The Global eCollaboration Competition (GeCCo) is an international virtual 24-hour case study competition organized by IPMA Young Crew. The project is addressed to all young project management professionals (18 – 35 years old). An idea of GeCCo is to organize an online competition that takes 24 hours and mix together teams in which each team member comes from a different country! With different time zones, 24 hours is almost as long as three days!
Vipul Agrawal participated in the 2024 competition and shared his experiences with us.
Teksti Vipul Agrawal
Kuvat Olli-Pekka Latvala
Vipul (on the right) participated in the GeCCo and with his team managed to get the 10th place in the competition.
How was the teamwork build? Did you have to sit in front of your laptop for 8h while your timezone was in charge? How did your team share the workload?
”Team building started as soon as we received the names of our team members. We created a WhatsApp group to introduce ourselves and start connecting. Shortly after, we got our first task: the Pre-Case challenge. This was a really interesting activity where we created a ”collaborative team playlist.” The task involved selecting songs that represented each member’s taste, personality, national identity, and aspirations. It was incredibly fun and helped us brainstorm, choose a team name, slogan, and logo together. This activity brought us closer as a team and set a positive tone for the main event.
I was so excited about the challenge and loved working with my team! While I stayed awake for most of the event, we made sure everyone took breaks to stay rested and efficient. For the ’Case Study,’ we had several questions to tackle, and we divided the tasks based on each member’s strengths.”
How was the case challenge? Was it interesting and challenging? Did your team solve it?
”The case challenge was both interesting and demanding! It tested every aspect of project management, from creating an organisational chart and communication plan to scheduling, stakeholder management, and documenting lessons learned. We even focused on evidence of continuous improvement and creating a comprehensive project document. It was like stepping into the shoes of a professional project manager and gave us a true glimpse of real-world challenges.”
What were the stages of the event? Any team-building/welcome events?
”The live event was divided into four 8-hour shifts, spread across different time zones. There were sessions where we could ask questions and clarify doubts with the organizing team. One highlight was a fun online toasting session, many raised a glass of beer, but I opted for coffee instead (trust me!)!”
How did it end? What was your team’s result? How were results announced?
”Our team secured the 10th position out of 37 teams globally, which was a proud moment for us! The results were announced a few days after the live event.”
Would you recommend this experience to others and why?
”Absolutely! Even a year later, my teammates and I are still in touch, checking in with one another and staying connected. It’s amazing to now have friends (and potential places to stay!) in four different countries. Beyond that, working with a multicultural team helped me understand different cultures and work styles.
The competition itself was a fantastic simulation of real project management. It taught me how to adapt, think on my feet, and navigate through unexpected challenges. It also helped shape my working style by showing me the importance of thorough planning and agile adjustments.”
Any other experience you would like to share?
”One key takeaway was the importance of continuous communication. With team members spread across 5 time zones and working under tight deadlines, keeping everyone updated was critical. There were many last-minute realizations and changes, but maintaining open lines of communication ensured we stayed aligned and completed our tasks efficiently.”
The registration for the 2025 competition is now open. Read more and sign up here.
