consulting case study topics

Consulting case studies

Our Consulting teams work with businesses around the world to solve problems , overcome challenges, uncover opportunities and exceed expectations. Our clients’ success stories span all industry sectors — from technology companies to energy providers, financial services to consumer retailers and every strategic function in between.

EY Consulting case studies are a window into how we work alongside our clients to deliver strategic, sustainable growth and success.

• Advanced manufacturing and mobility
• Financial services
• Government and public sector
• Health sciences and wellness
• Technology, media and telecommunications

Direct to your inbox

Stay up to date with the most recent case studies

Connect with us

Our locations

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Legal and privacy

Accessibility

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.

EY | Assurance | Consulting | Strategy and Transactions | Tax

EY is a global leader in assurance, consulting, strategy and transactions, and tax services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

© EYGM Limited. All Rights Reserved. 

EYG/OC/FEA no.

This material has been prepared for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as accounting, tax, or other professional advice. Please refer to your advisors for specific advice.

Welcome to EY.com

In addition to cookies that are strictly necessary to operate this website, we use the following types of cookies to improve your experience and our services: Functional cookies to enhance your experience (e.g. remember settings), and  Performance cookies to measure the website's performance and improve your experience . , and Marketing/Targeting cookies , which are set by third parties, allow us to execute marketing campaigns, manage our relationship with you, build a profile of your interests and provide you with content or service offerings in accordance with your preferences.

We have detected that Do Not Track/Global Privacy Control is enabled in your browser; as a result, Marketing/Targeting cookies , which are set by third parties   that allow us to execute marketing campaigns, manage our relationship with you, build a profile of your interests and provide you with the content or service offerings in accordance with your preferences are automatically disabled.

You may withdraw your consent to cookies at any time once you have entered the website through a link in the privacy policy, which you can find at the bottom of each page on the website.

Review our  cookie policy  for more information.

Customize cookies

I decline optional cookies

S T R E E T OF W A L L S

Consulting case study types.

In the previous chapter , we described some well-known frameworks for evaluating companies and industries—frameworks that are important in Management Consulting Case Studies, and can broadly be applied to many different types of Consulting Business Situation Cases . We also described a number of analytical techniques that frequently come up in Business Situation Cases. In this chapter we’ll take a deeper look into common types of Business Situation Cases, evaluating the core concepts in them and the methodologies for approaching them (using ideas from the frameworks from the previous chapter to help us organize our approach, and the analytical techniques from the previous chapter to help us drive to an answer).

Each of these Case Study categories occurs very frequently in Management Consulting Case Study interviews, so you should be familiar with the basic issues that tend to occur over and over when they come up. In short, you should practice each of these Case types multiple times until you feel confident that you could a new Case of this type in a live interview.

Here are the eight primary types of Business Situation Case Studies as we see them:

Profitability Optimization

Pricing optimization, industry landscape & competitor dynamics, new product or project, growth plan/strategy, market entry or expansion, merger/acquisition/joint venture, start-up/early-stage venture.

Note that in most situations, a given Case will lend itself to several different categories. In the discussion below, we will attempt to enumerate the different combinations of Case Study situations that tend to occur together in the same Case.

In both good and bad economies, companies continually seek to optimize their Revenue model and their Cost structure.  The goal, ultimately, is for the company to use Invested Capital as efficiently as possible.

The two core components of a Profitability Optimization case are a Cost Assessment and a Revenue Assessment. Sometimes, only one of the two will be required for the Case. Note that Profitability Optimization situations often arise as part of a Case Study of another type—for example, in a Case Study involving pressures from competitors or substitute products, you may need to assess and optimize the Company’s Cost structure to determine it is competitive. Or, it could be that the case revolves around the Company’s Cost structure optimization, the job candidate may need to perform some qualitative analysis of the competitor or supplier landscape.  As you can see, a variation on Profitability Optimization can arise as part of many different Business Situation Cases.

Whenever Profitability Optimization is a key issue, the interviewer will usually highlight that profitability has been declining (or is projected to decline) and the Case will involve identifying the sources of the decline and potentially how to reverse or obviate it.

Example Case Situations

• The client is a low-cost airline based in Singapore, serving 24 destinations in the Southeast Asian market.  The Airline’s profitability was strong until 2010 and has since seen a declining trend and is now only just barely profitable.  The CEO would like you to determine what is causing the profitability decline and suggest a strategy to reverse this trend.
• The client is a market-leading, niche ski equipment manufacturer based in Colorado. Profitability has remained steady but the CEO has noticed from reading industry annual reports that two publicly-listed competing ski equipment manufacturers have meaningfully higher profit margins and have also been increasing their top line (Revenue). The CEO would like to understand the drivers of these differences.

Note that both of these Cases would involve some degree of Market Landscape/Competitor Dynamics analysis in addition to Profitability Optimization.

Core Concepts and Structure

Scenario: The client has determined that profitability margins have been (or are projected to be declining) and has requested that you analyze the causes of this decline and put forth recommendations to reverse it.

Expense Analysis

• Gather current expense breakdown and historical expense breakdown (this question alone will only help to get you towards the key focus area, as the interviewer will only have so much information).
• Identify the “bang” areas (this is Consultant lingo for expense areas that account for a large percent of the total).
• Analyze the key Fixed and Variable expense components and identify any meaningful changes in expense areas.
• Fixed Expenses might include overhead, fixed equipment expenses or depreciation, distribution, rent, and/or interest
• Variable Expenses might include raw materials, labor, sales, and/or distribution costs
• Request information on competitor Cost structures from the interviewer to see where the company’s Cost structure may be inefficient.
• Assess whether any expense areas could be cut with minimal or no impact on sales.

Revenue/Sales Analysis

• Gather as detailed of information as possible on current sales volumes and pricing and historical volumes and pricing. Use this information to determine growth rates.
• Identify the “bang” areas (consultant lingo for revenue streams that account for a large percent of the total, and/or a large percentage of the growth in the total).
• Analyze the key product areas and identify any meaningful changes in volumes and prices.
• Request information on competitor Revenue models (volume and pricing) from the interviewer to see where the company is potentially missing profitable business activity.
• Assess whether any changes could be made to improve overall Revenue or Revenue per unit sold.
• Pricing change suggestions/analysis (e.g., factors behind price elasticity; see Pricing Optimization Case descriptions below)
• Volume assessment and ways to improve volumes
• Identify changing customer desires/demands and respond accordingly.
• Invest in and/or reformulate marketing strategy.
• Expand distribution channels.
• Expand sales force or customer service.
• Expand production capacity.
• Expand product/service portfolio (see New Product or Project, Growth Plan/Strategy, and Market Entry or Expansion Case descriptions below).
• Make an acquisition or enter into a joint venture.
• Assess which products/divisions might have the largest growth opportunities and allocate investments accordingly.
• What would customers be willing to pay if Facebook shifted to a subscription model (we heard that this Case was conducted by the San Francisco office of a major Consulting firm recently, though the client being analyzed was not Facebook)?
• A long-stay hotel chain would like to maximize profitability by determining the optimal pricing for different lengths of stays and types of rooms.
• An online movie-streaming company is seeking to select the optimal price mix for its product offering in order to maximize profitability.

Like Profitability Optimization, this is a type of Case Study in which many of the other Case Study types might be relevant (for example, Industry Landscape, Competitor Dynamics, Growth Plan/Strategy, etc.)

Scenario: The client is deciding how to set prices so as to maximize profitability.

• Competitor/substitute pricing is the key element here—particularly if there is no major differentiation or benefit to the client’s products relative to substitutes.
• Price of substitute products/services
• Is the product sufficiently different to justify a higher price? (This points to the threat of substitutes.)
• Customer loyalty/lock-in (as an example: many lower-priced colas have failed to successfully compete against Coca-Cola due to consumer brand loyalty)
• Remember to ask about: Price Elasticity, Price Elasticity, Price Elasticity!
• Interviewers will often give you sufficient information to assess the impact on volume with a price adjustment and expect you to make the calculation.
• The higher the absolute value of Demand Elasticity (i.e., the more volume decreases when prices increase), the more likely it is that a price reduction would be beneficial. Likewise, the lower the absolute value of Demand Elasticity (i.e., volume barely decreases when prices increase), the more likely it is that a price increase would be beneficial.
• Expense-driven pricing analysis
• What is the fully-loaded cost for the client to produce the product or offer the service? How does this compare to the price?
• How does client’s fully-loaded cost compare with competitor pricing?
• Note: In situations in which the client’s cost is higher than the competitor price , it is usually a good recommendation to exit this product or service unless it can be demonstrated that:
• There is a clear path to reduce client production costs, or
• The competitor price is temporary and unsustainable.
• Customer-driven pricing analysis
• How much would customers be willing to pay for this product?  (You are not expected to be able to answer such questions, but ideas on how you might approach such questions are important—for example, running a survey, looking at applicable Case examples, looking at pricing structures for comparable products, etc.)
• What is the current state of demand and supply for the product or service (for example: would an increase in the number of orange juice manufacturers and orange tree groves be putting significant pressure on orange juice prices)?
• What are the alternatives for the customer and the relevant prices? I.e., is the threat of substitutes substantial or can it be mitigated?
• A client is a large nutrition, health & wellness Company and is considering divesting its non-core infant foods subsidiary in order to free up capital to invest in higher growing industries.  The CEO would like you to assess the industry landscape of the infant foods business in Western Europe.
• A client is a global financial services firm that is considering allocating more resources to the facilitation of electronic fund transfers globally.  The CEO wants to better understand the market landscape and develop a strategic plan to increase the Company’s share of the market.

Scenario: The client wants you to understand and assess an industry (this often overlaps with Market Entry, New Product or Project, or Growth Plan/Strategy Cases, described in more detail below).  Usually, the goal is to assess the characteristics of an industry and to determine whether or not it is an attractive industry to enter, to ramp up, or potentially to exit.

• Market/Industry Landscape
• Current market size
• Projected market growth
• Customer mix (a.k.a. Customer Segmentation )
• Industry-wide profitability
• Mergers & Acquisitions activity in the industry
• Competitive Advantage/ Barriers to Entry
• Supply chain: who are the key suppliers to the industry? (Assess this only if relevant)
• Brand loyalty
• Technology, regulatory issues, or other key topics relevant to the market
• Competitor Dynamics
• Key competitors in the market and their strategies
• Current market shares and shares over time
• Used to derive Market Concentration (i.e., what portion of the market is served by the top 3/5/10 companies in the market?)
• Product/service differences among competitors
• Any recent moves/threats by a key player to the market or a new entrant?
• A client is a durable consumer equipment manufacturer attempting to develop a “green” washing machine that employs special technology, resulting in 60% less water use and cleaning 10% more effectively than standard washing machines.  The CEO would like help to determine the product’s market potential and the strategy to bring it to market.
• A client is a pharmaceutical company that is engaged in Research & Development on a drug that would both lower cholesterol and reduce obesity (i.e., help in significant weight loss).  The CEO would like to know whether this drug would gain traction, and if so, what is the potential market size and the optimal price for such a drug.

