1. Introduction and round of applause for CTP Committee

2. 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

3. 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?

4. 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

5. 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

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

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

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Any Questions? Contact ncgpsu@gmail.com
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