Management students win ninth national title

The Flagler College chapter of the Society for Advancement of Management told reporters at Historic City News that they recently won their ninth Management Case Competition national title at the SAM International Business Management Conference.

The team already holds the record for SAM national title wins; no other SAM team has won more than three national titles. The Flagler College SAM team swept every award they qualified for in the undergraduate division.

Flagler’s SAM chapter also landed several other honors, including its ninth Campus Chapter Performance Program national title, which recognizes the best SAM chapter in the country. The program was written and prepared by Flagler SAM team member, Amy Robinson.

Flagler’s SAM team competed against undergraduate student chapters from 60 colleges and universities at the Annual International Business Management Conference, held April 7-12 in Arlington, Va.

“What is most prestigious to me about our win is the different universities that actually competed — including international universities — and the panel of judges,” said Paula Holanchock, adviser to Flagler’s SAM team and associate professor of business administration. “We competed against universities such as Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, Cambridge University from Cambridge, England, and the National Defense University.”

This year’s case company was Tom Tom GPS, focusing on “Global Agility.” Members of Flagler’s SAM Management Case team included Kaitlin Gardiner, Robinson, Arlin Zajmi and Michael Marino.

The students were given approximately eight weeks – with no outside assistance – to review the company, conduct a financial analysis and then provide four strategic actions.

“Participating in the SAM competition provides a unique out-of-classroom experience that allows students to analyze real world cases and implement strategic objectives that, until this opportunity, has only taken place in classrooms,” said Robinson. “Participating in the conference has solidified everything that Flagler College has taught me and has prepared me for my upcoming graduation.”

Gardiner said that the competition is a wonderful experience for any business leader. “It allows you the exposure to strategic planning for a company and challenges your brain to think outside the box,” she said. “I am so proud to say I was a part of this talented team.”

Gardiner won both the National Outstanding SAM Student Award and the SAM Student Regional Award.

Holanchock won the Outstanding Faculty Adviser Award.

SAM is a non-profit organization founded in 1912 by colleagues and disciples of Frederick Taylor, an engineer often called the “Father of Scientific Management.” The organization brings together academics, practitioners and students to increase management skills and improve knowledge, performance and leadership ability.