DEAN’S First
CASE CHALLENGE

FALL 2026 Case LOgistics

You are to assume the role of a consultant hired by Shake Shack, tasked with presenting directly to the company’s executive leadership team.

The case explores the strategic challenges facing Shake Shack as it enters its next phase of growth following a rapid digital transformation that introduced kiosks, mobile ordering, and app-based personalization. As digital channels now drive the majority of sales, Shake Shack is working to determine whether this model is truly ready to scale or still needs refinement. Leadership must navigate boosting operational efficiency and personalization while protecting the frontline workforce and the hospitality values that have defined the brand since its founding.

Drawing on the case study, external research, and group discussion, formulate actionable strategies that allow Shake Shack to expand its digital capabilities, preserve the hospitality culture at its core, and sharpen its competitive edge within the fast-casual dining industry.

Purchase the Case Study

Rubric

launch deck

Round 1
September 11*

10-minute PowerPoint presentation,
5-minute Q&A, 5-minute feedback
Judged by MCG Executive Board
Submission deadline Wednesday, September 9th by 11:59pm
Register for a timeslot by 11:59pm on August 31st

Round 2
September 16

8 teams selected, assigned an MCG E-Board mentor
12-minute PowerPoint presentation,
5-minute Q&A, 5-minute feedback
Judged by MCG Executive Board
Submission deadline Tuesday, September 15th by Noon (12:00pm)

Round 3
September 23

3 teams selected, using slide deck from previous round (round 2)
12-minute PowerPoint presentation,
8-minute Q&A
In MGMT 111, mandatory attendance
Judged by top SOM faculty

*For any religious conflicts, email contact@mcgbinghamton.com immediately

Utilize our presentation resources page to help develop your slide deck.

One team member must submit the Round 1 PowerPoint presentations as a PPTX and a PDF file via this Google Form. The naming conventions of each file are as follows: F26DFCC_[Mentor Name]_[Round #], for example: “F26DFCC_SPlesserA_Round1”. Submissions received as Google Slides links or submissions received after the deadline will not be accepted. Only teams that move on to subsequent rounds will continue participating.

On the day of your presentation, please bring a laptop with HDMI compatibility to present your slides. Business casual attire is required. Women should wear a conservative blouse or button-up shirt and dress pants with closed-toe flats or heels for shoes, jackets and blazers are optional. For men, a dress shirt with dress pants or khakis is appropriate, and a jacket and tie are optional. Shoes and belts should match, and avoid wearing jeans. During the presentation, competitors will be given time warnings at 5 minutes and 2 minutes.

What is DFCC?

The Dean’s First Case Challenge (DFCC) takes place in the first week of the semester for MGMT-111 students. The competition consists of three rounds in which student teams read a Harvard Business Review case study, prepare their presentation, and present their case solutions to a panel of Management Consulting Group judges. Finalists will present in front of all 480+ of their MGMT-111 peers and a panel of top Binghamton University School of Management faculty.

Each team is a MGMT-111 mentor group. Before presenting, teams are briefed on key strategies and information they need to know in order to succeed in their first case competition. The MCG E-Board is there to make sure that while the teams are challenged, they also have the necessary support and information for them to understand the concepts of the competition. Reach out to contact@mcgbinghamton with any questions.

History

The first Dean’s Case Challenge ran in the Fall of 2014 with approximately 50 students involved. By 2017, the case became a mandatory and integral part of the MGMT-111 curriculum, acting as many students' first School of Management experience. The Dean's First Case Challenge is widely recognized by students as one of the best ways to prepare for the transition into the School of Management.

The Fall 2024 semester marked over ten years of MCG's involvement with the Dean's First Case Challenge. MCG's involvement is motivated by a desire to provide value to students through training and organization, while also allowing students to gain exposure to what the organization has to offer. With MCG’s involvement in the competition through collaboration with Associate Dean George Bobinski, the competition has thrived and grown to include both freshman and transfer students with 100 teams and 480 students participating in total.