Boardroom Booklet

Contents

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The New Normal The Business Challenges Deadlines Prizes General Guidelines Contest Rules Cognizant Contact

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1. The New Normal

We are living in exciting times where newer business models, newer technology paradigms, a new generation of workers, and newer ways of working are redefining the typical day at work. Three major trends – newer business models driven by globalization and virtualization; newer generation of consumers and workers often referred to as the Millennials; and newer technologies driven by cloud, social computing, and mobility - come together at this important ‘shift point’ to redefine the future. We, at Cognizant, refer to this phenomenon as the Future of Work and we believe we are uniquely positioned to capitalize on this trend. In this new normal of doing business and the redefined context, welcome to Cognizant’s Boardroom - Smart Business Plan Contest, 2011!

1.1 Boardroom 2011

Every good business thrives on two factors: Innovative ideas and a Robust Business Model. At Cognizant, we believe that the spirit of Innovation and Entrepreneurship has been a crucial contributor to our rapid growth. Promoting this spirit among the students of B-schools is the objective of Boardroom – the Smart Business Plan Contest. The contest, founded in 2007, provides a unique opportunity for budding management graduates to share their business ideas with experienced industry veterans who will help refine them further. The winners also get an exciting opportunity to put their business plans to action with the help of Cognizant. The participants will be mentored by Cognizant Business Consulting Managers during the process and will have several opportunities to network with Cognizant’s senior leadership. This year, in its fifth edition, Boardroom comprises three phases to help teams develop their plans in collaborative as well as competitive environments. The phases are:

Phase I - Registration and...