Brand management student teams from some of the nation's top business schools will compete in the Carlson School's Elite Eight Brand Management Case Competition November 4 to 6 in the 3M Auditorium. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the student-run competition features a $10,000 first-place cash prize.

Elite Eight consists of eight teams of five-students each who are presented with a strategic brand management challenge currently faced by a sponsor company. The teams are given 30 hours to prepare a structured case analysis and accompanying recommendations. Teams present their findings to a panel of expert judges from the sponsor company who then critically assess the students' brand management, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Oftentimes, the teams' recommendations are incorporated in the sponsor company's strategy.

"As much as I've learned from classroom case discussions, they pale in comparison to the experience I had at the Elite Eight," says Andy Wallmeyer, a member of the Carlson School's 2009 third-place team. "It was precisely the kind of experience I hoped I would have when I came to business school."

The eight schools participating in this year's competition are:

• The Carlson School
• Kelley School of Business (Indiana University, Bloomington)
• Hass School of Business (University of California, Berkley)
• Fuqua School of Business (Duke University)
• Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University)
• Stephen M. Ross School of Business (University of Michigan)
• The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania)
• Anderson School of Management (University of California, Los Angeles)

Over the years, the Elite Eight Brand Management Case Competition has become a premier event for brand management students across the country. "The Elite Eight was one of the most exciting experiences I had during my MBA career," says Mark Skeba, a member of the Kellogg School's 2008 and 2009 first-place teams. "The competition was fun, intense, and competitive. The Carlson School really puts on an exceptional weekend."

Past case studies and sponsor companies have included: Is Cause Marketing the Right Way to Re-energize Cheerios Heart Health Credentials in the Short and Long Term? (General Mills); Growing the Archer Farms Brand Within a Highly Competitive Bottled Water Market (Target); and What is the Implication of Customer Centricity for the Best Buy Brand? (Best Buy).

As in past years, this year's sponsor company and case topic will remain concealed until they are presented to the teams at the start of the competition. The public is welcome to watch the final team presentations on Saturday, November 6, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the 3M Auditorium.

In addition to the $10,000 first-place prize; $5,000 will be awarded for second-place; and $3,000 for third-place.

For more information, visit Elite Eight Brand Management Case Competition