Once again, this is a type of Case Study where many of the other Case categories might be relevant (Industry Landscape, Competitor Dynamics, Growth Plan/Strategy, Market Entry or Expansion, etc.). Note that such cases could also involve decisions such as the purchase of a major information technology system (in this case, many of the acquisition concepts could be applied).  It could also involve the assessment of a new investment project, such as the development of a new major manufacturing or sales facility.

Scenario: The client is developing a new product and would like your assessment of the feasibility of this product. Would the product be profitable and beneficial in the marketplace?

• Product Snapshot (Less relevant for New Project cases)
• Will the client have any competitive advantage that prevents competitor entry (such as a patent or a way to lock in customers) once the client has unveiled the new product?
• How is the client’s product different from and/or better than competing products? What are the substitute products?
• Pros and cons of client product (for example, environmental and social considerations)
• Is there a risk that that the new product will cannibalize another of the client’s products?
• Customer Strategy (Less relevant for New Project cases)
• What is the appropriate customer mix to target? How does this affect profitability and marketing strategy?
• What are the distribution channels? Can the client use its existing distribution channels?
• What is the methodology/strategy to attract customers to try the product and potentially switch?
• What is the methodology/strategy to retain newly acquired customers?
• Market Entry Strategy (Mostly less relevant for New Project cases)
• Competitive advantages/ Barriers to Entry
• Approach to entering (Acquisition or enter organically?)
• Time/investment required to enter market
• Product pricing strategy
• Technology, regulatory or other risks to entering this market
• Market Landscape
• Future market growth
• Current customer and product mix
• Key competitors in the market, their strategy, Market Shares (current and historically over time), product differences and potential response to client’s actions
• Product/Project Funding
• Does the projected profit justify the required the Research and Development expenditure, the initial capital requirements, and any ongoing investment needs?
• What is the Opportunity Cost of the required funding?
• What is the required financing and how is the Research & Development being financed?
• Will the project result in Economies of Scale (i.e., cost reductions for increased production) elsewhere in the company? (Less relevant for New Product cases)
• The client is a German carpet manufacturer that has seen sales decline dramatically in its North American operation.  The client would like you to help it develop a strategic plan for sales growth in North America and to determine the root causes of the sales decline.
• The client is a surf apparel Company that has three stores on the West Coast of the United States and is looking to grow its store base significantly across the continent.  The CEO would like help designing a store rollout strategy across North America.

Yet again, this is a type of Case Study where many of the other Case categories might be relevant (Industry Landscape, Competitor Dynamics, New Product or Project, Market Entry or Expansion, etc.)

Scenario: The client is seeking to grow its business, whether it involves growing a certain product’s sales, growing in a certain geographical region, increasing total sales, etc.

• Ways to increase number of units sold
• Optimize prices (See description of Pricing Optimization above)
• Increase share of wallet (fancy term used by Consultants to mean that the client captures more of a typical customer’s spending in a particular area than it previously did; analogous to Market Share )
• Determine which products/divisions have the largest growth opportunities and allocate investments accordingly
• Identify changing customer preferences/demands and respond accordingly
• Invest in and/or reformulate marketing strategy
• Investigate means and requirements to expand distribution channels
• Investigate means and requirements to expand capacity
• Investigate means and requirements to expand sales force / customer service
• Investigate means and requirements to expand product/service portfolio (see description of Market Entry or Expansion below)
• Make an acquisition or enter into a joint venture (see description of Merger/Acquisition/Joint Venture below)
• Always drive towards Profitable Growth : in any growth case, be sure to discuss this issue. Growing Revenue in and of itself is usually not a good outcome if the Costs of the growth exceed the Revenue, or if there were other growth opportunities that would have yielded a higher return on investment but are mutually exclusive (see Opportunity Cost).
• The client is an online yoga apparel retailer looking to enter the European market. The CEO would like help in formulating an entry strategy.
• A high-end watch manufacturer has developed a high quality watch called the “outdoors” watch in order to attract the wealthy, younger audience.  The CEO would like to develop a strategy to attract this customer segment.

This category of Case Study frequently overlaps with several other Case categories (Industry Landscape, Competitor Dynamics, New Product or Project, Growth Plan/Strategy, etc.)

Scenario: A client is seeking to expand or enter into a new market, whether it be a new geographical region or an additional customer segment.

• Competitive advantage/ Barriers to Entry
• Entry Strategy
• Approach to entering (acquisition or enter organically?)
• Customer mix/segmentation
• Your client is a European online white goods retailer that is considering acquiring a North American online furniture retailer.
• Your client is a U.S. specialty chemical producer that is considering acquiring a regional specialty chemical producer in Indonesia.

As you might expect by now, this is a type of case where many of the other case segments are relevant. In particular, Merger/Acquisition/JV activity often represents one method of implementing a Growth Plan/Strategy, a New Product or Project, or a Market Entry or Expansion.

Scenario: The client is considering either acquiring a company or entering into a Joint Venture, driven by many potential factors such as wanting to increase market share, widen product portfolio, take out a potential competitive threat, etc.

Important: For this Case type, you should ask questions as to why the Company is contemplating such an action . The responses to these questions can help steer you to the right analysis, as the responses will often indicate what the key considerations behind the acquisition/JV are from the client’s perspective. Thus you should perform a standard Merger/Acquisition/JV analysis as outlined below, but then generally pivot to the right framework for analyzing the business scenario from the aforementioned categories, depending on the situation.

• Evaluate price to acquire (use back-of-the-envelope Valuation techniques to consider whether the deal is reasonably priced, such as those based on Comparable Company Analysis or Precedent Transaction Analysis )
• Market position
• Customer Concentration and customer certainty
• Supplier relationships and supplier certainty
• Barriers to Entry
• Reputation and brand loyalty
• Product/regulatory/technology risks
• Pay-Back Period / Net Present Value / Internal Rate of Return based on current operations and growth estimates
• Add in Cost or Revenue improvements from Synergies (see below)
• Subtract out Integration and Restructuring expenses (also determine whether the project is feasible)
• Compare with similar projections if the Company were to endeavor to grow organically (required capital expenditures, cost of marketing strategy, etc.)
• Ability to combine or leverage joint distribution channels across products produced by acquirer or target
• Value of expending geographic/market reach
• Cost synergies (such as spreading overhead costs across a larger combined business or combining redundant IT systems)
• Strategic fit
• Cultural challenges
• Competitor response
• Plan to exit (if relevant—note that this will always be relevant for Private Equity firms)
• Plan to restructure the organization, if any, and how/why

While consulting firms rarely work for Start-up companies due to the high fees typically charged, there are increasingly Case Study questions that discuss start-ups. Some Consulting firms have even begun the practice of working for Start-up companies and receiving equity compensation from the Start-up in exchange for reduced cash Consulting fees.

Importantly, this topic is in many ways covered when thinking about a company entering a new market or developing a new product, although there are usually some additional issues to consider for a Start-up company. (Most of these additional issues fall into the “Business Plan” category for a Start-up company.) Additionally, there is generally significant overlap with the industry landscape section.

• Two real estate entrepreneurs are contemplating setting up a co-working space in downtown Chicago to attract the increasing number of young IT entrepreneurs in the area.  Discuss the key considerations for a business plan for such a venture.
• Siggi, a student from Iceland at Stanford University, has determined that there is an enormous opportunity for Icelandic-style yogurt in the North American market. He is in the process of securing funding to produce the yogurt on a farm in Oregon and would like input regarding the key considerations for the yogurt to be a success.

Situation: A potential client has launched a new company to develop a new product or technology that is expected to have positive yet disruptive consequences for a particular market or industry. The client would like your advice regarding specific issues in the company development or product rollout, and any thoughts regarding optimal company strategy.

• Competitive advantage/ Barriers to Entry (with a Start-up, this is a crucial piece of the analysis —can the Start-up enter the market successfully? Will the Start-up will have some sort of competitive advantage, whether it be proprietary technology or access to particular distribution channels?)
• Current market size (if the product a new concept, then you would typically be asked to assess the industry of a substitute product or service, or use relevant comparable products or services to estimate the potential market size for the new concept)
• Key competitors in the market, their strategy, current market shares and shares over time, product differences and potential response to entry
• Likely customers and customer mix (a.k.a. Customer Segmentation )
• Industry-wide profitability (to the extent applicable)
• Technology, regulatory issues, or other key topics relevant to the product or market
• Business Plan (the interviewer might ask you to compile a very simple business plan, after he or she gives you some information; key components are given here)
• Product/Service
• What is the product/service? What are pros and cons of this product/service? How does this compare to existing products on the market?
• What will be the competitive advantage and/or barriers to entry for a product of this type?
• Customers and Distribution
• Who are the target customers?
• What are the core distribution channels?
• What is the marketing plan?
• Financing/Profitability
• What are the initial funding requirements prior to cash flow Break-Even? How does this compare with expected future profitability?
• What are the projected Revenue and Costs for the next three years?
• Management and Oversight
• Management: experience and abilities
• Preliminary Investors: reputation, expertise, and ability to add legitimacy to the new enterprise (and potentially invest more in the company)
• Key Directors and Advisors

Being able to discuss the core aspects of analyzing a Start-up company highlights your ability to quickly answer questions about a new project or idea that may be thrown at you when you are with clients.

Additional Resources

There are a number of guides published and online that attempt to discuss different types of Consulting Case Study questions in a comprehensive and informative way. Our feeling is that most of them are not particularly helpful or are too expensive. There are two, however, that we have found to add quite of a bit of value as an “add-on” to the discussion above, and are therefore worth checking out. Please comment on this page or email us directly if you have a suggestion for an additional resource:

• INSEAD Consulting Club Handbook (see pp. 47-53 for discussion of different Case Study Types)
• Crack the Case System by David Ohrvall

Top 40 Most Popular Case Studies of 2017

We generated a list of the 40 most popular Yale School of Management case studies in 2017 by combining data from our publishers, Google analytics, and other measures of interest and adoption. In compiling the list, we gave additional weight to usage outside Yale

We generated a list of the 40 most popular Yale School of Management case studies in 2017 by combining data from our publishers, Google analytics, and other measures of interest and adoption. In compiling the list, we gave additional weight to usage outside Yale.

