UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Tarriff Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility’s fall 2023 Business with Integrity Case Competition is underway with 39 teams of three to four undergraduate students, including at least one Smeal student on each team.
Sponsored by Kohl’s, the Smeal College of Business, Penn State’s Engineering Leadership Development (ELD) program and the Rock Ethics Institute, the Business with Integrity Case Competition teams are competing for prizes to analyze the ethical debate over the development of weaponized drones powered by artificial intelligence for use in schools to neutralize potential threats.
Initial submissions were due Oct. 12, and nine semifinalist teams will be selected on Oct. 19. The semifinalist teams will present in-person to the judges on Nov. 2.
New this year, the BWI Case Competition is aligning with the fall Impact Smeal Day on Nov. 3 to allow Smeal alums to serve as mentors for the teams. The semifinalists will have the opportunity to connect with Smeal alums at the pre-Impact Smeal Day Networking Reception on Nov. 2.
Finalists will present their analysis in a session during Impact Smeal Day, where visiting alums are invited to attend. Tarriff Center board members and Smeal alums will serve as judges, and the winning team will be announced at lunch.
In conjunction with the Business with Integrity Case Competition, a webinar on “Weaponized Drones, powered by AI, in Schools: Good Business” is scheduled for noon on Oct. 24.
One member of each team participating in the BWI Case Competition is required to attend the webinar. Open to the public, participants can register for the webinar and receive a copy of the Business with Integrity case study that focuses on a company’s research and development of weaponized drones.
The webinar will include two speakers: Sgt. Martin Hanes of the State College Police Department, who serves as the unmanned aerial systems coordinator, and Terry Stec, a school resource officer with previous experience in local and military law enforcement.
Each year, the BWI Case Competition invites Penn State undergraduate students to analyze a contemporary issue in business and propose a strategic plan to solve the problem. It is an educational experience that allows students to refine skills critical for ethical leadership in business and interact with business leaders and alumni throughout the competition.