CESR Business Ethics Case Competition
Application Deadline | Sept. 11, 2026
Case Released | Sept. 11, 2026
Preliminary Round | Sept. 23, 2026
Final Round | Sept, 30, 2026
First prize: $6,000 | Second prize: $4,000 | Third prize: $1,000
About the Competition
CESR developedÌýthe Business Ethics Case Competition (BECC) to challenge undergraduate students to apply the ethical frameworks and business skills learned in Leeds classes to challenging real-world cases.ÌýThe ethical dilemmas explored in the competition include real challenges facing our society today, each dealing with a complex web of stakeholder needs and interests and asking students to propose creative solutions that are feasible from an operational and financial standpoint.
BECC is an interactive way to deepen students’ understanding of the challenging dilemmas that business leaders face today. Teams analyze and propose solutions forÌýa business case that they thenÌýpresent to a panel of judges from industry.Ìý
How itÌýworksÌý
The competition consists of a preliminary and a final round. Three teams will advance to the final round. See the timeline for this year's competition on the right panel.Ìý
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2026 Topic
AI's data centers are power- and water-hungry, and Earth-bound resistance is mounting, so the industry's next move is orbit. BECC’s case asks whether launching data centers into space offers an ethically compelling and commercially viable solution—or just pushes the problem somewhere no regulator can see and no neighbor can contest.
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2025 Topic
Students will propose and defend an ethically compelling,Ìý
strategic, and persuasive business proposal for the use ofÌý
generative AI in dynamic pricing.
2024 Topic
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2022 Topic
The 2022 BECC was also held virtually and featured a case about a company's response to the Corona Virus pandemic and whether or not organizations should mandate the vaccine or not.
2021 Topic
The 2021 BECC was held virtually for the first time and featured a case about a company’s response to the racial justice movement, pulling in themes of authenticity and accountability.
Resources
How to Win a Case CompetitionÌý
Competition Format
- Teams consist of three to five members per undergraduate and graduate team, combining to the extent possible first- and second-year competitors with juniors and seniors to allow younger students to work with more experienced students in understanding how to compete in a business ethics case competition.Ìý
- If we get 4 or more teams of grad/law students to register, we will run a separate preliminary competition round.
- Interdisciplinary teams are welcome
- Competitors can sign up individually or with a complete team of 3-5 people.Ìý
20 minutes total alotted forÌýeach team presentation:
· ÌýTransition/Setup (5 minutes)
· ÌýPresentations (8 minutes max)
·Ìý Judges Q/A and Feedback (5 minutes)
· ÌýScoring (2 minutes)
Judges useÌýthe following scoring criteria in evaluating teams throughout the competition
– Solution and Strategy
– Depth and breadth of analysis of the ethical issuesÌý
– Persuasiveness
– Recommendations that are both ethical and practical in a businessÌýcontext
– Responses to questions
Connect with CESR
EÌýcesr@colorado.edu
P (+1)Ìý303Ìý492Ìý3324
Leeds School of Business
995 Regent DriveÌý
KOBL 302
Boulder, CO 80309
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