Case topics represented on the list vary widely, but a number are drawn from the case team’s focus on healthcare, asset management, and sustainability. The cases also draw on Yale’s continued emphasis on corporate governance, ethics, and the role of business in state and society. Of note, nearly half of the most popular cases feature a woman as either the main protagonist or, in the case of raw cases where multiple characters take the place of a single protagonist, a major leader within the focal organization. While nearly a fourth of the cases were written in the past year, some of the most popular, including Cadbury and Design at Mayo, date from the early years of our program over a decade ago. Nearly two-thirds of the most popular cases were “raw” cases - Yale’s novel, web-based template which allows for a combination of text, documents, spreadsheets, and videos in a single case website.

Read on to learn more about the top 10 most popular cases followed by a complete list of the top 40 cases of 2017.  A selection of the top 40 cases are available for purchase through our online store . 

#1 - Coffee 2016

Faculty Supervision: Todd Cort

Coffee 2016 asks students to consider the coffee supply chain and generate ideas for what can be done to equalize returns across various stakeholders. The case draws a parallel between coffee and wine. Both beverages encourage connoisseurship, but only wine growers reap a premium for their efforts to ensure quality.  The case describes the history of coffee production across the world, the rise of the “third wave” of coffee consumption in the developed world, the efforts of the Illy Company to help coffee growers, and the differences between “fair” trade and direct trade. Faculty have found the case provides a wide canvas to discuss supply chain issues, examine marketing practices, and encourage creative solutions to business problems. 

#2 - AXA: Creating New Corporate Responsibility Metrics

Faculty Supervision: Todd Cort and David Bach

The case describes AXA’s corporate responsibility (CR) function. The company, a global leader in insurance and asset management, had distinguished itself in CR since formally establishing a CR unit in 2008. As the case opens, AXA’s CR unit is being moved from the marketing function to the strategy group occasioning a thorough review as to how CR should fit into AXA’s operations and strategy. Students are asked to identify CR issues of particular concern to the company, examine how addressing these issues would add value to the company, and then create metrics that would capture a business unit’s success or failure in addressing the concerns.

#3 - IBM Corporate Service Corps

Faculty Supervision: David Bach in cooperation with University of Ghana Business School and EGADE

The case considers IBM’s Corporate Service Corps (CSC), a program that had become the largest pro bono consulting program in the world. The case describes the program’s triple-benefit: leadership training to the brightest young IBMers, brand recognition for IBM in emerging markets, and community improvement in the areas served by IBM’s host organizations. As the program entered its second decade in 2016, students are asked to consider how the program can be improved. The case allows faculty to lead a discussion about training, marketing in emerging economies, and various ways of providing social benefit. The case highlights the synergies as well as trade-offs between pursuing these triple benefits.

#4 - Cadbury: An Ethical Company Struggles to Insure the Integrity of Its Supply Chain

Faculty Supervision: Ira Millstein

The case describes revelations that the production of cocoa in the Côte d’Ivoire involved child slave labor. These stories hit Cadbury especially hard. Cadbury's culture had been deeply rooted in the religious traditions of the company's founders, and the organization had paid close attention to the welfare of its workers and its sourcing practices. The US Congress was considering legislation that would allow chocolate grown on certified plantations to be labeled “slave labor free,” painting the rest of the industry in a bad light. Chocolate producers had asked for time to rectify the situation, but the extension they negotiated was running out. Students are asked whether Cadbury should join with the industry to lobby for more time?  What else could Cadbury do to ensure its supply chain was ethically managed?

#5 - 360 State Real Options

Faculty Supervision: Matthew Spiegel

In 2010 developer Bruce Becker (SOM ‘85) completed 360 State Street, a major new construction project in downtown New Haven. Just west of the apartment building, a 6,000-square-foot pocket of land from the original parcel remained undeveloped. Becker had a number of alternatives to consider in regards to the site. He also had no obligation to build. He could bide his time. But Becker worried about losing out on rents should he wait too long. Students are asked under what set of circumstances and at what time would it be most advantageous to proceed?

#6 - Design at Mayo

Faculty Supervision: Rodrigo Canales and William Drentell

The case describes how the Mayo Clinic, one of the most prominent hospitals in the world, engaged designers and built a research institute, the Center for Innovation (CFI), to study the processes of healthcare provision. The case documents the many incremental innovations the designers were able to implement and the way designers learned to interact with physicians and vice-versa.

In 2010 there were questions about how the CFI would achieve its stated aspiration of “transformational change” in the healthcare field. Students are asked what would a major change in health care delivery look like? How should the CFI's impact be measured? Were the center's structure and processes appropriate for transformational change? Faculty have found this a great case to discuss institutional obstacles to innovation, the importance of culture in organizational change efforts, and the differences in types of innovation.

This case is freely available to the public.

#7 - Ant Financial

Faculty Supervision: K. Sudhir in cooperation with Renmin University of China School of Business

In 2015, Ant Financial’s MYbank (an offshoot of Jack Ma’s Alibaba company) was looking to extend services to rural areas in China by providing small loans to farmers. Microloans have always been costly for financial institutions to offer to the unbanked (though important in development) but MYbank believed that fintech innovations such as using the internet to communicate with loan applicants and judge their credit worthiness would make the program sustainable. Students are asked whether MYbank could operate the program at scale? Would its big data and technical analysis provide an accurate measure of credit risk for loans to small customers? Could MYbank rely on its new credit-scoring system to reduce operating costs to make the program sustainable?

#8 - Business Leadership in South Africa’s 1994 Reforms

Faculty Supervision: Ian Shapiro

This case examines the role of business in South Africa's historic transition away from apartheid to popular sovereignty. The case provides a previously untold oral history of this key moment in world history, presenting extensive video interviews with business leaders who spearheaded behind-the-scenes negotiations between the African National Congress and the government. Faculty teaching the case have used the material to push students to consider business’s role in a divided society and ask: What factors led business leaders to act to push the country's future away from isolation toward a "high road" of participating in an increasingly globalized economy? What techniques and narratives did they use to keep the two sides talking and resolve the political impasse? And, if business leadership played an important role in the events in South Africa, could they take a similar role elsewhere?

#9 - Shake Shack IPO

Faculty Supervision: Jake Thomas and Geert Rouwenhorst

From an art project in a New York City park, Shake Shack developed a devoted fan base that greeted new Shake Shack locations with cheers and long lines. When Shake Shack went public on January 30, 2015, investors displayed a similar enthusiasm. Opening day investors bid up the $21 per share offering price by 118% to reach $45.90 at closing bell. By the end of May, investors were paying $92.86 per share. Students are asked if this price represented a realistic valuation of the enterprise and if not, what was Shake Shack truly worth? The case provides extensive information on Shake Shack’s marketing, competitors, operations and financials, allowing instructors to weave a wide variety of factors into a valuation of the company.

#10 - Searching for a Search Fund Structure

Faculty Supervision: AJ Wasserstein

This case considers how young entrepreneurs structure search funds to find businesses to take over. The case describes an MBA student who meets with a number of successful search fund entrepreneurs who have taken alternative routes to raising funds. The case considers the issues of partnering, soliciting funds vs. self-funding a search, and joining an incubator. The case provides a platform from which to discuss the pros and cons of various search fund structures.

40 Most Popular Case Studies of 2017

Click on the case title to learn more about the dilemma. A selection of our most popular cases are available for purchase via our online store .

How To Write A Consulting Case Study: Guide, Template, & Examples

When you deliver a successful project, do you publish a consulting case study about it?

A consulting case study is a short story about a successful project that explains…

• The problem your client was dealing with before hiring you;
• your expertise and process for solving that problem;
• and the results your expertise and process created for the client and their business.

In my experience, our consulting case studies are among the most powerful pieces of content we publish. They’re a big reason why people are comfortable signing up for our Clarity Coaching Program .

Because our case studies prove our program helps our clients get results.

I can say that our coaching program is the best on the market until I’m blue in the face.

But it’s much more powerful for consultants to see the results others have experienced for themselves: through our case studies and testimonials.

If you don’t have something of value on your website like a case study — something that actually shows you can achieve results for your clients — then your website will only serve as “confirmational marketing.”

It will confirm what people hear about you. But it won’t help you generate interest and leads.

So, if you want to shift your website beyond mere confirmational marketing to an asset that helps you generate leads and conversions, consider writing consulting case studies using the method below.

In this article, you’ll learn how to write compelling case studies that help you win more consulting clients.

Ready? Let’s dive in…

Your case study is proof that not only can you talk the talk, but you can also walk the walk.

What Is A Consulting Case Study?

When a potential client is deciding on whether they will hire you or not, a big question in their mind is…

“Can this person or company really do what they say they can for my business?”

There are many forms of thought leadership you can use to prove you can deliver results.

The consulting case study is one of them.

A case study, in the context of consulting, is typically a written document that describes…

• the problem a client was facing,
• the actions you took to solve that problem,
• and the outcomes it created for your client.

You write case studies to demonstrate the results and value you created for a past or current client.

What makes them so effective as marketing material?

• They are relatively easy to put together (especially when you use our template below).
• Your potential clients enjoy reading them.
• And they are a highly effective way to demonstrate your authority and expertise in your field.

Next, I’ll walk you through how to write a consulting case study.

In our program, one of the things we teach consultants is how to better understand their clients’ problems and articulate their ability to solve those problems in a way that will attract new clients.

How To Write A Consulting Case Study

Here are the steps to writing your consulting case study. You can follow along with our consulting case study template .

1. Get Permission From The Client

You shouldn’t write a case study that names your client without their permission.

So, before you start writing it, ask them if they’d be OK with you publishing a case study about the project.

Now, I’m not a lawyer, and nothing in this article or anything I write is legal or financial advice. But here’s what we’ve found, through running consulting businesses for over two decades, often works best:

A question we often receive from consultants is “What if I can’t use the name of my client or the company I worked with?” Generally, this isn’t an issue. If your contract says you can’t use the client’s company name, or the client says “No” to your request, all is not lost.

What tends to work extremely well is still writing the case study, but without using the client’s name. Instead, describe the client.

For example, let’s say your client is the automaker Mazda. If you can’t use their name, consider “Working with a top 20 global automaker…”

This gives prospective buyers a good idea of the caliber and type of company you worked with.

When you ask your client for their permission to create a case study that features them, you’ll generally find that 9 times out of 10 they won’t have a problem with you doing so, but make sure you ask before publishing.

