SPECIAL FEATURE: BRIDGING THEORY AND PRACTICE: ADVANCING PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE THROUGH THE ISPI CASE STUDY COMPETITION

Bridging Theory and Real-World Practice

While universities are continually improving to meet students’ needs, the traditional model of instruction in higher education often centers on teaching theory, leaving students to learn how to apply those theories once they enter the workforce. This often creates a gap between students’ perceived preparedness and the expectations of employers. Employers consistently express a preference for hiring graduates with demonstrated experience in real-world settings, such as internships, collaborative projects, and other forms of applied learning.

The ISPI Case Study Competition is a powerful solution to this challenge, creating what is known as the Case Study Competition. It immerses students in a simulated consulting engagement where they must solve a real performance problem for a client. This structure is deliberately designed to mimic a professional environment by providing an ill-defined problem that requires sustained investigation, critical thinking, and collaboration to solve. The competition provides a “safe space” for students to apply theoretical models to practical challenges, manage stakeholder expectations, and ultimately, build confidence. One former participant perfectly captured this sentiment, stating, “All the research you had to do … all the questions you had to ask … is the same that I’ll do today in my job”.

The Student Experience: Forging Professional Stamina

From my time as a competitor, what stands out is not just the final solution we presented, but the rigorous process of getting there. The competition demands more than just knowledge; it tests resilience. The late-night meetings, the cycles of revision, and the need to regroup after hitting roadblocks all mirror the realities of professional practice. This experience instills professional stamina and the discipline to persevere through ambiguity.

This experience forces the development of key skills that employers value most:

• Critical Thinking and Inquiry: The competition pushes students to a higher level of inquiry, forcing them to consider issues from multiple perspectives. As one student noted, working with teammates from different backgrounds “makes you stop and back up and look at something with different eyes”.

• Teamwork and Collaboration: The competition requires students to move beyond isolated, independent work and operate as a true team. Students learn to leverage individual strengths, manage group dynamics, and maintain a collective focus. One participant described the “rapid team development” as forcing relationships that were “worthwhile and useful, both now and in the future”.

• Confidence and Professional Identity: The experience is transformative for students' confidence. They move from feeling like an “aspiring student” to feeling like a “professional” in a performance improvement community. The process helps overcome “imposter syndrome” and builds the self-assurance needed to present ideas to leadership—a critical real-world skill.

The Coach and Chair Perspective: Cultivating the Next Generation

As a coach and department chair, I have seen firsthand how the competition prepares students for the workforce in ways that a traditional classroom cannot. Academic departments face challenges in creating high-quality, simulated learning environments, which can be a large undertaking. External competitions like ISPI's offer a perfect solution, providing a structured, high-stakes, authentic experience within a low-stakes (or safer) environment that benefits students from multiple institutions.

Observing my students, I see them developing not just technical proficiency but also the dispositions that sustain a successful career: resilience, adaptability, and collaborative perseverance. The deadlines are unforgiving, and the feedback is direct, yet the teams consistently rise to the occasion. They learn to embrace constructive feedback from experienced industry experts, who provide invaluable mentorship that bridges the gap between academia and the professional world.

Furthermore, the competition facilitates the creation of a community of learners. Students connect with peers, faculty, and practitioners, building professional networks that can last for years. This networking aspect is an invaluable introduction to the professional community. The final deliverables—an executive summary, prototypes, and a conference presentation—also become high-quality additions to students' professional portfolios, tangibly showcasing their skills to employers.

The long-term impact is undeniable. A study of participants from one, six, and even ten years prior found that they consistently cited the academic and professional benefits of the competition, regardless of where they were in their careers. In short, the ISPI Case Study Competition affirms that the next generation of professionals is not only capable but prepared to persist in the face of ambiguity and challenge—a quality as valuable as any tool or technique.

Finally, it is impossible to reflect on the competition without expressing deep gratitude to Matt Donovan, whose vision and initiative brought this opportunity to life. His commitment created a venue where students can test their skills, where coaches can mentor future colleagues, and where departments can proudly support their teams. The investment ISPI has made since the competition’s inception provides invaluable insight and support for the development of future professionals.