Case Competition Puts Business Language Skills to the Test

The winning team in the Spanish competition,
from Utah State University, consisted of
Richard Williams, Brad Carr and Javan Bowles.PROVO, Utah – Dec 4, 2009 – Non-native Spanish and Portuguese speakers from 11 schools around the nation gathered at Brigham Young University to participate in the nation's only business language case competition, now in its third year. The competition highlights language and cultural skills in an effort to prepare students for international business experience.

"By learning how to do business in their target language, students will open doors for networking and build relationships that are unique to bilingual businesspeople," says Sherstin Creamer, competition director.

In the Spanish portion of the Nov. 13 competition, Utah State University won first place, followed by Indiana University and the University of Washington. In the Portuguese portion, teams from Brigham Young University took first and second place, with Brigham Young University-Idaho placing third.

For this year's case, teams presented an international business strategy for Walmart. The teams, which consisted of three students each, were required to present entirely in Spanish or Portuguese and were judged on language ability,
The Portuguese competition’s winning team,
from BYU, consisted of Justin Bray,
Cameron Barr and David Braudt.depth of analysis and effective delivery.

Competition winners received a trophy and cash prize from BYU's Kay and Yvonne Whitmore Global Management Center, but participants especially appreciated the opportunity to apply their language skills to a business setting.

"With many companies becoming more and more global, I'm sure my language skills will give me a competitive advantage for job opportunities," says Nicolas Perfetti, a junior majoring in public policy analysis and economics who was part of Indiana University's winning team.

Perfetti's teammate Alan Hearth, a senior majoring in finance and international business, agrees.

"I think language skills are great for expanding human communication," says Hearth. "Nothing builds trust and brings down barriers like showing that you've taken the time to learn another person's language."

To expand opportunities for participating students, Creamer says, Arabic and Chinese portions of the competition will likely be added in future years. The next BYU Business Language Case Competition will be in November 2010.

Since 2002, the Whitmore Global Management Center has made strides in global business research, education and outreach. The center, which is affiliated with BYU's Marriott School of Management, provides resources, training and professional development for students, faculty and the business community.

The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally recognized programs in accounting, business management, public management, information systems, entrepreneurship, and recreation management and youth leadership. The school's mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,300 students are enrolled in the Marriott School's graduate and undergraduate programs.