Ascend: The Logicstics Game by SSCBS

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1. About the Case Competition

Ascend is SSCBS Delhi’s flagship global business case study competition, drawing participants from premier B-schools nationwide. The Logicstics Game edition focused on supply chain and logistics strategy, demanding data-backed recommendations with real operational grounding.

2. Problem Statement Overview

“Orange,” a fictional global consumer electronics brand, found itself at a supply chain crossroads when the semiconductor crisis of 2020–2024 exposed the fragility of its chip-sourcing model. With over 80% of its advanced chips sourced from Taiwan and South Korea alone, every geopolitical flashpoint, from Taiwan-China tensions to U.S. export bans on Chinese fabs, directly threatened Orange’s product launch timelines. Delayed flagship releases, inflated bill-of-materials costs, and an NPS drop from 68 to 47 told the real story: a supply chain built for efficiency had become dangerously brittle in a high-volatility world.

3.What This Winning Deck Covers

The deck follows a crisp six-stage narrative: Problem → Root Causes → Short-Term Strategy → Impact → Sustainability → Execution. This structure itself is a masterclass, each section builds on the previous, creating an argument that feels inevitable by the time recommendations land.
The diagnosis opens with a PESTLE heat snapshot mapping geopolitical, economic, and environmental pressures on chip supply. A value chain breakdown then pinpoints where Orange bleeds — from single-source procurement all the way to customer NPS. This isn’t surface-level problem framing; it’s surgical.
The short-term strategy introduces source diversification with lock-in contracts, a shift from Just-in-Time to Just-in-Case (JIC) inventory, tier-2 vendor mapping and dual sourcing, and logistics rewiring through near-airport warehousing. These procurement and operations frameworks are explored in depth in JSW Challenge 2023. Two standout tactical ideas were prepaid fab slot booking and cross-industry chip bartering, show creative thinking beyond textbook supply chain fixes.
The long-term centrepiece is “EchoChip” ,a circular supply chain model that reclaims System-on-Chip components from old devices through trade-in drives, authorized harvesting partners, and AI-based chip health grading. The feasibility comparison against Apple’s Daisy robot and Fairphone’s recycled components makes the idea tangible, not theoretical. A Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework then ties EchoChip to People, Planet, and Profit impact, a smart move for ESG-conscious judges. The ESG vendor screening and sustainability framing in PwC Sustainable Fashion Growth Strategy Blueprint mirrors this approach closely.


Key learning takeaways for students:

  • Use geopolitical risk mapping (PESTLE + supplier concentration heatmaps) to make supply chain vulnerability visible
  • Always pair a short-term stabilization play with a long-term structural fix, judges reward both urgency and vision
  • Circular economy proposals are most convincing when backed by industry precedents (Apple, Fairphone, TES-AMM)
  • A well-designed KPI scorecard tied to each recommendation shows execution maturity
  • The JIT-to-JIC pivot argument is reusable across any supply chain or operations case

4. The Numbers

NPS dropped from 68 to 47 due to chip shortage-induced delays. 80%+ of Orange’s advanced chips sourced from Taiwan and South Korea. Chip delivery lead time: 20+ weeks (target: under 12 weeks). Forecasting accuracy: ~65% (target: 88–90% with AI). High-risk supplier exposure: 80% (target: below 55%). EchoChip cuts chip cost by 25–30% ($14–16 → $10–11.50), lead time by 65%, and COâ‚‚ emissions by 57%. Projected circular savings: ₹200–300 Cr over two years. Budget committed: ₹25 Cr across 6 quarters.

5. Who Should Study This Deck

This deck is essential for anyone preparing for supply chain, operations, or sustainability-focused case competitions. Students targeting roles in consulting, operations strategy, or procurement will sharpen their ability to layer geopolitical analysis onto business problems and build financially grounded recommendations. If you struggle with long-term vs. short-term recommendation balance, or making circular economy ideas feel credible, this deck solves both. CaseBuzz has more operations and strategy decks to build your preparation stack.

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