Case Study Competition FAQs

1. What is the Hot Mommas Project?
2. What is a case study?
3. What is the Hot Mommas Project Case Study Competition and Library?
4. Should I write a case study?
5. How do I nominate someone who (or is it “whom”?) I think would be a good case study?
6. Can men write a case study?
7. How do I go about writing the case study?
8. What, exactly, do you want to see in the case studies?
9. How is the contest judged?
10. What do people receive for writing their case studies?
11. What if I want to write my case in my own way?
12. What rights do case writers retain?
13. Can I use previously-published material?
14. If my case is published online or in a book, is my name used?
15. I want to know other stuff.

1. What is the Hot Mommas Project?
The Hot Mommas Project is an award-winning women’s leadership program housed at the George Washington University School of Business. Our mission is to increase the self-efficacy of women and girls across the globe through exposure to role models. To accomplish our mission, we are building the world’s largest women’s case study library. The Hot Mommas Project has been in existence since 2002, is the winner of a 2006 Coleman Foundation National Case Award. Our cases can be seen in the popular Prentice Hall college textbook Effective Small Business Management by Norman Scarborough. See our about page for more. Prior to the publication of these cases, extensive research was completed between 2005-2007: Our National Hot Mommas Project Mentor Survey which focused on breaking down balance equations of high-drive women with strong family/personal lives. See our blog for the ongoing release of that information.

2. What is a case study?
A case study is an educational tool made famous by Harvard Business School. Cases can range in length from 2 to 30 pages and relay a story about a business or person. Each case has one or more teaching objectives. Overall, case studies serve as a bridge between theory and reality and move the reader as close as possible to a real-life experience. (Hot Mommas cases are short cases).

3. What is the Hot Mommas Project Case Study Competition and Library?
This is how it works: Women come online to www.HotMommasProject.org, tell their story using our case study wizard, and serve as online/on paper role models by writing their case. The cases will be available online and become part of our permanent, free case library. The primary audiences we expect to use these cases are educators, women, and girls. Our project takes the case studies a step further by allowing readers to interact with the role model/case protagonist via social media avenues such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

4. Should I write a case study?
The Hot Mommas Project is seeking dynamic women 18 and older to write their case studies. “Hot Mommas” means “dynamic women.” You do not need to be a mom. If you have ever experienced something in your personal, professional, and/or academic life from which you think others could learn - you should write a case study. Even those who originally thought they had nothing to share were surprised at the depth of their experience when going through our case interview. Beware of self-limiting behavior (e.g., “I know other people who should write a case, but not me.”) Now is the time to take the jump to further women’s education and help others.

Suggested Resources:
- Listen to the podcast tutorial.
- Read our super boring, yet helpful, written tutorial.
- See the Case Library at www.HotMommasProject.org for samples.
- If you have a question about your case study, email us.

5. How do I nominate someone who (or is it “whom”?) I think would be a good case study?
Email us and cc the nominee, or provide us the nominee’s contact information in the email. Their and your information will only be used for the Hot Mommas Project Case Competition. See the experience of one nominee here.

6. Can men write a case study?
Yes. Click “M” under the gender section of your profile page. You will be part of our “Cool Daddies” pilot. You do not need to be a dad.

7. How do I go about writing the case study?
1. Brainstorm: Think about your story: Your background and leadership aha moment, a professional issue, a personal issue.
2. Go to www.HotMommasProject.org and go through the case wizard step by step, or, just enter your contact information and skip to authoring the main body of the case in step.

We have your back:
- Listen to the podcast tutorial.
- Read our super boring, yet helpful, written tutorial.
- See the Case Library at www.HotMommasProject.org for samples.
- If you have a question about your case study, email us.

8. What, exactly, do you want to see in the case studies?
The 500 to 1500-word main body of the case has the following primary sections:
1. Introduction
2. Background with emphasis on “aha” leadership moment
3. Primary professional issue/challenge/learning
4. Primary personal personal/family/life challenge

While the point of a case study is to allow readers to ponder answers to the questions, the case writer should also be sure to communicate useful data in the case. See the links at the column of “Case Competition” section for a full list of resources.

Bookending the case (Step 3 of the Case Wizard) are the following:
- 3 to 5 discussion questions and answers.
- An optional appendix.
- A profile and a warm-up question up front (in the case wizard) for research purposes.

Throughout the case-writing process, you can click “Preview” and see - real time- how what you just filled out will show up in your case.

Suggested Resources (for the millionth time):
- Listen to the podcast tutorial.
- Read our super boring, yet helpful, written tutorial.
- See the Case Library at www.HotMommasProject.org for samples.
- If you have a question about your case study, email us.

9. How is the contest judged?
All cases published online by March 22nd, 2013 will be first screened as to whether they meet the below criteria. Those case will then advanced to the final round in which judging will take place by a select panel in April 2013. Winners will be announced via telecast. No judge will score more than 10 cases. Cases will be judged on the quality of:

10. What do people receive for writing their case studies?
In addition to serving as a role model for girls and women across the globe and making a difference in women’s education, the top three winners will be published in a major Prentice Hall textbook and other media outlets.

The top three winners and the winners in each category will receive special honors at our awards summit in conjunction with SisU Academy in Fall 2013 at the George Washington University School of Business.

11. What if I want to write my case in my own way?
Go for it. You may not win, but you’ll be sharing important lessons.

12. What rights do case writers retain?
Case writers grant Vision Forward, LLC (of which Hot Mommas is a registered trademark) a non exclusive license. This means we have the right to use the material on the site and for other publications (books, research publications, online, in video, curricula, and media outlets) as well edit for publishing. You can use your own case as you wish, but will have limitations on using the “Hot Mommas” or “Cool Daddies” brand. For more information read the sections Contents, Services and Proprietary Rights in our Terms of Service.

13. Can I use previously-published material?
Yes. You just need to be the author of it, and have rights to use it as described above.

14. If my case is published online or in a book, is my name used?
Yes. A version of the case protagonist name is used (e.g., Julie K). Among other reasons, anonymous cases are discouraged because if the case protagonist wins, they will be featured in the media.

15. I want to know other stuff.
Just ask us.