2. Introduce The Client’s Business

Once you’ve gotten permission from the client, you’ll begin writing your case study. Follow along using our template .

The first section is the introduction. Set the stage here by introducing your client, their business, and their industry.

This section gives context to the case study. Ideally, your ideal client is intrigued by being in a similar industry or situation as the client in your case study.

3. Describe The Problem Or Challenge

In this section, you outline the problem your client was facing.

Be as specific as you can be.

Simply saying they had marketing issues or a problem with their PR is not enough.

The more detail you include the clearer the picture will become and the more effective your case study copywriting will be.

If your ideal client reads this and has a similar problem as the client in the case study, you can guarantee that their eyes will be glued to the screen, salivating to learn how you solved it.

4. Summarize Your Action Steps

Now that you’ve described the problem your client was up against, you’ll explain what you did to help solve the problem.

In this section, break down each part of the process you used or the steps you took to solve it.

The reader should get the sense that you have a process or system capable of solving the problem and getting results.

This is where you get to demonstrate your know-how and expertise. Get as technical as you can. Show your reader “Hey, this is how I can get YOU results too.”

5. Share The Results

It’s time to demonstrate results.

Write the results that were achieved and how they impacted the business/organization/person.

In many cases, the outcome isn’t just dollars and cents — it can also be less tangible value.

Are they less stressed? Do they have more free time? Are they finding more meaning and enjoyment in their work?

Mention if you’re continuing to work with this client through a retainer . If you’re not, describe how the results will impact their business in the future.

This is also a great place to include a quote or testimonial from your client.

The “Results” section is key because it shows prospective clients that you’ve solved the problems they are facing and have delivered the actual results that they likely desire.

6. Write A Call To Action

At the end of the case study, you should always include a sentence or two inviting the ideal client to reach out.

They’ve just read about the problems you can solve, how you solve them, and the results you can create.

They are primed and ready to reach out to inquire about how you can do it for them.

But if you don’t have a direct call to action for them to do that, many of them will leave without taking action.

So, write a direct, clear call to action that takes them to a page where it’s easy to book a consultation with you or where you provide your contact information.

7. Share It

Marketing for consultants is all about providing value to your ideal clients, being known for something specific, and positioning yourself as an expert and authority that your ideal clients want to work with. So, whenever you publish a piece of valuable content like a case study, your mission is to get as many eyes on the case study as possible.

The best place to publish your case study is on your website or blog.

You can also submit case studies to industry publications. These are a great way to spread the word about you and your client’s business.

Make sure to also share your case study on all social media platforms where your ideal clients hang out online. For consultants, that means LinkedIn.

Work your “marketing muscle” by actively promoting your case study, and you’ll reap the rewards of this powerful piece of authority-building content.

Writing case studies for your consulting business not only helps you land new clients, but it’s also a great way for you to review past projects.

Doing this helps you to find what worked and what didn’t.

And you’ll continue to learn from your experiences and implement your best practices into your next consulting project.

Consulting Case Study Template

Click here to access our Consulting Case Study Template .

This template is designed using a “fill in the blank” style to make it easy for you to put together your case studies.

Save this template for yourself. Use it to follow along with the examples below.

Consulting Case Study Examples

Here are some example case studies from our Clarity Coaching Program clients.

1. Larissa Stoddart

Larissa Stoddart teaches charities and nonprofits how to raise money.

To do that, she provides her clients with a training and coaching program that walks them through twelve modules of content on raising money for their organization, creating a fundraising plan, putting an information management system into place, finding prospects, and asking those prospects for money.

Through her case studies, Larissa provides a comprehensive overview of how she helps her clients build robust fundraising plans and achieve and win more donations.

2. Dan Burgos

Danila “Dan” Burgos is the president and CEO of Alphanova Consulting, which works with US manufacturers to help them increase their profitability through operational improvements.

The goal of Alphanova is to increase their clients’ quality and on-time delivery by 99 percent and help them increase their net profits by over 25 percent.

Through his case studies, Dan lays out the problem, his solution, and the results in a clear simple way.

He makes it very easy for his prospects to envision working with his firm — and then schedule a consultation to make it happen.

3. Vanessa Bennet

Through her company Next Evolution Performance, Vanessa Bennett and her business partner Alex Davides, use neuroscience to help driven business leaders improve their productivity, energy, profitability, and staff retention, while avoiding burnout.

Through her “Clients” page, she provides a list of the specific industries she works with as well as specific case studies from clients within those industries.

She then displays in-depth testimonials that detail the results that her consulting services create for her clients.

These are powerful stories that help Vanessa’s clients see their desired future state — and how her firm is the right choice to help them get there.

As you see, our clients have taken our template and made them work for their unique style, clients, and services.

I encourage you to do the same.

And if you’d benefit from personal, 1-on-1 coaching and support from like-minded consultants, check out our Clarity Coaching Program .

Get Help & Feedback Writing Consulting Case Studies

If writing and demonstrating your authority were easy, then every consultant would be publishing case studies.

But that’s not the case.

Sometimes it helps to have a consulting coach to walk you through each step — and a community of like-minded consultants with whom you can share your work and get feedback from.

That’s why we’ve built the Clarity Coaching Program.

Inside the program, we teach you how to write case studies (among dozens of other critical subjects for consulting business founders).

And we’ve also created a network of coaches and other consultants who are in the trenches — and who are willing to share their hard-fought knowledge with you.

Inside the Clarity Coaching program , we’ve helped over 850 consultants to build a more strategic, profitable, and scalable, consulting business.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLARITY COACHING

We’ll work hands-on with you to develop a strategic plan and then dive deep and work through your ideal client clarity, strategic messaging, consulting offers, use an effective and proven consulting pricing strategy, help you to increase your fees, business model optimization, and help you to set up your marketing engine and lead generation system to consistently attract ideal clients.

15 thoughts on “ How To Write A Consulting Case Study: Guide, Template, & Examples ”

This is a great outline and I found it quite helpful. Thanks.

Shana – glad you found this post helpful!

I have used case studies to get new clients and you're right, They work.

Jay – thanks for sharing. I've worked with many clients to implement case studies and have used them in several businesses and have always found them to be great at supporting proof and establishing authority and credibility.

Dumb question: guess you can't charge if you're doing a case study, huh?

Terri – No such thing as a dumb question where I come from. Always good to ask.

You definitely can charge for case studies. Michael Stelzner has a lot more information on writing white papers (and case studies) as projects.

This post was really aimed at using case studies to win more business and attract clients. But you can definitely offer this service to companies and they'll pay handsomely for it.

That was a great question!

Hello,I am really glad I stumbled upon your consulting site. This outline is very helpful and I love the e-mails I recieve as well Thanks!

Happy to hear that

This is a great site for consultants – great information for the team to share with consultants that reach out to us. Thank you!

Thanks Deborah

It is a good steps if we know how we start and control our working.

All I wanted to know about putting together a case study I have got. Thanks so much.

to put together your consulting case study: to put together your consulting case study:

I have used your outline today to write one case. Thank you for sharing.

Hi – This is a great piece, and covers all the core elements of a case study with impact.

Couple of extra points…

1. it’s really powerful to provide a mix of qualitative and quantitative results where possible e.g. ‘we saved the client $500 per month and feedback tells us morale improved’

2. We are seeing more and more consultancies include images and video in their case studies. This obviously depends on the context, so while it’s not necessarily appropriate within the confines of a bid, it is definitely something to think about for those case studies that you want to publish online or in a marketing brochure.

Leave a Comment, Join the Conversation! Cancel reply

Your Email will be kept private and will not be shown publicly.

Privacy Overview

The Ultimate Guide to the Consulting Case Interview – With Examples

This guide, written by a former McKinsey consultant and Wharton MBA, breaks down the management consulting case interview into comprehensible parts with relevant, realistic examples at every turn.

By  Tracy V.

Posted March 12, 2024

Featuring Ben L. and Jeremy S.

Nailing the Case with McKinsey & Bain Alumni

Monday, april 1.

11:00 PM UTC · 60 minutes

While the consulting case study interview may seem daunting at first, most cases follow a typical song-and-dance. Once you get a hang of it, prepping feels much more manageable. The first part of this guide will give a broad overview of the case interview. The second part will break out the typical structure of an interviewee-led case. The last part will dive into each component, with tips and suggestions for preparing. Note that some firms may have their own specific case interview style. Be sure to familiarize yourself with your target firms’ interview processes before the time comes to recruit.

Case interviews involve tackling a business issue or problem faced by a company (the client). These interviews allow consulting firms to gauge candidates’ ability to perform the job. Specifically, firms are testing whether candidates can:

• Think in a structured and creative way
• Analyze and interpret new information
• Communicate persuasively and succinctly

Most firms conduct interviewee-led cases, as outlined in the guide below. In these cases, the candidate is expected to drive the case forward by asking the interviewer for data or information relevant to forming the recommendation. A few firms, most notably McKinsey, are interviewer-led, meaning that the interviewer will be the one guiding the discussion.

Below are a few common types of cases that you can expect to receive. Some cases can be several types all in one (lucky you!):

• Profitability - Determine cause for profit decline and / or ideas for increasing profit; you will rarely get a standalone profitability case – It will usually be rolled up in another case type
• Growth - consider strategies for company growth; could be through sales or market share
• Market Entry / New Business - Assess attractiveness of entering new geography / business / sector and method for entering
• Due Diligence / M&A - Assess attractiveness of purchasing / acquiring a company or business; client can be another company or a financial sponsor
• Competitive Response - Address a competitor’s recent action (e.g., new acquisition, change in pricing strategy)
• Non-Traditional - Similar to the other cases but the client (non-profit, NGO, education-focused entity) has different objectives than a typical corporate company

Case Interview Components

• Prompt: Interviewer reads aloud the case while the interviewee takes notes
• Recap: Interviewee provides a high-level summary of the case and confirms accuracy of information written
• Clarifying Questions: Interviewee asks 2-3 high-level questions
• Structuring (<2 minutes): Interviewee takes a few minutes create a roadmap for approaching the case
• Framework Presentation (2-3 minutes): Interviewee reviews the structure with the interviewer, who may have follow-up questions. Interviewee then moves the case forward by asking for additional information
• Brainstorming: Interviewee is expected to list out several solutions or ideas (e.g., cost drivers for an industry, ways to increase sales)
• Exhibits: Interviewee will be given data in forms such as graphs or charts and expected to provide high-level insights
• Math: Interviewee will be asked to perform a calculation with the new information or using data from the exhibits. Oftentimes, interviewee is not given enough information and must ask for the relevant data
• Synthesis and Recommendation (2-3 minutes) : Interviewee provides the answer first, then supporting facts from the case, and finally risks and next steps

Setup (2-3 minutes)

Prompt : The interviewer may be giving you A LOT of information - don’t write down everything verbatim. Jot down facts and figures, the client name, and the objective(s). If you miss something or don’t remember what a number means, you can ask after your recap.

