Thursday, September 24, 2026 · 8:47 pm – 11:59 pm
War of Wits is the HR flagship competition of Ensemble-Valhalla 2026, the annual business festival hosted by Xavier School of Management (XLRI). XLRI is one of India's most respected management institutions, with a long-standing legacy in human resource management education, and this event is designed to test how well participants can apply that discipline to real business problems.
What it is The competition is framed as a business labyrinth filled with HR dilemmas. Participants navigate challenges across employee value propositions, job fit, performance management, engagement strategies, and retention practices. The premise is that one misstep can trigger a cascade of complications, while precise execution leads to victory and rewards from an institution with a deep HR legacy.
Motto "Great vision without great people is irrelevant!"
Format and rounds
Who it is for The event is open only to full-time MBA students. Teams may have 2 to 4 participants. Multiple entries are allowed from a single institution, but no individual may be part of more than one team. Teams that do not follow the rules and guidelines will be disqualified at any phase.
Why it matters For MBA students focused on HR, this is a chance to benchmark their thinking against peers from other institutions, work through realistic people-management scenarios, and present to evaluators from an institution known for HR scholarship. It also serves as a practical testing ground for the kind of judgment calls that HR leaders face in growing organisations.
Key details