STRATAGEM

Stratagem – Case Competition

Stratagem – Case Competition was held at Pillai University’s Auditorium on 7th October, 2026. It gave the students a chance to use their learnings from the class, on real life business issues. The idea was simple: students should not just look for a handy and simple answer. They should study the problem from every possible angle and then suggest a clear plan of action, all within a short time span. Students came with different views, and the event rewarded good analysis, open discussion and clear speaking in equal measure.

The competition began with 240 students. From them, 45 were shortlisted on the basis of their performance in the first round, and they were allotted five groups of nine students each. On the day of the final round, each group received one case study, based on random selection. The groups first held a focused discussion on the problem of the case study. Then presented its main findings and suggestions in 15 minutes. The short time span meant that teams had to spot the key issue first, share their point of view, actively listen to one another, and agree or disagree on the discussion.

Case studies used in the competition
The five cases covered a wide range of business situations. Table 2 lists each case and the question the teams had to answer.

Together, these cases made the students think about investments, customer needs, operations, technology, branding, sustainability and how to measure performance. No single skill was enough to handle all five cases.

Evaluation
Dr. Celina Joy, and Prof. Shirish Bokde judged the discussions and presentations. They assessed how well each team understood its case, decided crucial issues, compared different options, backed its final recommendation with reasons and explained it clearly within the time limit.
Teamwork mattered a great deal too. A strong answer came only when every member spoke up, questioned assumptions and helped build a conclusion the whole group could stand behind.

Prizes and Felicitation
The event ended with a felicitation ceremony. Eleven students were declared winners. Guests from the university gave them cash prizes and certificates. All the other participants were also honored and awarded a book and a certificate. This way, every participant felt that their efforts were noticed.

Conclusion
Stratagem was more than a contest. It gives the students an opportunity to link what they study to the kind of decisions managers make every day, where nothing is certain, resources are limited and priorities compete. Participants practiced analyzing a problem, solving it, making decisions, working in a team and presenting their views.

The event also showed that a business problem may not have one perfect answer. What counts is how well the thinking is done, what evidence supports the recommendation, and how well the plan is explained. In this way, Stratagem helped bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace.

‘STRATAGEM-II’ 2026 – Star Wars Case Study Competition

Pillai Institute of Management Studies & Research (PIMSR) organised STRATAGEM-II, Star Wars Case Study Competition on 13th February, for their MBA and PGDM First Year students. The top 50 winning students from the first round contested in this Final round that saw enthusiastic participation by students. The Case Discussions themselves were intellectually-stimulating and tested participants’ Critical Thinking & Solutioning and Communication skills, besides simulating real business scenarios for them.

Winners were felicitated and are ready to take on contestants from other B-Schools in inter-collegiate competitions.

This competition is designed to prepare the students for dealing with real-world business problems.

‘STRATAGEM’ 2025 – First Edition of Pillai Institute of Management Studies and Research (PIMSR)’s Case Study Competition

PIMSR conducted the inaugural STRATAGEM 2025 – Case Study Competition for 1st-year Management students. The grand finale was held on Thursday, 11th December, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the PIMSR Auditorium.

Event Format
All first-year students participated, and the Class Winner team from each division qualified for the final round. Each finalist team was invited to the dais, presented with a case let, and engaged in a timed analysis and discussion. The event highlighted students’ analytical ability, teamwork, and communication skills.

The Case Study Competition witnessed enthusiastic participation from all 1st-year Management students, reflecting strong academic engagement across the cohort. The winning team from each class advanced to the final round, where they competed with other qualifying teams on a given case let for analysis and discussion within the allotted time.

Judging and Recognition
Two external experts evaluated the teams on clarity of analysis, conceptual understanding, and presentation. Team Awards were presented to the Winner, Runner-Up, Best in Class, and Top Individual Performers from Round 1.

Student Participation and Engagement
The event saw enthusiastic involvement from students and faculty, reinforcing PIMSR’s focus on experiential learning and practical skill development.