Protégé 2021

CASE BR IEF

PROTÉGÉ 2021

“Through crisis, organizations and individuals go through response and recovery phases. Beyond that, lies reimagination. To confront what is necessary. To be honest about what we have lost. To explore what has been unlocked.”

* Taken from Microsoft Reimagine.

The Brief

The world-wide COVID-19 pandemic has affected every Australian, and revolutionised the way that the world operates, and will continue to operate in years to come. This year, we would like to invite all Australian undergraduate tertiary students to have the chance to reimagine the world, post-pandemic.

The Challenge

Adopting the role of a digital consultant, creatively leverage Microsoft’s technologies to develop a strategy to address the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and reimagine Australian industries in ‘the new normal’. Exemplary solutions will not only focus on recovery, but also longer-term social impact as we emerge from the health crisis and into a recreated tomorrow.

Solutions should focus on inventing for the future with an emphasis on the following areas:

FOCUS AREAS

The COVID-19 era has brought public awareness to what is important to society - the welfare of the people. How can we ensure that people are connected to each other? How can we support the mental health of those around us? How can we continue to build an inclusive, mentally strong, equitable, and sustainable society? What role will technology play in moving towards this goal?

SOCIETY

01

With the pandemic bringing economic downturns and the need for distance, the global workforce has experienced record levels of job loss, and the need to adapt to a new style of work. How can we use technology to support those who have lost their jobs? And with flexible work being here to stay, how can we ensure that workers maintain job satisfaction? In what ways will the future of work be transformed?

WORK

02

Technology in education has now become a necessity in the wake of the pandemic. How can we ensure that technology is being used to enhance the quality of education? In what ways can we give the citizens, workforce, and leaders of the future the tools required to succeed?

EDUCATION

03

The pandemic has shined a light on the need for health systems to be intelligent, technologically advanced, and agile. It has also highlighted the challenges of maintaining physical and mental well-being in times of stress. How can we unlock the benefits of technology-enabled health? Where can we use technology to help us adapt, and contribute to a healthier society?

HEALTH

04

Businesses have been affected by the disruption of the pandemic, with some industries being hit harder than others. How can we use technology to help future-proof our business operations? Are there ways for technology to help support industries that have been heavily impacted?

BUSINESS

05

Arts & Culture play a large role in uplifting society and enabling creative expression. Mass global lockdowns have disrupted many of the arts, entertainment and leisure industries, leading to uncertainty for many in this space. How can we use technology to support them and contribute to future success? Are there ways to provide new creative experiences that would allow these industries to thrive should another pandemic occur?

ARTS & CULTURE

06

The top 16 teams across Australia will be invited to virtually present their strategy to a panel of judges. The teams will be given the opportunity to refine their deck before presenting.

Tell a story - Who will your solution help? Why would they use it? How can they use it? How does your product use Microsoft technologies? What does an implementation look like? How will it make positive social impact?

In Stage 2, you will be given the chance to convince the judges of your solution. You should present your deck from stage 1 and showcase your solution. Think about how you can best represent your idea and show how it can become a reality. You should also include a proof on concept – you can showcase your idea as a storyboard, a prototype, an MVP, or even some rough sketches! There will also be a Q&A session at the conclusion of your presentation.

Each team will submit a deck (20 slides maximum) with their analysis and proposed strategy. Be creative with how you present your idea – while making sure it is clear and feasible.

You should include the following sections:• Problem statement • Scope • Stakeholders • Research • Proposed Budget • Timeline • Constraints • Success Criteria/Goals • Social impact

The top 4 teams across Australia will advance to the Protégé finals and ultimate Microsoft experience, a three-day virtual event that will take place!

During the finals, teams will further build on their strategy with the help of several Microsoft mentors to potentially bring their solution to life! The ultimate Microsoft experience includes a networking opportunity with at least one member of the Senior leadership team of Microsoft Australia, career development and mentoring sessions, as well as heaps of other prizes!

