XLRI JAMSHEDPUR presents
ENSEMBLE 2003

Come November 7, the Managers-in-the-making from the finest Business Schools across the Asia-Pacific will come down to the campus of XLRI School of Management to take part in one of Indias biggest annual B-School Fests, and XLRIs magnum opus, Ensemble. Version 2003 will be the grandest iteration till date, with all regular events in symphony with a few debutants. This year the Extravaganza has been scheduled for November 7 to 9 in the cool climes of Jamshedpur.

In fact, Ensemble has already kicked off with Xhume the nocturnal online treasure hunt, being organized by SOCRATES (SOCiety for Rapid Assimilation of TEchnology and Systems) the event starts at an incredible 10 pm extending for the next two hours, with this being the routine for 10 full fun filled days of excitement. This online quiz checks contestants ability to search with a sieve for right answers on the internet by deciphering the cryptic clues given to them.
If the Siddharth Basu Quiz took the cake last year, the flagship event for Ensemble 2003 is Assembly Xtreme, which is a test to display the ability of 3 member teams to work in concert. The focus is on sustained team effort over a series of sub-events from Wall Street, to board room meetings, to drawing up complex business plans. A phenomenal Rs. 75,000 is up for grabs all to be shared by one team of three members! The battle lines have already been drawn, with 8 finalist teams from across campuses.

Each Society has events that are designed to test the Management aptitude of contestants.

The Association for STrategy and EntRepreneurship In XLRI (ASTERIX) is conducting XCogitate, the B-plan contest. Here, Teams were asked to identify a business opportunity, work on it, and develop it into a feasible, practical, profitable business plan. The 5 finalist teams on Campus will be put to test here, where they will be managing their dream on a real time basis. A live changing scenario will unfold during Ensemble and their reactions and efforts will be judged by an elite panel of practicing managers.

Building Research Initiatives for Developing and Generating Enterprising Solutions (BRIDGES) is organizing Lekh the biggest B-school paper writing contest in India, which serves as the forum for future leaders to display their academic and conceptual brilliance. The response to the contest has already been phenomenal with 315 papers coming in from different parts of the Country. 4 papers each have been invited for presentation from the functional areas of Marketing, Finance, Systems, HR/IR and Strategy.

The DRAmatics and CULtural Association (DRACULA) of XLRI has lined up two events. While Xquizzite, the Quiz Show hosted by renowned quiz master Parnab Mukherjee, will be the curtain raiser for Ensemble this year on November 7, the honours of signing off Ensemble go to Cacophonix, the Rock Show, plus laser lights and fireworks display. They promise to shake up Jamshedpur by bringing down the rock band Indian Ocean to perform live on Campus.

Fire@x (Forum for Industrial Relations At XLRI) is hosting Xtracts, a case competition. This is an exciting and Indias most prestigious IR case study, which would deal with the latest trends in the industry like redundancy, restructuring and compensation. The eminent faculty of XLRI, stalwarts in Industrial Relations will take the seat of judgement, here.

FINAX (Finance Association of XLRI), as always, will organize Poonji The Xchequer, the Stock Market Game, which allows teams to play the market in the simulated environment of a Stock Exchange.

The External Linkages Cell, XLRIs media Interface, has another B-School first for XLRI: Xpress, a media planning competition which stands out from the array of other events in one respect participation is exclusive to under graduate College students. Participating teams were asked to devise media plans that promote and market their respective Institutes. The response has been overwhelming, with entries virtually poring in from almost all parts of the Country. The winners in the four Categories print, Video, Audio and Web have already been invited and will be coming down on an all-expense paid trip as special invitees for Ensemble to experience the ambience of XLRI.

Ogilvy and Mather and MAXI (Marketing Association of XLRI) have the famed Advertix, the Ad-shop, in store for participants. This event covers the entire gamut of the advertising business. Teams will develop a complete advertising package including the strategy, creatives and the media plan for a brand, based on the brief given to them by the Agency.

XtremeBiz, a simulation game will make its debut in Ensemble this year. It combines the edge of the seat excitement of finance with the nail biting suspense of strategy and marketing and is to be organized in toto by MAXI and FINAX.
Ernst & Young and SAPPHIRE (Students Association for the Promotion of Personnel Management, Human Resources and Industrial Relations) have tied up for Xigency a Live Case Study Contest. Budding managers will be confronted with contemporary HR problems faced by organizations and will use their concepts and creativity to come up with practical and innovative solutions.

SAPPHIRE will also host Xactitude, the SappHR game. The event is multi-stage comprising changing scenarios and simulations, where teams of 3 members battle out with environmental forces in establishing and sustaining their superiority.
If it was an online treasure hunt prior to the Fest, it will be Xplore the live treasure hunt to be hosted by XLNC (XLRIs Nature Club) during Ensemble. This event will offer participants respite from the gruelling hours of case studies and simulations; an event where they can take a break and are amidst the puzzles of nature.

As usual, the corporates have been in active participation in Ensemble, with AIADA, Bharat Petroleum, BOC, Career Launcher, Ernst and Young, Nestle, Ogilvy and Mather, Sify, Tata Steel, Telcon, and Tinplate being prime sponsors of the Fest.
With the Fest round the corner, the best business minds have already started to descend on the Steel City and keen contests seem to be on the cards in Ensemble 2003. For more details of the fest one could visit www.xlri-ensemble.com.


Regards
Gaurav Kathotia
External Linkages Cell
XLRI Jamshedpur