Where do I start in writing a Hot Mommas Project case?

The Hot Mommas Project is an award-winning leadership project raising self-efficacy of women and girls through exposure to role models.  We produce case studies showing the full range of factors influencing a woman’s success.  We are housed at the George Washington University School of Business and are the recipient of a 2006 Coleman Foundation National Case Award.  Learn more at http://www.hotmommasproject.org/about.aspx.

Here is what to do if you are interested in becoming part of the project and impacting women’s education: NOMINATE a role model (yourself included) by emailing the Hot Mommas Project.

Winners of the case study competition will have the chance to be published in a major Prentice Hall textbook, PINK Magazine, be featured on ComedyCures LaughTalk radio show,  and win thousands of dollars in prizes.  See judging criteria and prizes/winners at www.HotMommasProject.org for more.

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The below is from our beta FAQs page.

Q: Where do I start in writing a Hot Mommas Project case?

A: Sign in, go to the case competition page, and browse the links on the right for tutorials and sample cases.  I am not one of the judges.  However, if it were me I would approach it as follows:

1. Browse the steps of the case wizard after signing in and going to the case competition page.

2. See case writer resources in the column.  Print the official tutorial, review the sample case.  There is an audio tutorial and a video tutorial, which is more like a “chat to get started” vs. a tutorial.  Official written is most clear.

3. Brainstorm a time in my life where I had a huge professional challenge, and then do the same for a huge personal challenge.  Think of a specific story to embody those points in time (E.g. Vanessa walked into her office and saw a sea of paper and staff waiting for her….).

Background: Then, think back to an “aha” moment where you came into your own.  Go back as far as you can, then move forward showing how the reverb of that aha moment kept surfacing.

4. Write discussion questions to drive readers to really ponder and learn in the areas of your professional and personal challenge (e.g., Vanessa mentions her primary professional challenge is marketing her business. Review the appendix for her thoughts on marketing. Then perform a Google search on “guerilla marketing” and make 3 suggestions for Vanessa).

5. Click “Publish” – You can change your case through January 31 12:00 MIDNIGHT EASTERN TIME (contest conclusion).

Overall Hint: As a wrap up, press rewind back to the time you were a student.  If you were a case in a chapter of a textbook – what chapter would that be?  Then…

a. Include stories, thoughts, and a couple lessons in the text of the case to support a discussion of that “chapter” among readers.  Include some links in your appendix to drive home that focus.

b. If you are tempted to make your case 100% about “here’s what I’ve figured out,” press the pause button.  Hold back, and let the readers figure out some of it.  You can include your “here’s how I did it” in the teaching notes section (a guide to instructors).

Hope this helps! We have phone and email coaching, so, feel free to get online, throw something up there, have fun with it, and then send out a lifeline for help or feedback.

To learn more (see these links and read below):
Here is a sample case: http://hotmommasproject.org/caseview.aspx?id=65

Here is a press link: http://www.1888pressrelease.com/-hot-mommas-project-announces-judging-panel-for-case-study-pr-90609.html

Here is more on our mission and research underpinnings

http://www.hotmommasproject.org/about.aspx

Find case writer links on the column of this page: http://www.hotmommasproject.org/competition.aspx

Questions?
See our FAQs (http://hotmommasprojectfaq.wordpress.com) or email us

Start today at www.HotMommasProject.org. Dynamic women need as much lead time as possible! You can change your case through 12:00 midnight (Eastern time), Saturday, January 1/31. (After that – feel free to write your case – but, it will be entered in our 2009-2010 contest)

See Virtual Coaching post for more like the above (case direction).