S TAG E T W O | P RO O F O F CO N C E P T

S TAG E O N E | E X E C U T I O N P L A N

FINALS | THE ULTIMATE MICROSOFT EXPERIENCE

COMPETITIONSTRUCTURE

GUIDELINES

Identify an area that you want to focus on. This can be one, or an intersection of several, of the focus areas provided.

01 Select an Area of Focus

Provide an analysis on the magnitude of the problem in your chosen area and discuss its significance as well as the level of impact that can potentially be created.

Consider questions like “What are the short- and long-term effects of the problem on your chosen area?” and “What is the cost of doing nothing to address the issue?”

02 Problem Analysis

Explain how you can involve one of Microsoft’s core technologies (e.g. Azure, Modern Workplace, Surface, Business Applications) to address the issue. Make sure to identify the key stakeholders involved and a timeline for necessary actions.

03 Digital Strategy

Discuss the feasibility (e.g. technical, economic, legal, operational) of your strategy. Provide evidence that it is scalable and realistically deployable in Australia.

04 Feasibility Analysis

As we build the future world, we must always evaluate the social impact of our digital strategies. What are the positive outcomes this will have on society? What are the inadvertent consequences of this strategy, and how can they be mitigated?

05 Social ImpactPro-tip: Great presentations do not only focus on the facts, but also tell a story! Feel free to be as creative as you want but ensure that your solution addresses a major problem in your area of focus and may be realistically deployed with existing technologies.

Microsoft has provided some guidelines for approaching your problem, but you are also encouraged to explore more creative avenues.

SUBMISSION CRITERIA

Each group (1-4 people) must ensure that their slide deck:

• Contains a maximum of 20 slides (excl. Appendix) • Is a PPT or PDF file • Is submitted to the portal before 11:59pm (AEST) 18th of April 2021.• Has an opening slide which includes the team name and the team

members’ full name(s). Teams and team members must at all times comply with the Terms and Conditions, which may be accessed HERE.

• Acknowledges the sources used, listing the URL links or otherwise. If your presentation contains plagiarism, it will not be marked.

•

SUGGESTED MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGIES

With the breadth of Microsoft’s available technologies – the possibilities are endless! Take a look at the Tech Guide for an overview of just some of the tech you can use in your strategy. The Tech Guide can be accessed HERE.

Guideline Marking Criteria Marks

Problem Statement

• Clearly identifies the opportunity and demonstrates why it is important that it is addressed.

10

Market Analysis • Performs a clear and concise market analysis which describes the space that the strategy aims to address.

• Utilises data from reputable sources effectively to support your market analysis.

• Makes realistic assumptions, ensuring that all calculations (if given) are viable.

• Identifies stakeholders and reach of the strategy.

15

Digital Strategy • Clearly identifies opportunities for improvement. • Presents a clear digital strategy using at least one Microsoft

technology as a key component that sufficiently improves outcomes aligned to the defined opportunity.

• Clearly explains the capabilities of the chosen strategy and how it will play a strong role in the reimagined post-pandemic world.

25

Feasibility • Demonstrates a strategy that can be realistically deployable and scalable. (5)

• Proposed Budget (5) - Realistic, and clear. Case for resources are supported by strong argument/market research.

• Constraints (5) - Identifies and analyses limitations of the strategy. • Timeline (5) - Clear indication of plan and timeline. Utilises a

framework that demonstrates the steps you would take (e.g. SDLC, UTIL, Agile, Waterfall, Scrum)

20

Social Impact • Convinces of and labels positive social outcomes (e.g. mental health, energy consumption, inclusion, etc.).

• Demonstrates how the strategy is able to empower people and organisations.

• Addresses and justifies any non-positive impact the strategy may make.

10

Innovation At Microsoft we love innovation. You’ll receive extra points for creative and novel solutions!

• Intelligently leverages Microsoft technologies • Using novel applications of existing technologies that haven’t been

explored before

15

Presentation • Presented in a professional, well-structured, clear, and visually appealing manner.

• Delivered within the required guidelines (format and length).

5