How can you use common case interview frameworks?

1 What are case interview frameworks?

Case interview frameworks are sets of concepts, questions, and diagrams that help you organize your thinking and approach a case problem. They are not rigid formulas or templates, but rather guides that help you identify the key issues, hypotheses, and data sources. They also help you present your findings and recommendations in a clear and logical way. Case interview frameworks are not meant to be memorized or applied mechanically, but rather adapted and customized to the specific context and objective of the case.

2 Why are case interview frameworks useful?

Case interview frameworks can be beneficial for demonstrating several skills that consulting firms value in candidates. These include structured problem-solving, which involves breaking down complex problems into manageable parts and prioritizing the most important ones. Additionally, logical reasoning links analysis to hypotheses and recommendations to findings. Business acumen is also important, as it involves applying relevant concepts and principles from different domains. Finally, communication skills are essential, as they enable you to articulate your thoughts and ideas concisely and coherently, using appropriate terminology and visuals.

3 How to use SWOT framework?

SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It is a framework that helps you evaluate the internal and external factors that affect the performance and potential of a business or a project. You can use SWOT framework when you need to assess the current situation and the future prospects of a client, a product, a market, or a competitor. To use SWOT framework, you need to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the entity you are analyzing based on its resources, capabilities, and competencies. Additionally, you need to consider the opportunities and threats that the entity faces based on its external environment such as customers, competitors, suppliers, regulations, trends, etc. Furthermore, it's important to evaluate how the entity can leverage its strengths and mitigate its weaknesses to exploit the opportunities and avoid the threats. Lastly, you should recommend actions or strategies that the entity can implement to improve its position and achieve its goals.

4 How to use Porter's Five Forces framework?

Porter's Five Forces is a framework that helps you analyze the attractiveness and competitiveness of an industry or a market. This framework is based on the idea that the profitability of a business depends on five forces that shape the industry structure, including rivalry among existing competitors, threat of new entrants, threat of substitute products or services, bargaining power of buyers, and bargaining power of suppliers. To use Porter's Five Forces framework, you must define the industry or market you are analyzing based on its scope, boundaries, and segments. You should then assess the intensity and impact of each of the five forces on the industry or market, and determine the overall attractiveness and competitiveness based on the balance and interaction of these forces. Finally, identify the opportunities and threats that the industry or market presents for a business, as well as strategies that a business can adopt to succeed in it.

5 How to use Profitability framework?

Profitability is a framework that helps you analyze the financial performance and value creation of a business or project. It is based on the equation of profitability equaling revenue minus costs. When using this framework, you need to define the profitability metric such as net income, return on investment, or profit margin. Moreover, you must decompose the revenue and costs into their components, calculate the profitability based on the revenue and costs, and compare it to the target or benchmark. Additionally, you should analyze the factors that affect the revenue and costs, such as demand and competition, and recommend initiatives that can increase revenue or reduce costs, estimating their impact on profitability.

6 How to use Issue Tree framework?

Issue Tree is a framework that helps you structure your analysis and communication in a hierarchical and logical way. It is based on the idea that a problem or question can be broken down into sub-problems or sub-questions, until they can be answered or solved with data or facts. To use Issue Tree framework, you need to define the problem or question you are addressing, and state your hypothesis or objective. Then, identify the main sub-problems or sub-questions that stem from the problem or question, and arrange them in a logical order. Keep repeating this process for each sub-problem or sub-question until you reach the lowest level of detail and granularity. Gather and analyze the data or facts that can answer or solve each sub-problem or sub-question, and validate or invalidate your hypothesis or objective. Finally, synthesize and communicate your findings and recommendations following the structure of the issue tree and highlighting the key insights and implications.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?