Solve A Real Life Problem and Win a Trip to The Netherlands

In today's world, change is inevitable. You have no choice but to adapt yourself and adjust to rapid changes. You have an edge over others as MBA students and upcoming future leaders. We offer you an opportunity to be a part of this changing environment. Take this journey to learn, discover, innovate, experience, and weave your work into a 'successful' reality! Are you ambitious and do you think big? Are you up to the challenge of saving the world by creating positive social impact but in a profitable manner? Have you ever given thought to natural calamities like floods? Do you feel responsible? Would you like to solve a real-life case and contribute towards making the world a better place? Do you wish to learn hands-on and sharpen your abilities to judge, analyze and present? If THIS EXCITES YOU, then come join us and participate in the National Case Competition ‘The Change Express™’!
Your ability to think OUT OF THE BOX, your CREATIVITY, SOCIAL SKILLS and TEAM WORK could win you a fortnight trip to THE NETHERLANDS as you work with highly qualified professionals and CEO's on ’How to prevent global water disasters'.
This is a REAL-LIFE CASE developed by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment along with Franzen/Partners, The Netherlands (India branch). Powerful people from both companies will assist you by:
- Inviting guest speakers from The Netherlands to provide information to solve the case
- They will conduct a training for you in Change Management, and
- You will play a Management Game 'The Change Express™' with case-owners from both The Netherlands and India

What is in it for you?
- Use your creativity, your 'hidden' talents to innovate and develop team skills
- Contribute to a real-life project in The Netherlands and immerse yourself into a real 'Water' problem
- Judge, analyze, and present the principles of Change Management to solve the case - Anticipate and recognize signals of change in the (corporate) environment through role-plays and training.
- Develop and present implementation plans for change!

A preview of the case for the competition
The Dutch resilience to floods is a known fact. There is a robust defence mechanism against high seas and river waters. Prevention is the primary strategy. The flood of 1953 initiated the Delta Project that shortened the coastline by 700 kilometres and strengthened the sea- defences to withstand a storm.
The flooding of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 stirred awareness and raised questions. What causes a flood? How can one avoid causalities and minimize economic damage? How can the affected area be back on its feet as soon as possible?
As countries develop new policies, they lay a lot of emphasis on the 'Risk Approach' and the concept of 'Multi-layer Safety'. This is important as habitation as well as economic assets are on the rise behind our water defences and we must protect them.

Risk here is the probability of the occurrence of flood, resulting in casualties and damage. Multi-layer Safety as described in the Dutch National Water Plan (2009) consists of 3 layers:
1. Prevent floods by sea and river-defence mechanism.
2. In case of flooding, still avoid casualties and damage by smart spatial planning and waterproof ways of building.
3. Contingency plans and well organised disaster management.

All three together produce areas and communities resilient to flooding. Policy makers are now busy with strategies on how and what to implement on the concept of Multi-layer Safety in The Netherlands. An important way of approaching areas of development is to try to make developments and designs as comprehensive as possible by integrating safety, ecology, and social-economy.

The situation in India differs a lot from The Netherlands, but given the socio-economic situation, both countries must be resilient to floods. Therefore, your assignment will be to find out what you can do in India, to improve resilience to floods in a sustainable (people, planet and profit) manner.
The National Case Competition
The selected candidates will present either individually or in a team of two their case solution before the jury members consisting of senior executives and experts from the Ministry of Infrastructure & Environment, The Netherlands, Rabo Bank, INBA, NIILM-CMS, Franzen Partners and other Eminent academicians.