CASE PRACTICE 101

DUKE APD CONSULTING CLUB

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OUTLINE

What is case interview

What are the common flows of interview
Overview of the lecture series
Framework and why framework
Profitability framework
Business situation framework

Sample case
Case Practice
2
OUTLINE

What is case interview

What are the common flows of interview
Overview of the lecture series
Framework and why framework
Profitability framework
Business situation framework

Sample case
Case Practice
3
WHAT IS CASE INTERVIEW

Consulting: problem solving service

Case interview: test the ability to solve business problems from the root.
Systematically
Adaptably
Fast and accurately
In a client-friendly manner

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MEETING AGENDA

What is case interview

What are the common flows of interview
Overview of the lecture series
Framework and why framework
Profitability framework
Business situation framework

Sample case
Case Practice
5
FLOW OF CASE INTERVIEW
Types of one-on-one case interviews:
Interviewer-driven case
Background + major question(s) at the
beginning
Preset small questions (3-5)
Interviewees request data/info
Conclusion/suggestion
Time: 30mins in total
The rhythm is controlled by interviewers
Interviewee-driven case
Background + major question(s) at the
beginning
Interviewees request data/info
Conclusion/suggestion
Time: 30mins in total
The rhythm is controlled by interviewees
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OUTLINE

What is case interview

What are the common flows of interview
Overview of the lecture series
Framework and why framework
Profitability framework
Business situation framework

Sample case
Case Practice
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INTRODUCTION TO CASE PRACTICE SERIES

2017 Spring Lecture Series

1) Case Practice 101
2) Profitability Framework Systematic &
3) Business Situation Framework Client-friendly
4) Drilling-down Procedure and Issue Tree Adaptable
5) Mental Math & Market Sizing Accurate & Fast
6) Synthesis & Conclusion Client-friendly 8
INTRODUCTION TO CASE PRACTICE SERIES

Learning Material Recommendation

For beginners:
Case Interview Secret, Victor Cheng
Case In Point, Marc Cosentino
Sample cases from major consulting
companies
For seasoned learners:
Look Over My Shoulder, Victor Cheng
Yale case book
Kellogg case book 9
OUTLINE

What is case interview

What are the common flows of interview
Overview of the lecture series
Framework and why framework
Profitability framework
Business situation framework

Sample case
Case Practice
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ABOUT FRAMEWORK
A good framework should be MECE (mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive)
Why Framework?
Framework vs. Laundry List

international
female

International

Domestic
Chinese

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American
FRAMEWORKS

Profitability (Quantitative Method)

Profit = Revenue - Cost

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Case interview secrets, by Victor Cheng

FRAMEWORKS

Business Situation (Qualitative Method)

Business Situation

Customer Product Company Competitors

Who is the customers? Nature of product? Capability and expertise Industry behavior
What are the segments of Commodity or special? Cost structure Competitors specialties
customers?
Barriers entry
Preferred distribution
channels

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Case interview secrets, by Victor Cheng

OUTLINE

What is case interview

What are the common flows of interview
Overview of the lecture series
Framework and why framework
Profitability framework
Business situation framework

Sample case
Case Practice
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SAMPLE CASE

Basic steps for case solving:

Summarize the case and clarify the objectives
Make hypothesis and develop your structure
Drill down on each topic
Summarize the results

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SAMPLE CASE

Shoe Manufacturer
You are a consultant working with a shoe manufacturing company, the
CEO noticed that there is a decline in their profit this year. He asks us to
find the reasons behind declining profit and suggestions to improve profit.

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SAMPLE CASE

Shoe Manufacturer Basic steps for case

solving:
You are a consultant working with a shoe
manufacturing company, the CEO noticed that there Summarize the case and
clarify the objectives
is a decline in their profit this year. He asks us to find Make hypothesis and
1) the reasons behind declining profit; develop structure
Drill down on each
2) your suggestions for improving profit. topic
Do I understand everything correctly? Summarize the results

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SAMPLE CASE

Profitability (Quantitative Method)

Basic steps for case
= solving:
Summarize the case and
clarify the objectives
Make hypothesis and
develop structure
= Drill down on each
Raw Material topic
Labor Summarize the results
Utility
= Shipping
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SAMPLE CASE

Business Situation (Qualitative Method)

Business Situation

Customer Product Company Competitors

Who is the customers? Nature of product? Capability and expertise Industry behavior
What are the segments of Commodity or special? Cost structure Competitors behavior
customers?
Barriers entry
Preferred distribution
channels

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SAMPLE CASE

Business Situation (Qualitative Method)

Basic steps for case
Cost Structure solving:
Summarize the case and
30% of total cost is labor clarify the objectives
Make hypothesis and
Industry Behavior develop structure
Labor cost has increased industry-wide Minimum wage Drill down on each
topic
Competitors Behavior Summarize the results

Lay-off has increased

SAMPLE CASE

Business Situation (Qualitative Method)

Basic steps for case
Minimum wage solving:
Summarize the case and
Potential ways to solve the problem: clarify the objectives
Manufacturing process optimization (change cost structure) Make hypothesis and
develop structure
Lay-off domestic labors
Drill down on each
Out-sourcing (move factories overseas) topic
Summarize the results
SAMPLE CASE
Summary
1) Based on our analysis of this case, we think the main Basic steps for case
solving:
reason for the declining profitability is the increasing Summarize the case and
labor cost, due to the increase in minimum wage in the clarify the objectives
US. Make hypothesis and
develop structure
2) Our suggestions to improve the profitability are: Drill down on each
topic
Manufacturing process optimization (change cost structure)
Summarize the results
Lay-off domestic labors
Out-sourcing (move factories overseas)
OUTLINE

What is case interview

What are the common flows of interview
Overview of the lecture series
Framework and why framework
Profitability framework
Business situation framework

Sample case
Case Practice
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 CASE PRACTICING

How to give a feedback in case practice Basic steps for case

Time: usually ~30 min. Can be extended for solving:
beginners.
Summarize the case and
Track down the partners performance clarify the objectives
during the practicing, where they did good Make hypothesis and
and where they got stuck (with the form in develop structure
the handouts).
Drill down on each topic
Summarize their strong points and weak
points. Summarize the results

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