2023 DEI Global Case Writing Competition Winners Selected
Thursday, September 14, 2023
From inclusive hiring practices to gender pay equity, the winners of the 2023 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Global Case Writing Competition tackled today’s most pressing DEI quandaries.
The 2023 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Global Case Writing Competition, managed by the William Davidson Institute (WDI) at the University of Michigan generated 26 cases from seven countries. Now in its third year, the contest is supported by the Ross School of Business. The partnership will be renewed with a fourth competition in 2024.
The winners, announced below, represent the best of a strong field of submissions. Authors covered topics ranging from gender pay equity to conflicting DEI-related business practices within an organization. Other topics included equitable restroom access and encouraging employee support of a staff member’s gender-confirming surgery. The vast majority of submissions touched on an immediate and critical business quandary.
By publishing and disseminating the winning cases, WDI Publishing continues to build its collection of valuable teaching tools focused on DEI that provide crucial business lessons to the global economy, including to low- and middle-income countries.
“The cases we received this year were outstanding, and I was especially impressed by the ability of each submission team to tap into what’s truly going on in the business world when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Lori Costew, retired Chief DEI Officer at Ford Motor Company, and finalist judge.
Case studies provide real-world lessons at the core of many business schools, and serve as an opportunity for students to apply the business concepts to their current or future careers. Case studies cover the breadth of topics that business leaders will encounter, including issues of diversity, equity and inclusion.
“In addition to students, these case studies are tools that businesspeople everywhere can use to improve their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and overall business success,” said Sandra Draheim, Manager of WDI Publishing.
After sorting through a trove of compelling, thoughtful submissions, contest judges have selected the competition’s 2023 winners.
The cases we received this year were outstanding, and I was especially impressed by the ability of each submission team to tap into what’s truly going on in the business world when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion.”
First Place
Second Place
The first-place case, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives at Levi Strauss & Co.: Are They Enough?, asked readers to push the bounds of what can be done in an organization around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Writer Hadiya Faheem and Associate Dean Sanjib Dutta at the ICFAI Business School in India, wrote about Levi Strauss & Co.’s efforts to increase the number of women and people of color in senior positions. While the company already maintained a diverse workforce, it hired a Chief Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Officer to build a more diverse talent pipeline for these higher-level roles. The case calls on readers to consider how an organization can expand on the current expectations of DEI initiatives — pushing beyond the checkboxes that can sometimes come along with these commitments.
The second-place case, Rhino Foods’ People-Profit Dilemma: Inclusive Workforce Challenges and Opportunities, brought to the surface a conversation about inclusive hiring. Authors Pramodita Sharma, Srinivas Venugopal, and Nicole Mallett from the University of Vermont’s Grossman School of Business shared the story of Rhino Foods, the food ingredients supplier that manufactures the “cookie dough” in Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Since its establishment in 1981, the company has followed an inclusive hiring policy, and 40% of its current employees arrived through refugee resettlement programs before becoming U.S. citizens. They also recruit people coming out of incarceration, homelessness and rehabilitation for substance abuse. The policy to not run background checks on potential employees removes barriers to entry for employment — and expands its inclusivity. However, cultural adjustments required updated training materials, flexible scheduling and support for current team members. The case asks readers to consider what actions Rhino Foods could take to support its diversity and inclusion goals while alleviating stressors for current employees.
The third-place case tackled the question of gender pay equity — an issue that has been at the top of mind in the business world for decades but has not yet been resolved. Authors Christopher I. Rider, Elizabeth Choi, and Yena Kim from the University of Michigan present a fictional business scenario where the average pay for men and women employees is not significantly different. Still, staff observations did not align with that analysis. The case, The Quest for Gender Pay Equity at Elemental Systems, pushes readers to consider how to reconcile perceptions and data. This case will be published in October.
The finalist cases were reviewed by a team of distinguished judges well connected in the DEI and case publishing worlds: Lori Costew, retired Chief DEI Officer at Ford Motor Company; Shaista Khilji, Professor of Human and Organizational Learning and International Affairs at George Washington University; Manel Khadraoui, Associate Professor of Marketing at University of Tunis Business School; Kim Eric Bettcher, Director, Policy and Program Learning at the Center for International Private Enterprise; John Lafkas, Senior Editor, Cases & Pedagogy at Harvard Business Publishing; and Greg Merkley, Director of Case Publishing at Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.
“The submissions were themselves diverse — in terms of topics and issues,” said Draheim. “In addition to university faculty, there were many graduate and undergraduate students, research assistants, and businesspeople who submitted, which was impressive. Often having input from business leaders makes a case stronger and more realistic.”
Judges also awarded two honorable mentions. Breaking Bread: DEIB Challenges Impact a Peruvian Corporation’s Potential asks readers to identify and attempt to resolve issues arising from a competitor merger that created serious diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging concerns. Diversity on Screen: Allure Studio’s Challenging Casting Decision explores how the entertainment industry, specifically in casting, must grapple with issues of diversity and inclusion.
The first-place winners received $10,000, second-place winners received $5,000, and third-place winners received $2,500, funded by Michigan Ross.
“Our investment in the 2023 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Global Case Writing Competition demonstrates our tremendous commitment to this important practice at the Ross School of Business,” said Carolyn Yoon, associate Dean for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Michigan Ross. “We are proud to have supported the competition into its third year and look forward to its growth.”
Each one of the case studies provides a unique look into the growing questions around diversity, equity, and inclusion in business — and WDI has been dedicated to expanding educational tools for students and professionals on these topics. Winning cases this year and in previous years have honed in on timely topics that any business interested in improving DEI efforts would benefit from thoughtfully contemplating. Cases from recent competitions have already been adopted and taught at universities around the globe.
About WDI
At the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan, unlocking the power of business to provide lasting economic and social prosperity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is in our DNA. We gather the data, develop new models, test concepts and collaborate with partners to find real solutions that lead to new opportunities. This is what we mean by Solving for Business — our calling since the Institute was first founded as an independent nonprofit educational organization in 1992. We believe societies that empower individuals with the tools and skills to excel in business, in turn generate both economic growth and social freedom — or the agency necessary for people to thrive.