that needs to be made. Ethical decisions are more than just about following the rules; often they require balancing conflicting demands on the decision maker. How the decision is made often reveals much about the ethical values of the decision maker.
What to enter: A one-page, single spaced, fictionalized, original case about an ethical decision that needs to be made. On a second page, write three to four discussion questions, plus two to four sentences on at least two aspects of the ethical decision to be made. List any sources you use.
Entry deadline: Cases are due no later than 5 p.m. Friday, March 27, 2015. Winners will be announced at the Walk The Talk luncheon on April 8, 2015.
How to enter: See the competition website >>>.
Who is eligible: All undergraduate students in the University of Dayton School of Business Administration are eligible.
Prizes: $500 for first place; $250 each for second and third place. All entries judged acceptable will be published in the Walk the Talk case writing competition archive in the University’s institutional repository (eCommons).
Benefits of entering: This is a great item to include on your resume; it demonstrates critical thinking, writing skills and an ethical compass.
What does "fictionalized” mean? It means don't use the names of real people, real companies or real products. Many cases develop from personal experiences UD people have had. Please do not rewrite existing ethics cases.
Citations: Provide citations for and links to articles that inspired your idea, as well as to any material you quote. All entries are run through turnitin.com, and violators are disqualified.
What makes for a good entry? A good ethical case has a moral dilemma. It rarely involves breaking the law; rather, the decision maker balances the competing needs of different stakeholders in a way where compromise is difficult to achieve. The decision to be made may often be viewed as taking advantage of one person for the benefit of another, or it may involve not disclosing relevant and material information. A product, for example, may create risks if people use it inappropriately. A good case provides enough background information that a reader need not be familiar with the industry in order to understand the ethical dilemma. A great case creates a lively discussion at the table, where people legitimately disagree on what is the best course of action.
Copyright: You will own the copyright to your own material; by entering the competition, you grant to the University of Dayton the non-exclusive license to publish your work commercially, giving proper attribution to you as author. As author, you retain the right to publish your entry commercially on your own. If you transfer the copyright to another entity, the University of Dayton retains its license to use this work as stated in this agreement. You also permit the University of Dayton to use your likeness/image/work in promotional pieces.
Samples of cases: See Walk the Talk: A Sample of Cases.
