Business Excellence Contest 2022/23 - Technology Innovation for Achieving Social Sustainability Campaign

First Round Adjudication Result

The First Round Adjudication exercise of Business Excellence Contest 2022/23 has been completed. The 3 Post-secondary Group finalist teams entering into the Final Round Adjudication are listed below.

Business Excellence Contest 2022/23 - Guest Talk on 7 Feb 2023

Background

The Business Excellence Contest is a business competition co-organised by Hong Kong Community College and the School of Professional Education and Executive Development of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU HKCC and PolyU SPEED) for secondary and post-secondary students. The theme for the competition this year is "Technology Innovation for Achieving Social Sustainability Campaign".

Social sustainability is a process for creating sustainable, successful places that promote wellbeing by understanding what people need from the places they live and work^[1]. From the business perspective, it is about understanding consumers' needs and desires, considering the social impacts of companies' actions and changes in buying habits for a better quality of life. Across industries, companies are using social impact mindset to create differentiated products, provide goods and services for customers, secure a sustainable supply chain, and communicate effectively with stakeholders.  This may reach to numerous business objectives such as gaining access to new markets, increasing market share, maintaining market power, improving long-term profits, and enhancing social responsibility, etc. Nowadays, companies are keen to adopt technological innovation for achieving social sustainability in order to meet business objectives. 

For instance, Amazon created an online marketplace for selling different products. Online shopping can save fuel and therefore reduce carbon dioxide emission because customers do not have to travel. Amazon plans to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other efficient delivery mechanisms to reduce the fuel and also plans to use electric delivery vehicles.

Bupa Hong Kong ran a "One Health" campaign, hoping to alter human behaviour through gamification with the step challenge on its Bupa4Life mobile app to reward people to lead a healthier life and to contribute to sustainability in society.

Finnair launched a new offset scheme for carbon neutrality. On the online platform, Choose, passengers can use the calculator to offset their carbon footprint. The price passengers pay to offset varies, depending on how much they would like their contribution goes to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and how much to support climate projects that reduce, capture, or avoid greenhouse gas emissions.

This competition is designed to provide students with an opportunity to analyse the business of a real corporation in Hong Kong and make use of their creativity and critical thinking skills to develop a new product (package) / service or launch a special event or activity with the concept of "Technology Innovation for Achieving Social Sustainability Campaign" for this corporation to create a distinctive opportunity to move forward and achieve specific business objectives. Moreover, students will develop better appreciation of theories and practices of business as well as generic attributes and abilities such as observation, communication, teamwork, analytical and organisation skills.

[1] Woodcraft, S. (2011). Design for Social Sustainability: a Framework for Creating Thriving Communities. London: The Young Foundation.

Awards and Prizes

All other participating team members will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Eligibility

Secondary Group:
The Secondary Group is open to full-time Secondary 4 to 6 students in Hong Kong. Each student team must consist of 3 to 6 members from the same school. The application must be coordinated by the school principal or a teacher.

Post-secondary Group:
The Post-secondary Group is open to sub-degree and self-financing undergraduate students in Hong Kong. Each student team must consist of 3 to 6 members from the same or different institution(s).

Scope of Work

Students have to select a real corporation in Hong Kong, conduct a business and market analysis, explain the objectives of a Technology Innovation for Achieving Social Sustainability Campaign, and develop a new product (package) /service or launch a special event or activity to achieve specific business objective(s).

Secondary Group:
For the written report, 20% weighting will be given for the business and market analysis, and 80% weighting will be given for the creativity of a new product /service or event, application of technology innovation, effectiveness of social sustainability, and realistic business objectives. For the final round presentation, 70% weighting will be given for the content of the presentation and 30% weighting will be given for the presentation and communication skills.

Post-secondary Group:
For the written report, 40% weighting will be given for comprehensive business and market analyses; 60% weighting will be given for critical thinking, creativity of a new product /service or event, application of technology innovation, effectiveness of social sustainability, and realistic business objectives. For the final round presentation, 70% weighting will be given for the content of the presentation, 20% weighting will be given for the presentation and communication skills and 10% weighting will be given for the question-and-answer (Q&A) session.

A guest talk will be arranged for participants in late January / early February 2023 to enhance their knowledge and skills of conducting a business and market analysis and developing a Technology Innovation for Achieving Social Sustainability Campaign.

1. Report Outline
   (a) Introduction
   (b) Main text

o    Business and market analysis

o    The objectives of a Technology Innovation for Achieving Social Sustainability Campaign

o    Explanation and justifications of a new product (package) /service or launch a special event or activity, and a promotional strategy for the Technology Innovation for Achieving Social Sustainability Campaign

       (c) Conclusion                                    

2. Report Format
   (a) Word Limit

Secondary Group:
The report must be written either in English (maximum 1,000 words) or Chinese (maximum 1,300 words), excluding the cover page, table of contents and appendices.
 
Post-secondary Group:
The report must be written in English (maximum 1,500 words), excluding the cover page, table of contents and appendices.

(b) Appendices are optional and should be limited to 10 pages.

(c) The font size of the content should be Times New Roman 12 point for the English version or PMingLiU ($B?7:YL@qs(J) 12 point for the Chinese version (except the headings/titles).
(d) Single-line spacing with at least one-inch margins (top, bottom, left and right).