• Prep: Have a friend read you several different case interview prompts and practice taking down notes. Create your own shorthand and learn how to recognize extraneous pieces of information

Recap : I always reference the client by name and start my recap with the objective(s) first, since this is the most important part of the case. The recap should be summarized, not verbatim, and you should be checking that the figures you wrote down are correct.

• Prep: Practice summarizing your notes out loud instead of repeating the case verbatim. Time yourself to make sure it’s <1 minute.

Clarifying Questions : Very detailed questions should be saved for the case. Clarifying questions are meant to help you with your structure or alleviate any confusion. Keep these at 2-3 questions. I usually ask questions pertaining to:

• Language/terminology - The interviewer won’t expect you to know the nuances of every industry or practice area. It is better you start off the case on the right footing by asking for clarifying definitions
• Goals/objectives - I always ask if there are other goals the company has in mind and, if relevant, specific financial targets or timeframe. Sometimes, the objective given is vague, so I will ask the interviewer to be more specific.
• Business model or geography - Very helpful for cases in niche industries; understanding geography can also prompt you to think about factors like labor cost or global competition
• Scope - To save you time from considering every possibility, you can ask whether the company is leaning towards one option or excluding a set of options completely
• Prep: Have a friend read you case prompts and then practice asking 2-3 clarifying questions on the fly. Try to think of them as you’re taking down notes and giving the recap. Are they helping you with your structuring or are you asking the first thing that pops into your head? Are they broad enough or overly detailed? Are there types of questions you should be asking but keep forgetting?

Framework (4-5 minutes)

Structuring (<2 minutes) : Do not use the word “framework” during the interview. I ask if I could have time to “gather my thoughts” when I am structuring. In your structure, you should have at least three but no more than five “buckets.” These are areas that you want to explore in order to solve the case. In each bucket, there should be at least three sub-bullets. Make sure there is no overlap between the buckets.

• Prep: Time yourself structuring your roadmaps. Be comfortable with recalling the different buckets you should be considering for each type of case and brainstorming sub-bullets for those buckets. It’s okay to go over two minutes when you first start, but as you get comfortable, make sure you are becoming more efficient. For example, as you become more familiar with the buckets, you don’t need to write down every example for the sub-bullets, they will become muscle memory as you recite them out loud. Review the suggested frameworks for the case and take note of whether there are vital topics you keep forgetting or whether there are unnecessary buckets you keep adding. There is no one “right” answer, but your roadmap should enable you to uncover the necessary information to make your recommendation.

Presenting: Introduce the high-level buckets first before diving into each one. You will want to “customize” your framework to the specific case you’re working on. This does not mean creating a custom framework for every single case. You can use the same topics for similar types of cases (but ensure that those topics are relevant - some cases sneakily rule out an entire topic to see if you are paying attention), but you need to make sure that you are using case-specific language and examples when you present. This shows that you are thinking about the specific problem, not just recycling a generic framework. After going through the structure, pause and ask if the interviewer has any questions. Then, give your hypothesis and state which bucket you want to start with by asking for data pertaining to that bucket and why you want it.

• Prep: Present your structures out loud and note whether you are rambling or being case-specific in your language. If you find that your presentation is too long, consider cutting down on the examples or explanations. Be succinct and say enough to get your point across. Don’t just move on to the next case if your presentation falls short. Keep practicing until you feel satisfied and make mental notes for the next case.

Interview “Questions” (10-20 minutes)

For each type of question, you are going to be doing the same things: answering the question, providing insights, conveying how it impacts your recommendation, and driving the case forward. Every time you have “answered” a question, you want to be thinking, “ What else do I need? What’s the logical path forward ?” The only way you can prepare for this is to run through entire cases! Remember, your framework is your friend. Refer back to it often if you don’t know where to go next.

Brainstorming : You will want to structure your ideas into MECE buckets. They can be fairly simple (financials vs. non-financials, external vs. internal, etc.). Similar to your framework, you will give a preview of the buckets first before going into the details of each and you will need to ensure that it is “custom” for your case. If a structure doesn’t naturally come to you, you can create a pseudo-structure by organizing how you will present your brainstorm. For example, you can state how many ideas you have from the onset or say that you will first go through the ideas first and then the associated risks.

This is a highly debated practice, but I always ask for a few seconds so I can think of a structure (they may say no). Don’t take more than 30 seconds because you can add to your buckets as you are presenting.

For non-technical brainstorms, be creative! For example, when interviewers asked about how to increase sales for a consumer-facing retail company, I would bring up TikTok campaigns and celebrity endorsements as a few ideas. Have fun with it!

Occasionally, interviewers will prod you with, “What else?” This does not always mean you didn’t give enough ideas. Sometimes it’s the opposite – they are looking to challenge you or see how you will react. Just roll with it - if you don’t have anything else, say so.

• Prep: Practice brainstorming for different types of prompts. Collect a bank of general ideas and solutions that can be customized for use across industries. Try to think of as many ideas as you can (four to six at the very least) and exercise that creative muscle. To help you with structuring, have a list of “easy” MECE buckets that you can pull out on the fly.

Exhibits : First, give an overview of the exhibit. As an example, for graphs say what the axes represent, tie it back to the case, and give your interpretation of those axes. This gives the interviewer a chance to course-correct if you misinterpreted the exhibit. Give some insight, even if it is low-hanging fruit, and tie it back to the case. There are three levels of insights for both exhibits and math:

• What the numbers say, patterns/trends (X is smaller than anticipated, Y is the largest driver)
• What the client should do (enter the market, cancel plans, plan for launch)
• What we should do next (reconsider something specific, research more data on X, move on to Y)

Oftentimes, exhibits will tie into a calculation. If you are given an exhibit with data that can be used to calculate more insightful information, tell the interviewer that you would like to make those calculations. The interviewer will lead you down that path regardless but it is more impressive if you call it out.

• Prep: Run through different types of exhibits and see how many insights from each level you can pull out. Practice anticipating what type of data you need next in order to move ahead in the case or whether you can/should calculate anything from the data given. Don’t be too insightful though – you only have a limited amount of time to run through the case.

Math : Before you start calculating anything, it is critical for you to confirm what you are solving for and that the information you wrote down is correct. SUPER IMPORTANT – answer the question that is being asked !!  If the interviewer is asking for the incremental profit from a certain strategy, you don’t want to calculate the total profit from the strategy. Active listening is so important!

As you know by now, structure is everything. Again, I always ask for a few seconds to organize my thoughts (the worst thing they can say is no). Set up the problem before you start calculating. This allows you to identify whether there is data missing. Walk the interviewer through your method and ask for missing data. You may need to make your own assumptions or estimates – be sure you can justify them.

If your method is off, the interviewer will usually guide you back to the right path. This saves you from wasting time calculating the incorrect answer. Be sure to pay attention when the interviewer is trying to coach you.

As you are solving the problem, walk the interviewer through each calculation and use math shortcuts as much as possible. Again, if you make a math error, the interviewer can stop you before you go down the entire path. Save time by only calculating what is important for the case and understanding what you can skip.

• Prep: Practice setting up the problem, walking the interviewer through your proposed method, and verbalizing the calculations out loud. On paper, make sure your calculations are being done neatly and not all over the place. Look for different math shortcuts and try them out. Not all of them will fit your style, but you might find new tricks. Track whether you are answering the right questions. Once again, active listening is critical to your candidacy. Once you have correctly solved the problem, make sure you are thinking about the, “So what?” Determine how that number impacts your recommendation and where you should go next.

Synthesis and Recommendation (2-3 minutes)

Again, I always ask for a few seconds to collect your thoughts (<30 secs). If the “CEO is already in the elevator,” they may say no. Have a definitive stance – start with your recommendation and then provide two to three supporting facts using data from the case.

Address risks and next steps (i.e., what is the required analysis/gameplan – this is like real life where the firm is trying to sell additional projects). Your recommendation should be <2 minutes. Frankly, the interviewer has most likely made a decision on your candidacy. Don’t ramble and try to finish strong.

The hardest part of this is pulling out the supporting data in a succinct way. Throughout the case, you should be jotting down notes. I tend to circle what I believe to be relevant supporting data. When you present it, don’t be too specific or granular. You want your recommendation to be punchy.

• Prep: Run through whole cases where you are tracking the relevant supporting data along the way. Time your recommendation and practice verbalizing the information concisely. Don’t forget the risks and next steps. I usually have a list of generic risks (e.g., competitor response, regulation, inaccurate projections) that I can “customize” on the off-chance I’m scrambling to think of some. Your next steps can be collecting additional data to support your recommendation or ways to address those risks.

Free trial!

From 89 top coaches

Access a library of videos, templates, and examples curated by Leland's top coaches.

Example resumes.

Example Cases

Casing Drills

Mock Interviews

Final Thoughts

• Your approach is more important than the solution – The interviewer is trying to understand how you think. Some cases have data that support recommendations in either direction. The key piece is that you are able to back your stance using the facts and data uncovered during the interview.
• Deadends are okay – There will be times when you make multiple requests for data and the interviewer does not have it. That’s perfectly fine! You can’t read the interviewer’s mind and the case could go in so many directions. Just look back at your framework to see where else you can proceed.
• Be coachable – It’s not the end of the world if your method is wrong or if you misinterpreted an exhibit. The interviewer wants to see that you are actively listening and can take feedback and improve. Don’t freak out! Stay calm! Listen to what the interviewer is trying to tell you.

This guide only scratches the surface of case interviews. The best way to prepare for case interviews is to get your reps in with entire cases. That way, you can identify your areas of weakness and be more precise with the drills. I can give you feedback and additional tips and tricks so that you are performing at your best on interview day. Book a free intro call with me on my Leland profile to discuss how we can personalize your case prep plan!

Preparing for consulting recruiting and/or case interviews? Here are some additional resources to help:

• Top 3 Tactics to Ace Your Case Interview
• A Comprehensive Guide to McKinsey & Co., Bain & Co., and Boston Consulting Group
• From No Offers to Multiple Offers - How to Take Your Casing to the Next Level
• How a Disneyland Churro Helped Me Land a Job at Bain (and 5 Pitfalls to Avoid in Market Sizing Problems)
• Five Tips to Break Into Management Consulting

Browse hundreds of expert coaches

Leland coaches have helped thousands of people achieve their goals. A dedicated mentor can make all the difference.

