Introduction and round of applause for CTP Committee

Today’s Agenda About Case Interviews How to Approach a Case Practice Case Resources Moving Forward Who We Are Introduction to the Leadership Ice Breaker Committees Events CTP Next Meeting

What is a Case Study? Brain Teaser: Market Sizing: Case Interview: How thick is single sheet of paper in a notebook? How many elephants can you fit in New York? Market Sizing: How many gas stations are their in the US? How many boxers are sold in the U.S. annually? Case Interview: How should Google break into the cellphone market? Your client wants to acquire its biggest competitor, what are some factors to consider?

Why Do Consulting Firms Do Them? Similar to problems real analyst face Want to see how the interviewee thinks Test candidates ability to think under pressure Test candidates ability to articulate clearly

Types of Cases: Profit Problem Mergers and Acquisitions Shift in Product Mix Is this merger a good idea Decline in Volume Will it be profitable? Supply/Demand Industry Cap Increase in Costs Business Situations Capacity Change through acquisition, merger Enter a new market/Start a new business Build/shut down factory? Introduce a new product Capacity shift in response to change in demand Respond to competitor behavior Respond to changes in demand How to grow

Profitability Framework External Considerations Customer Preference Market Demand Shift Competition Profitability Revenues Volume Price Costs Fixed Costs Variable Costs

General Business Case Framework General Business Situation Customer Market Size Market Interest Products Costs Revenues Company Competitive Advantage Fixed Costs Competition Market Breakdown

How to Approach a Case (Simplified): Understand the problem Identify the Goal Brainstorm Ideas Develop Framework Dig Down branches of framework Formulate Conclusion

Opening The Case Listen to the interviewer and write down important notes Restate the case Verify your understanding of the problem Ask Clarifying Questions about the Case and Client Restate the goal Ask about other unstated goals Ask about Goal timeframe After getting a clear understanding of the problem and the goal, ask for a moment to collect your thoughts Brainstorm ideas independently Structure your ideas with a framework Formulate Hypothesis based on information from the case

Working Through the Case Use hypothesis to drive down your framework Ask questions surrounding the branch of framework that pertain to your hypothesis Identify egregious problems 80 / 20 Rule Major cost increases Industry stagnancy Adjust hypothesis based on findings Repeat Step 2 and 3 until you come to a conclusion

Closing the Case Review Goal Conclude the Case: Make sure your conclusion addresses the goal of the case Conclude the Case: Provide Recommendation Reason 1 to support recommendation Reason 2 to support recommendation Reason 3 to support recommendation Address possible risks Provide Counter Points to Risks Provide the next steps to achieve the goal Next steps can include additional data needed

Next Steps to Prepare Research Individual Practice Read Case in Point Watch Victor Cheng case breakdowns Wall Street Oasis / Management Consulted Search practice cases for the companies you want to interview with Individual Practice Read the Wall Street Journal and think critically about the business problems companies face Practice “Back of the Envelope” math Practice mental math Review cases you have done in a group Group Case Interview Case Competitions Practice Case Interviews (giving and receiving cases) Track feedback

Practice Case: Market Sizing How many coffees are ordered at the Starbucks in the Hub Segment into major student groups Make assumptions Stress test the number

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