3. Report Cover 
   (a) Full names of team members
   (b) Name of school / institution(s)
   (c) Name of the business / project
   (d) Date of submission
   (e) Contact details (email address and telephone number, etc.) of the team coordinator

Registration Procedure

1. Online Registration

Secondary Group: 

You can click here to register online

Post-secondary Group:

You can click here to register online

2. Register by Email, Fax or Post

Secondary Group:
You can click here to download an application form

Post-secondary Group:
You can click here to download an application form

Please return the completed application form either

(i)   by email to do.bhm@cpce-polyu.edu.hk (Please mark "Business Excellence Contest 2022/23 – Secondary / Post-secondary Group" in the email subject title.); or
(ii)  by fax at 2625-4159; or
(iii) by post to Room N1302, 13/F, PolyU West Kowloon Campus, 9 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon. Please specify on the envelope "Business Excellence Contest 2022/23 - Secondary / Post-secondary Group".

The deadline for registration is 5:30 pm, 23 December 2022 (Friday).

Submission of the Written Report

Please submit your written report:

(i) either in person^# or by post to Room N1302, 13/F, PolyU West Kowloon Campus, 9 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Please specify on the envelope "Business Excellence Contest 2022/23 Written Report – Secondary / Post-secondary Group"; or

(ii) by email to do.bhm@cpce-polyu.edu.hk. The report should be converted into a PDF file and the file size should not exceed 15MB. Please type "Business Excellence Contest 2022/23 Written Report – Secondary / Post-secondary Group" in the email subject title.
 

The deadline for submission of the written report is 5:30 pm, 20 February 2023 (Monday).

Adjudication

1. First Round Adjudication

Secondary Group:

Twenty most outstanding teams will be selected; and from them the best 5 teams will be shortlisted for the Final Round Adjudication and the 15 other outstanding teams will be offered the Judges Commendation. The First Round Adjudication results will be released on the PolyU HKCC website at www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/business_excellence_contest2022 by 17 March 2023.

Post-secondary Group:

The best 3 teams will be shortlisted for the Final Round Adjudication. The First Round Adjudication results will be released on the PolyU SPEED website at www.speed-polyu.edu.hk/business_excellence_contest2022 by 17 March 2023.

2. Judging Criteria for the First Round Adjudication

(a) Does the team present the written report clearly and concisely? 

(b) Does the team include the use of technology to a unique and sustainable product /service or launch a special event or activity and a promotional strategy for the Technology Innovation for Achieving Social Sustainability Campaign in order to achieve specific business objective(s)? 

(c) Does the team provide a persuasive analysis on realistic business objectives and a concise conclusion? 

3. Final Round Adjudication

The Final Round Adjudication will be held at the PolyU West Kowloon Campus on 15 April 2023.

Secondary Group:

For the Final Round Adjudication, the first 5 best teams will be invited to deliver a 10-minute verbal presentation. The presentation could be delivered in English or Cantonese. The winners of the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Merit Awards will be selected. Details concerning the time and venue will be announced through the PolyU HKCC website at www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/business_excellence_contest2022 upon releasing the First Round Adjudication results.

Post-secondary Group:
For the Final Round Adjudication, the first 3 best teams will be invited to deliver a 10-minute verbal presentation followed by a 5-minute question-and-answer (Q&A) session. The presentation must be delivered in English. The winners of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards will be selected. Details concerning the time and venue will be announced through the PolyU SPEED website at www.speed-polyu.edu.hk/business_excellence_contest2022 upon releasing the First Round Adjudication results.

4. Judging Criteria for the Final Round Adjudication

Secondary Group:
(a) Does the team present the ideas clearly, concisely and interestingly? 
(b) Does the team provide a comprehensive business and market analysis and realistic business objectives, and generate a creative and feasible Technology Innovation for Achieving Social Sustainability Campaign?

(c) Does the team provide a clear and well-organised PowerPoint presentation for their ideas in the written report?

Post-secondary Group:
(a) Does the team present the ideas clearly, concisely and interestingly?

(b) Does the team provide a comprehensive business and market analysis and realistic business objectives, and generate a creative and feasible Technology Innovation for Achieving Social Sustainability Campaign? 

(c) Does the team provide a clear and well-organised PowerPoint presentation for their ideas in the written report? 
(d) Does the team provide clear, precise and convincing answers to judges' questions? 

Presentation of Awards and Prizes

The Awards Presentation Ceremony will be held on 15 April 2023, right after the Final Round Adjudication. For the Secondary Group, the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Merit Awards will be presented to the champion, first runner-up, second runner-up, and other two finalist teams respectively. The Judges Commendation Awards for 15 teams will also be presented. For the Post-secondary Group, the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards will be presented to the champion, first runner-up, and second runner-up teams.

Calendar of Events

Enquiries

Website:

• Secondary Group: www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/business_excellence_contest2022
• Post-secondary Group: www.speed-polyu.edu.hk/business_excellence_contest2022

Tel.: 3746-0900
Email: cc.car@hkcc-polyu.edu.hk (Secondary Group)
           sp.car@speed-polyu.edu.hk (Post-secondary Group)

Office Hour:

• Mondays – Fridays: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays: Closed