Browse Related Articles

May 18, 2023

McKinsey Bonus Structure: Understanding the Reward System

Discover how the McKinsey bonus structure works and gain a deeper understanding of the reward system in this comprehensive guide.

Victor Cheng LOMS: Is It the Ultimate Guide to Case Interviews?

Discover the ultimate guide to acing case interviews with Victor Cheng's LOMS program.

June 8, 2023

A Comprehensive Guide to McKinsey Case Interview Preparation

Looking to ace your McKinsey case interview? Our comprehensive guide has got you covered! From understanding the interview process to mastering case frameworks, we provide expert tips and strategies to help you prepare and succeed.

January 2, 2024

The Ultimate Guide to the EY Parthenon Case Interview Process

Are you preparing for the EY Parthenon case interview process? Look no further than our ultimate guide, packed with insider tips and strategies to help you ace the interview and land your dream job.

May 11, 2023

How to Prepare for McKinsey Management Consulting Behavioral Interviews?

If you're preparing for a McKinsey management consulting behavioral interview, this article is a must-read.

How to Prepare for McKinsey Management Consulting Networking Calls?

Learn how to ace your McKinsey management consulting networking calls with these expert tips and strategies.

McKinsey First Year Salary: What to Expect and How to Negotiate

Are you curious about what your first year salary at McKinsey might be? This article provides insights on what to expect and tips on how to negotiate your salary.

Mckinsey Consulting Salary: A Comprehensive Overview

Discover everything you need to know about McKinsey consulting salaries in this comprehensive overview.

Business Analyst McKinsey: A Comprehensive Career Guide

Discover the ins and outs of a career as a Business Analyst at McKinsey with our comprehensive guide.

IQVIA Interview Process: A Comprehensive Guide for Success

Looking to ace your IQVIA interview? Our comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to succeed, from the application process to common interview questions and tips for impressing your interviewer.

Navigating the Shift from Energy Sector to Management Consulting: An Insider's Guide

Are you considering a career shift from the energy sector to management consulting? Look no further than our insider's guide, filled with tips and insights to help you navigate this exciting transition.

Transportation to Management Consulting: An In-depth Look at How to Make the Transition

Are you considering a career change from transportation to management consulting? Look no further! Our in-depth article provides valuable insights and practical tips on how to successfully make the transition.

This site uses cookies to improve your experience. By viewing our content, you are accepting the use of cookies. To help us insure we adhere to various privacy regulations, please select your country/region of residence. If you do not select a country we will assume you are from the United States. View our privacy policy and terms of use.

• Small Business
• Case Interview

How To Write A Consulting Case Study: Guide, Template, & Examples

• Consulting Success

JULY 21, 2023

When you deliver a successful project, do you publish a consulting case study about it? A consulting case study is a short story about a successful project that explains… The problem your client was dealing with before hiring you; your expertise and process for solving that problem; and the results your expertise and process created.

Case Study Samples: Video Examples With Answers

Management Consulted

JANUARY 7, 2021

Looking for sample case study interviews with answers? In this article, we’re walking you through some of the best case study samples on the web. These case studies simulate the virtual case interview environment and represent cases … Read Article. Look no further!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Trending Sources

David A Fields

• Consulting Matters

Case Study Interview Questions and Answers

MAY 26, 2019

One of the most challenging aspects of case interviews is that once you are provided with the problem, there are an infinite number of ways the case can go. The post Case Study Interview Questions and Answers appeared first on Management Consulted.

Two Case Studies in Winning Consulting Business. Connect the Dots.

JANUARY 11, 2017

Two case studies reported to me by consultants in the past couple of weeks: Rich, in South Carolina, nabbed a $64,000 project from a state agency. To win the project, he submitted a proposal that was easily accepted because he was the only consultant bidding. The proposal built on three phone calls between Rich [ ]

Improve Your Business and Tackle Case Studies

Speaker: Julian Lumpkin, Founder & CEO, SuccessKit

Watch this video to learn tips for building long-term strength for your business during this time, specifically with Case Studies . The current environment gives us time to improve ourselves, and that applies to companies too.

5 Core Case Study Principles Every Interviewee MUST Know

JUNE 8, 2014

The case study question is a fundamental portion of any consulting interview. When it comes to evaluating case studies , none of your other skills really matter. The bad news is that case study questions require a very particular way of thinking. Most case study questions require a quantitative answer.

Non-Profit “Product” Launch Case Study…

Wakeman Consulting Group: Dave's Blog

MAY 28, 2023

The post Non-Profit “Product” Launch Case Study … appeared first on Wakeman Consulting Group. There was also positive feedback to coaches, board members, and other parents in the community. The tryouts’ participation grew by over 20% from the previous year, stopping the 7-year decline in participation.

Case Study Interview Questions

Management Consulting Prep

JULY 18, 2019

You have heard about Case Interview, what about Case Study Interview? The post Case Study Interview Questions appeared first on Management Consulting Prep. Are there any differences between 2 kinds of interview? Let's explore with us in this article.

Case Study Interview

You have heard about Case Interview, what about Case Study Interview? The post Case Study Interview appeared first on Management Consulting Prep. Are there any differences between 2 kinds of interview? Let's explore with us in this article.

Why You Need to Use Case Studies in Sales and Marketing (and How to Start Now)

Advertisement

Case studies are proof of successful client relations and a verifiable product or service. In sales, case studies are crucial pieces of content that can be tailored to prospects' pain points and used throughout the buyer's journey.

Case Study - Scaling Through Lean At Theodo Group

Strategic Planning and Management Insights

NOVEMBER 19, 2023

Fabrice Bernard, Co-Founder of Theodo Group, and Catherine Chabiron, author of Learning to Scale at Theodo Group, talk about scaling through lean.

Consultants: What To Do If You Can’t Publish Case Studies On Your Website

MAY 8, 2019

Sometimes, publishing case studies to your consulting website isn’t an option. Publishing case studies with specific names and numbers is ideal. But, case studies are only one way to build trust through your consulting website. I’ll also include 2 examples of “nonspecific” case studies .

Asking yourselves to practice case study interview questions on the move

JULY 17, 2019

Have you ever thought of turning your daily life issues into case question and encouraged yourself to fake it like a real case interview? The post Asking yourselves to practice case study interview questions on the move appeared first on Management Consulting Prep.

The consulting case study: What you need to know

MARCH 5, 2018

Why are Case Studies used? Note that they are not looking for a “right answer”; they are looking for a “right method” Types of case studies . Strategy Consulting : tend to use “strategic” type case studies (more details below). How to answer the case study .

Selecting senior managers for a new UTC Management Team – Case Study

People Business Psychology

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

Selection assessment for a new University Technical College – Case Study Situation A UK-based new-to-be-launched University Technical College (UTC) in Wiltshire (UK), needed to appoint two new key members of its management to join the Principal Designate and complement the UTC’s Senior Management team.

CEO Case Study: Creating Your 'Why' & Improving Engagement

JANUARY 14, 2022

Anthony Taylor here from SME Strategy. We help teams create and implement their strategic plans successfully and help them get to their One Destination. And today, I want to talk to you about creating your 'why' with the help of your people.

Cracking Pricing Strategy Case Studies

Tom Spencer

OCTOBER 19, 2019

Pricing strategy is one of the easiest levers CEOs can pull to increase revenues in their company. For instance, retail banks can raise interest rates (the price they pay customers for depositing funds at the bank) to quickly attract new balances and acquire new customers.

Using Case Studies in Training Programs

JANUARY 30, 2019

This is where case studies come in. Case studies , based on real-life situations within the organization and related to the employee’s responsibilities, enables for practicing new concepts learned in the classroom environment. The post Using Case Studies in Training Programs appeared first on Gina Abudi.

Case Study: How the City of Victoria Incentivized Community Projects

FEBRUARY 15, 2022

SME Strategy is a strategy consulting company that specializes in aligning teams around their vision, mission, values, goals and action plans. Learn more about how we can help align your team with our strategic planning and implementation services.

Lessons from Managing a Cybersecurity Incident: A Case Study with Naren Aryal of Mascot Books

Melissa Agnes

AUGUST 8, 2019

The post Lessons from Managing a Cybersecurity Incident: A Case Study with Naren Aryal of Mascot Books appeared first on Melissa Agnes - Crisis Management Keynote Speaker. Finally, a huge ‘thank you’ to Naren Aryal for taking the time to share this story with the hopes of it resonating with and helping others.

Muhammad Ali: A Case Study in Purpose-Driven Decision Making

Harvard Business

FEBRUARY 28, 2023

How the sports legend and civil rights icon made decisions throughout his career to leave a lasting impact on the world.

UK-based Fire and Rescue Service – Case Study

JULY 4, 2018

The post UK-based Fire and Rescue Service – Case Study appeared first on People Business Psychology. Several development actions and areas of attention were identified for the participants involved, as part of their continuous professional development.

Acing the Case Study Assessment

JANUARY 4, 2015

The Case Study of the consulting interview process may seem like the most daunting part for some. McKinsey - Four practice case studies to work from here. OC&C One short case study example here in this pdf. Next, here are the top three Case Interview Gurus and their books and websites to check out. 'Case

Quitting for 2 Months Made My Consulting Firm Millions. Here’s Why.

OCTOBER 18, 2022

Let’s examine a case study . Should you take more time off from your consulting firm? Quite a few years ago, I decided to take a month off from my consulting practice—standard fare for Europeans but basically unheard of in the U.S. Nine months later I took another full month off from the business. No client … Continued.

No Case Interview Experience? Start Here

AUGUST 2, 2020

A question we frequently get from readers is, “Where should I start if I have no experience with case studies or case interviews?” The post No Case Interview Experience? It’s a great question, and we’re all too happy to provide a list of recommendations. If you’ve… Read Article.

Top Tips from a MBB Interviewer for a Case Study interview

JANUARY 17, 2019

Make sure you fully understand the question in hand and write it down, capturing all of the relevant details and requirements of the case study . The more case studies you practice, the more prepared you’ll be and the more mental arithmetic you practice ahead of the interview the better. Provide options.

Breaking down the M&A Case Study

OCTOBER 26, 2019

M&A case framework. Firms typically look at four areas when working on M&A cases . Now that you have a high-level understanding of why companies buy each other in the first place (refer to M&A deals – benefits and drawbacks ), let’s discuss the framework you should use to analyze the transaction.

