Group Presentation

Important Note:

  • Check the Schedule and remember when your team is expected to present. Be there.

  • Two ways to transfer your presentation files (Powerpoint slides) to my computer.

    • Email: FI414.HUANG@gmail.com

    • USB flash drive (bring to class; please arrive early)

Advice:

    • My grading criteria can be summarized by one question that you can ask yourselves:

    • "Can someone who hadn't read the case material beforehand learn from our presentation some basic ideas what the case is about and what problems we are trying to solve?"

      • Ask yourselves this question as you rehearse.

      • Because I will ask myself this exact question when I grade your performance.

    • Do no over-prepare and do not try to cover every aspect of the case.

      • Your team has maximum 25 minutes.

      • You are more likely to run out of time than having not enough to say. Trust me. You will find out.

      • If you have perfect answers to all of the questions, what am I here for?

        • You have 30 minutes. I have 130 minutes. Do the math.

    • Don't try to ANSWER ALL of the "suggested" questions listed in the Cases section.

      • The "food-for-thought" questions are food for thoughts for the whole class.

        • They are not exam questions for you - the presenting team.

      • You job, instead, is to supply relevant information that can help the class think about the case, by:

      • Providing background information.

        • Explaining what the important questions are.

        • Presenting plausible answers to the questions.

          • Most likely you won't have much time to elaborate after the first two steps.

    • There are no RIGHT answers to the questions, only sensible and well-presented arguments.

    • Suggested planning strategy:

      • READ the case material from cover to cover.

        • Every team member should do that, so that you have something to add value to the team

      • Sit down together and share your thoughts (and maybe pizzas as well).

      • Reach a preliminary view about the case. Write down the main points that you want to stress.

        • It is impossible for you to cover all of the suggested questions!

        • Pick those easier ones to tackle.

      • Devise a presentation plan.

      • Allocate tasks among members.

        • I highly encourage every member to speak on stage.

        • However, if you wish, you can also give more time to the most eloquent members.

      • Do a dry run (Remember: practice makes perfect).

        • Let your teammates help you. They are motivated because their grades depend on you.

    • What if you feel really nervous?

      • Drink water. Breath deeply. You can even write a script.

      • Don't worry about time. Don't look at your watch every 10 seconds.

        • I will be doing just fine no matter whether you leave 10 minutes or 100 minutes to me.

      • Even if you are not sure whether what you say is right, pretend that you are an expert.

        • In the real world, most likely your boss didn't go to a business school. He probably tried to get into the Broad College, but his GPA was too low.

        • Therefore, he would trust whatever comes out of your mouth, UNLESS, you look really nervous (in which case, he will suspect that you have stolen money from his bank accounts).

      • It is unlikely that you will overnight obtain all the knowledge, skills, and experiences of a successful Wall Street banker.

        • Don't try to be perfect.

        • Focus on what you know and what you've got, and spend more time practicing what you are going to say in class.

        • Don't be too technical in the presentations. Don't present big tables with too many boring numbers. Your audience can't follow them.

Grading:

    • Grades are based on collective performance of a team.

      • Allocate tasks accordingly among members.

      • Know each member's strength and weakness.

    • I am grading your performance mostly based on:

      • How organized, informative, clear, and smooth the presentation is;

      • How much your classmates can learn from your presentation.

      • Most important: "Can someone who hadn't' read the case material beforehand learn from our presentation some basic ideas what the case is about and what problems we are trying to solve?"

    • The presentations account for only 10 points.

      • Don't over-prepare and kill yourself for it!

    • I don't grade based on whether your answers are correct or not.

      • I repeat: there are no CORRECT answers (in this course or in real world business scenarios), only sensible arguments and useful information.