High-pressure Target competition builds UB undergrads’ business skills

By Matthew Biddle

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Last week, during a Target-sponsored competition at the University at Buffalo School of Management, undergraduates faced a challenge Target leaders are working on today — and presented their solutions to those same executives.

Forty-four students participated in this year’s On Target Undergraduate Club Case Competition. Divided into teams of four, the students analyzed and developed a plan to improve Target’s existing flexible fulfillment strategy, which allows customers to choose the most convenient way to order, receive and return their purchases.

On March 3, the five finalist teams presented to a judging panel of Target executives, delivering recommendations to help Target differentiate itself from its competitors and leverage its supply chains, technology and product assortment to enhance its fulfillment strategy.

“The School of Management’s Target case competition gives students a great sense of what leadership and problem-solving look like in the business world,” says Matthew Pritchard, BS ’08, Target store team leader and competition judge. “At Target, you must be able to work in teams, collaborate and bring a high level of energy to work every day. This challenge helps students develop those skills and allows them to be creative and present their ideas in a persuasive way.”

In the end, a team from the UB Undergraduate Consulting Club emerged victorious and will share a $1,500 prize ($250 for each team member and $500 for the club). The winning team was made up of School of Management undergraduates Evan Sidarta of Surakarta, Indonesia, and Kenneth Setiadi of Jakarta, Indonesia, along with political science student Alva Putra of Jakarta and civil engineering student George Gao of New York.

Coming in second was another team from the UB Undergraduate Consulting Club: School of Management students Anita Lau of Bayside, Vinicius Moura of Hyannis, Mass., and Matthew Duve of Clarence, along with mechanical engineering major Akshay Sivadas of Bayside. They will share a $500 prize ($100 for each team member and $100 for the club).

“The competition is a great way to build our public speaking, teamwork, leadership and presentation skills,” Lau says. “In my future career, these skills will help me handle pressure and be able to execute my thoughts and ideas with passion.”

Judges for the competition were Target store team leaders Nancy Farrell, Nikki Henry, Megan Noel, BS ’03, PMBA ’08, Matthew Pritchard and Michael Pollutro, BS ’00, as well as Greg Pare, senior recruiter.

“The Target case competition is my favorite event of the year, and I am always amazed by the level of talent the students in the School of Management showcase,” Pritchard says. “Target leaders battle it out for judging spots because it’s something we all truly look forward to every year.”

Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at 1,802 stores and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5% of its profit to communities, which today equals millions of dollars a week. For more information, visit target.com.