This competition is being held to encourage and reward the development and publication of new DEI-focused case studies for use in higher education that provide student learning opportunities for critical thinking about DEI in business.

The availability and use of more DEI-focused case studies can foster cultural sensitivity among students; equip students to manage real-life scenarios in which varying perspectives and lived experiences come into play; prepare students for increasingly diverse workplaces where DEI is a strategic advantage; and help students learn about critical and timely strategies to promote equity and inclusion throughout the entire business value chain.

University faculty, either individually or in teams; graduate or undergraduate students, either individually or in teams – as long as they enter in collaboration with a faculty member; other professionals and practitioners can also enter, again, as long as they enter in collaboration with a faculty member.

We require faculty collaboration to ensure the submitted documents have academic rigor and strong pedagogy.

The competition is open to faculty, students, or practitioners from anywhere in the world. Also, the setting of the submitted case can be anywhere in the world.

First place receives $10,000. Second place receives $5,000. Third place receives $2,500. In addition, the first, second, and third place winners will be published by WDI Publishing. There may also be Honorable Mentions awarded and they will also be published by WDI Publishing, but will receive no prize money.

The Intent-to-Enter form, due on Jan. 31, 2024, can be found on the competition website here. It is a brief form that asks you for information such as: Is your protagonist and featured organization real or fictional? What is the case dilemma/decision point? What are the preliminary teaching objectives? We ask for this information because it give us an opportunity to respond back to you if the decision point, teaching objectives, or other information needs any adjustments before the final submission date of April 12, 2024. Think of the Intent-to-Enter form as a check-in opportunity on the way to submitting your final case and teaching note!

There are no specific requirements for the number of total pages in your case and teaching note. However, the average number of pages in a typical Microsoft Word case submitted to WDI Publishing is between 12 and 22 pages, using 12 pt font, single-spaced, and inclusive of tables, figures, exhibits, and appendices. The average number of pages in a teaching note ranges from 8 to 15.

A teaching note is the foundation upon which a successful case study is built. The purpose of the teaching note is to provide instructors (who adopt the case) with a “how to” guide for facilitating the case discussion in class. A good teaching note will give instructors a road map for class discussion and serve as a starting point for instructors who would like to adapt the material to their classroom needs.

Additionally, a teaching note makes a case study much more likely to be adopted!

No. Your case can feature either a real or fictional company or organization. Additionally, the protagonist can be real or fictional. But remember: if the featured company is real, and the protagonist is real, you may need someone at the company to complete WDI Publishing’s Organization Release, especially if you incorporate any data or information that is NOT publicly available. For more details, contact: info@wdi-publishing.com.

The criteria upon which your submission will be judged can be found here. Additional submission requirements can be found here. First and second rounds of reviews will be double-blind, i.e., the reviewers will not know the identity of the submitting author(s), and vice versa. Finalist judging will be reverse single-blind, i.e., finalist judges will not know the identity of the submitting author(s), but authors will know the identity of the finalist judges, as they are featured here.

April 12, 2024.

Go to the Submission Form page and fill out all the requested information. At the end of this process, you will be prompted to upload your case and teaching note documents, as well as any other relevant files, such as the Organization Release form, or other supplemental documents that you want included with your case.

Please visit our Resources page which offers case writing and DEI background. Also, at the top of this page is a list of upcoming informational webinars that will provide additional guidance and instruction.