What the Case Study Method Really Teaches

DECEMBER 21, 2021

Seven meta-skills that stick even if the cases fade from memory.

A Mini Case Study: Team Problems – Part 2

DECEMBER 2, 2014

Read Part 1 of the mini case study . The post A Mini Case Study : Team Problems – Part 2 appeared first on Gina Abudi. The team does not seem to understand, nor value, teamwork or the benefit of being on a team. Likely, team building did not take place early on in the initiative.

Engage Employees in Change: A Mini Case Study

FEBRUARY 14, 2018

This mini case study shares that story. The post Engage Employees in Change: A Mini Case Study appeared first on Gina Abudi. One of Abudi Consulting Group’s client’s wanted to engage their employees in change. For this brief story, I’ll use the exhibit below.

What if I make a mistake during a consulting case study?

MAY 6, 2009

The post What if I make a mistake during a consulting case study ? Take a second to regroup, and rewind to where you think the error started. Restate all the facts that you know, confirm those facts… Read Article. appeared first on Management Consulted.

Marie Curie: A Case Study in Breaking Barriers

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

How did the Nobel laureate plan her time and navigate her life choices to leave a lasting impact on the world?

Using Strong Emotional Intelligence to Manage Conflicts: A Case Study

JUNE 28, 2018

The post Using Strong Emotional Intelligence to Manage Conflicts: A Case Study appeared first on Gina Abudi. Strong emotional intelligence enables us to avoid or reduce conflicts and to manage through them when they do occur. [.].

One Client’s Story: A Case Study – Part III

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Results from Socializing Efforts Read Part I and Part II of the case study . The post One Client’s Story: A Case Study – Part III appeared first on Gina Abudi. This was important to accomplish before ACG came in to help with [.].

Helping Too Quiet Employees: A Case Study

OCTOBER 22, 2014

The post Helping Too Quiet Employees: A Case Study appeared first on Gina Abudi. In fact, during the last team meeting when a problem was being discussed, and Jack knew that Mary had a few great ideas to solve it, she [.]. Leadership managing employees managing shy employees quiet employees team leadership'

Strategic Plan Examples: Case Studies and Free Strategic Planning Template

MAY 29, 2023

A Mini Case Study: Team Problems – Part 1

NOVEMBER 26, 2014

The post A Mini Case Study : Team Problems – Part 1 appeared first on Gina Abudi. From the minute the team was announced, several of the members were overheard telling their colleagues that they didn’t understand why they needed to be involved in this initiative.

Learning to Delegate: A Mini Case Study

DECEMBER 9, 2015

The post Learning to Delegate: A Mini Case Study appeared first on Gina Abudi. While Amanda is willing to take on additional assignments, she just doesn’t seem to be willing to be responsible for the assignment. She won’t do anything without [.].

TCIP #052 – A Crisis Management Case Study with Monika Lancucki

JUNE 6, 2015

The post TCIP #052 – A Crisis Management Case Study with Monika Lancucki appeared first on Melissa Agnes - Crisis Management Keynote Speaker. For the SlideShare presentation discussed in this podcast, click here. Follow Monika on SlideShare. A big thanks to Monika for taking the time to share your story with us!

Building a Sustainability Business Framework

Brimstone Consulting

NOVEMBER 17, 2022

CASE STUDY . Download Case Study . By: Kate Lee In Case Studies Posted July 6, 2021 How an organization improved engagement, increased internal promotions for leadership roles, and decreased turnover. How a Sustainability Business Framework Aligned the Leadership Team and Accelerated Progress.

One Client’s Story: A Case Study – Part I

SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

The post One Client’s Story: A Case Study – Part I appeared first on Gina Abudi. He had learned quite a bit about the company during the interviews and through research. Additionally, and even more valuable frankly, was his conversation with Amanda, who was the last person in the [.].

A Mini Case Study: Managing Your Stakeholders – Part 2

NOVEMBER 25, 2014

The post A Mini Case Study : Managing Your Stakeholders – Part 2 appeared first on Gina Abudi. She should, first, acknowledge that the idea is a great one! However, she needs to be clear about the potential risks of trying to add in this feature now, including: The cost of trying to [.]. Project Management'

Managing the Complaining Employee: A Case Study

OCTOBER 21, 2014

The post Managing the Complaining Employee: A Case Study appeared first on Gina Abudi. Whether it was the time of the weekly team meeting, a customer on the phone, or that someone else in the group wasn’t working as hard as [.]. Leadership difficult employees managing complainers managing employees team leadership'

Stay Connected

Join 76,000+ Insiders by signing up for our newsletter

• Participate in Management Consulting Connection
• Add a Source
• Add a Resource
• Sat. Mar 23
• Fri. Mar 22
• Thu. Mar 21
• Wed. Mar 20
• Mar 16 - Mar 22
• Recruitment
• Time Management
• Change Management
• Process Analysis
• More Topics 

Input your email to sign up, or if you already have an account, log in here!

Enter your email address to reset your password. a temporary password will be e‑mailed to you., be in the know on.

Management Consulting Connection

Expert insights. Personalized for you.

We organize all of the trending information in your field so you don't have to. Join 76,000+ users and stay up to date on the latest articles your peers are reading.

Get the good stuff

Subscribe to the following Management Consulting Connection newsletters:

You must accept the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions to proceed.

You know about us, now we want to get to know you!

Check your mail, we've sent an email to . please verify that you have received the email..

We have resent the email to

Let's personalize your content

Use social media to find articles.

We can use your profile and the content you share to understand your interests and provide content that is just for you.

Turn this off at any time. Your social media activity always remains private.

Let's get even more personalized

Choose topics that interest you., so, what do you do.

Are you sure you want to cancel your subscriptions?

Cancel my subscriptions

Don't cancel my subscriptions

Changing Country?

Accept terms & conditions.

It looks like you are changing your country/region of residence. In order to receive our emails, you must expressly agree. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails.

You appear to have previously removed your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions.

We noticed that you changed your country/region of residence; congratulations! In order to make this change, you must accept the Aggregage Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Once you've accepted, then you will be able to choose which emails to receive from each site .

You must choose one option

Please choose which emails to receive from each site .

• Update All Sites
• Update Each Site

Please verify your previous choices for all sites

Sites have been updated - click Submit All Changes below to save your changes.

We recognize your account from another site in our network , please click 'Send Email' below to continue with verifying your account and setting a password.

You must accept the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions to proceed.

This is not me

Use Our Resources and Tools to Get Started With Your Preparation!

zeb case: Quo vadis, customer?

Oliver Wyman Case: Full Electrons Ahead

Oliver wyman case: on the right track.

Business Strategy: Home Delivery Solution for Retailer Chain

Bain Final Round Case - Streaming Services [NEW]

Bain 1st round case – airservice [new].

Winter Wall Revival: Advising Knight’s Watch Municipality on Public Sector Strategy

Bain Final Round: Pharmacy Delivery Entry

MBB - Climate Change Operations - Part 2

Based on bain 1st round case (2023): last mile delivery, mckinsey digital / bcg platinion: oil & gas upstream technology, bain + bcg - hot wheels with video solution.

BCG - YodaPhone

Mbb - sky china, mbb - cutting carbs - divestiture in the electrical power market.

GreenLife Bank expands into Asia (McKinsey 2nd round)

Bcg - us supply chain crisis, mckinsey - pharma pipeline, mbb - climate change operations, glowmobile goes digital (mckinsey first-round), any open questions left check out our faq, what are cases, why are consulting cases so important for your preparation, how can i practice cases, what is the difference between candidate-led and interviewer-led, what are real cases, what are expert cases, what are video case solutions, what does the rating of the cases mean, which are the most interesting cases on preplounge, operations strategy consulting cases – browse our extensive case library, consulting cases: operations strategy.

• Select category
• General Feedback
• Case Interview Preparation
• Technical Problems

47 case interview examples (from McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.)

One of the best ways to prepare for   case interviews  at firms like McKinsey, BCG, or Bain, is by studying case interview examples. 

There are a lot of free sample cases out there, but it's really hard to know where to start. So in this article, we have listed all the best free case examples available, in one place.

The below list of resources includes interactive case interview samples provided by consulting firms, video case interview demonstrations, case books, and materials developed by the team here at IGotAnOffer. Let's continue to the list.

• McKinsey examples
• BCG examples
• Bain examples
• Deloitte examples
• Other firms' examples
• Case books from consulting clubs
• Case interview preparation

Click here to practise 1-on-1 with MBB ex-interviewers

1. mckinsey case interview examples.

• Beautify case interview (McKinsey website)
• Diconsa case interview (McKinsey website)
• Electro-light case interview (McKinsey website)
• GlobaPharm case interview (McKinsey website)
• National Education case interview (McKinsey website)
• Talbot Trucks case interview (McKinsey website)
• Shops Corporation case interview (McKinsey website)
• Conservation Forever case interview (McKinsey website)
• McKinsey case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)
• McKinsey live case interview extract (by IGotAnOffer) - See below

2. BCG case interview examples

• Foods Inc and GenCo case samples  (BCG website)
• Chateau Boomerang written case interview  (BCG website)
• BCG case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)
• Written cases guide (by IGotAnOffer)
• BCG live case interview with notes (by IGotAnOffer)
• BCG mock case interview with ex-BCG associate director - Public sector case (by IGotAnOffer)
• BCG mock case interview: Revenue problem case (by IGotAnOffer) - See below

3. Bain case interview examples

• CoffeeCo practice case (Bain website)
• FashionCo practice case (Bain website)
• Associate Consultant mock interview video (Bain website)
• Consultant mock interview video (Bain website)
• Written case interview tips (Bain website)
• Bain case interview guide   (by IGotAnOffer)
• Bain case mock interview with ex-Bain manager (below)

4. Deloitte case interview examples

• Engagement Strategy practice case (Deloitte website)
• Recreation Unlimited practice case (Deloitte website)
• Strategic Vision practice case (Deloitte website)
• Retail Strategy practice case  (Deloitte website)
• Finance Strategy practice case  (Deloitte website)
• Talent Management practice case (Deloitte website)
• Enterprise Resource Management practice case (Deloitte website)
• Footloose written case  (by Deloitte)
• Deloitte case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

5. Accenture case interview examples

• Case interview workbook (by Accenture)
• Accenture case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

6. OC&C case interview examples

• Leisure Club case example (by OC&C)
• Imported Spirits case example (by OC&C)

7. Oliver Wyman case interview examples

• Wumbleworld case sample (Oliver Wyman website)
• Aqualine case sample (Oliver Wyman website)
• Oliver Wyman case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

8. A.T. Kearney case interview examples

• Promotion planning case question (A.T. Kearney website)
• Consulting case book and examples (by A.T. Kearney)
• AT Kearney case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

9. Strategy& / PWC case interview examples

• Presentation overview with sample questions (by Strategy& / PWC)
• Strategy& / PWC case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

10. L.E.K. Consulting case interview examples

• Case interview example video walkthrough   (L.E.K. website)
• Market sizing case example video walkthrough  (L.E.K. website)

11. Roland Berger case interview examples

• Transit oriented development case webinar part 1  (Roland Berger website)
• Transit oriented development case webinar part 2   (Roland Berger website)
• 3D printed hip implants case webinar part 1   (Roland Berger website)
• 3D printed hip implants case webinar part 2   (Roland Berger website)
• Roland Berger case interview guide   (by IGotAnOffer)

12. Capital One case interview examples

• Case interview example video walkthrough  (Capital One website)
• Capital One case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

13. Consulting clubs case interview examples

• Berkeley case book (2006)
• Columbia case book (2006)
• Darden case book (2012)
• Darden case book (2018)
• Duke case book (2010)
• Duke case book (2014)
• ESADE case book (2011)
• Goizueta case book (2006)
• Illinois case book (2015)
• LBS case book (2006)
• MIT case book (2001)
• Notre Dame case book (2017)
• Ross case book (2010)
• Wharton case book (2010)

Practice with experts

Using case interview examples is a key part of your interview preparation, but it isn’t enough.

