CEIBS Team Big Winners in EFMD Case Contest

CEIBS Professor Daniel Han Ming Chng, Senior Case Researcher Liman Zhao, Professor Byron Lee and Professor Peter Moran, together with and Research Assistant Hellen Sun have grabbed first place in this year’s EFMD Case Writing Competition in the category of Responsible Leadership this year for their case, ‘Daddy Lab: A Chinese Social Enterprise’s Dilemma.’

The case explores the tension social enterprises experience between profits and purpose as they attempt to manage increasing demands from stakeholders to conduct business in a responsible manner.

In publishing the case, the team says they would like students to better understand the complexity that entrepreneurs face between their social and commercial goals and the ethical issues that can arise from the dilemma of choosing between profits and purpose.

The case also won the recently-announced Best Case Award in the 2020 Global Contest for the Best China-Focused Cases.

The EFMD competition was first launched in 1988 and seeks to reward innovation and creativity in business case writing and teaching. Winners are awarded across 17 categories representing a range of critical management areas and are selected by an international judging panel from more than 400 submissions each year.

Prof. Chng and Dr. Zhao are no strangers to the EFMD podium, having previously taken home the award for best case in the category of Responsible Business in the 2019 contest for their work on ‘Voles System’s Bribery Accusations in China.’

The Responsible Leadership category recognises cases which address the challenges leaders face in engaging diverse stakeholders in the creation of economic and social value and which showcase leaders who demonstrate a commitment to integrity and to values-driven decision making that considers the interests of shareholders, employees, clients, the environment and the community.

Ultimately, the ‘Daddy Lab’ team says that they hope that students will learn to become more thoughtful and responsible business leaders that build purposeful, sustainable enterprises.