At some point you’ll want to practise with friends or family who can give some useful feedback. However, if you really want the best possible preparation for your case interview, you'll also want to work with ex-consultants who have experience running interviews at McKinsey, Bain, BCG, etc.

If you know anyone who fits that description, fantastic! But for most of us, it's tough to find the right connections to make this happen. And it might also be difficult to practice multiple hours with that person unless you know them really well.

Here's the good news. We've already made the connections for you. We’ve created a coaching service where you can do mock case interviews 1-on-1 with ex-interviewers from MBB firms . Start scheduling sessions today!

The IGotAnOffer team

KEPLER CONSULTING GROUP

End to End Performance Consulting

• Practices Innovation Consulting Procurement Consulting Supply Chain Consulting Operations Consulting Sales & Marketing Consulting Transition to Sustainability SI, Digital & Data: Power your Business Business and Transformation Project
• Industries Agrifood Air, Space & Defense Automotive Bank & Insurance Capital Goods Chemicals, Energy & Utilities Consumer Goods Cosmetics Distribution, Retail & e-Commerce Lifescience & Health Luxury Private Equity Real Estate & Construction Services
• Publications KEPLER Mag Business Cases KEPLER Intelligence Center
• About KEPLER Who We Are Our Consulting Mission Teams & Offices
• Join Us KEPLER: the Story Job Offers

Innovation Consulting Case Studies

Take a look at our latest innovation consulting case studies.

It is important to increase the cash flow of a company, but at the same time innovation plays a vital role in creating new revenue streams in a constantly evolving business environment. Innovation helps businesses stay ahead of disruption, improve branding, increase efficiency, attract and retain top talent. When it comes to business innovation, there are many options for companies, which includes product innovation , business model innovation, process innovation, delivery innovation, organizational innovation, environmental innovation and social innovation.

To create a competitive and sustainable advantage, it is necessary for a company to establish an ecosystem that fosters the emergence of the products and services of tomorrow. But many companies lack innovation management due to reasons like people desirability, business viability and technical feasibility. So they hire consulting firms like KEPLER to address the challenges organizations face and help them transform the companies innovation process model to be more efficient and result-oriented.

In order to tell you more about KEPLER, it is a boutique business management consulting firm with strong roots in providing consulting expertise on four major verticals which are Innovation, Procurement, Supply Chain and Operations. KEPLER supports organizations in reinventing their innovation model, managing R&D and Innovation project portfolios, optimizing new product development processes, Lean-Engineering, and Target cost design.

The Innovation Consulting approach offered by KEPLER is recognized among the most efficient on the market. KEPLER provides Innovation Consulting Services across the world with its offices in the United States(Chicago, IL), France, China, and India. With all the expertise and years of experience working with organizations on different innovation topics, we have created a knowledge bank of Innovation Consulting case studies that will enrich you with deep knowledge and innovation management insights .

We have curated and listed the best Innovation practices, methodologies, analyses on issues and solutions that we have provided to real-life businesses into a single point content platform called “Innovation Consulting Case Studies”, this section of our website will help those who are in doing research in university, Innovation & Research professionals and decision-makers.

Our executive Innovation Consulting Case Study section covers topics that we worked on in recent times across multiple industries like Cosmetics, Agri-food, Automotive, FMCG and many others.

Our Innovation Consulting Case Study allows you to dive into each topic and detailed information can be downloadable as PDF.

Find Out All Our Innovation Consulting Case Studies

Reviewing the project team model of a leading tier 1 automotive supplier.

Our client, a leading tier 1 automotive supplier, aims at rethinking its project team structure for development programs.  

KEPLER proposes a tailor-made approach to gain in efficiency and be more flexible.  

Communicating Consumers About Product Environmental Footprint of a Cosmetics Company

Our client, a leader in the cosmetics industry, wants to communicate the environmental footprint of its products to its consumers.  

KEPLER proposes the structuration of a program approach and a support on the methodology definition based on environmental impact data analysis and strategic business stakes integration.  

Optimizing the Tooling Margin of a Rank 1 Equipment Manufacturer

Our client, a rank 1 equipment supplier, wants to diagnose and optimize the tooling margin.  

KEPLER offers to conduct an internal diagnostic together with a benchmark to identify potential optimization levers.

Defining and Implementing a Breakthrough Innovation Process for a Leader in the Agri-food Sector

Our client, a French company, leader in the agri-food sector, aims to improve its innovation process.  

KEPLER proposes to implement an agile process for breakthrough innovation based on internal analysis and external benchmark.

Speeding up Time-To-Market of R&D Projects in the Capital Goods Industries

n a rapidly changing market and a context of fluctuating energy prices, a manufacturer of highly technical equipments wants to speed up time-to-market of its innovations.

KEPLER offers a Lean Engineering approach meant to to optimize the entire process of developing new solutions, accelerating schedules and reducing development costs.

Developing Agility as a Competitive Advantage for a French Player of the Agrifood Industry

Our client,  a leader in the agrifood sector , would like to accelerate the Time- To-Market of its development projects.  

KEPLER offers the implementation of an agile approach to accelerate the Time-To-Market and improve teams’ serenity through new methodologies.  

Facilitating Strategic Decision-Making Process of an Automotive Supplier through Streamlined Project Management

Our client, a tier 1 automotive supplier, wants to better prioritize its R&D projects in order to concentrate resources on projects with higher added value and maximize its new products time-to-market.

KEPLER  automotive industry consulting firm  offers to rationalize its project management and project portfolio thanks to PPM methods and tools, to gain visibility and align the teams around common criteria accepted by all.

Improving the Innovation to Market Rate for a French Cosmetics player

Our client, a leader in the cosmetics sector, aims to improve its innovation to market rate.  

KEPLER supports the company’s evolution with a process optimization, a detailed review of the governance and a clarification of roles and responsibilities.  

Supporting a Leader in the Agrifood Industry in the Renewal of its Basic Technology Thanks to Open Innovation

Our client, a leader in the agrifood industry, wants to find cutting-edge innovation in its basic technologies.

KEPLER is supporting its client in the launch of an Open Innovation initiative promoting the generation of ideas and allowing direct research towards promising technologies.

Accelerating the Digital Transformation of Research and Innovation of a Cosmetics Leader

Our client, a leading company in the field of cosmetics, wants to optimize the efficiency of its businesses and open new fields of innovation.

KEPLER offers its client to accelerate the digital transformation of its Research and Development.

Enabling a Cosmetics Leader to better Monitor and Prioritize its Innovation Projects

Our client, a leader in the cosmetics sector, wants to better monitor and manage its innovation projects.

KEPLER Consumer Goods Consulting Firm  proposes to implement a Project Portfolio Management approach aimed at reorganizing R&D on a global scale.

Find Out More about KEPLER Innovation Expertise

Meet our innovation consulting leaders.

Julien graduated from both École Centrale de Nantes as an engineer and HEC Business School, before joining Thales Research & Development management teams. He then dedicated himself to operational consulting. Partner at KEPLER, he is in charge of the Innovation Practice where he specializes in wide range of sectors : Cosmetics, Agrifood, Chemicals, Aeronautics and Automotive.

Sebastien graduated from the London School of Economics (LSE). He has over 20 years of experience in Management and Organizational consulting. Partner at Kepler, he manages the Innovation practice in France and globally. He specializes in the Automotive and Mobility, Defence and Space, Agrifood and Pharmaceuticals sectors.

Mathieu graduated from Centrale Supélec as an engineer and the MSc from both Imperial College and ESSEC Business School. His career started in the Defence sector as a Business Developer before moving towards Management consulting in 2008. Mathieu specializes in the challenges of innovation & transformation of R&D organizations in the Automotive, Air Space and Defence, Chemicals, Cosmetics and Agrifood industries.

Get in touch with our Innovation specialists

35 Case Interviews Examples from MBB / Big Four Firms

Studying case interview examples is one of the first steps in preparing for the  management consulting  recruitment process. If you don’t want to spend hours searching the web, this article presents a comprehensive and convenient list for you – with 35 example cases, 16 case books, along with a case video accompanied by detailed feedback on tips and techniques.

A clear understanding of “what is a case interview” is essential for effective use of these examples. I suggest reading our  Case Interview 101  guide, if you haven’t done so.

McKinsey case interview examples

Mckinsey practice cases.

• Diconsa Case
• Electro-Light Case
• GlobaPharm Case
• National Education Case

What should I know about McKinsey Case interviews?

At McKinsey, case interviews often follow the interviewer-led format , where the interviewer asks you multiple questions for you to answer with short pitches.

How do you nail these cases? Since the questions can be grouped into predictable types, an efficient approach is to master each question type. However, do that after you’ve mastered the case interview fundamentals!

For a detailed guide on interviewer-led cases, check out our article on McKinsey Case Interview .

BCG & Bain case interview examples

Bcg practice cases.

• BCG – Written Case – Chateau Boomerang

Bain practice cases

• Bain – Coffee Shop Co.
• Bain – Fashion Co.
• Bain – Mock Interview – Associate Consultant
• Bain – Mock Interview – Consultant

What should I know about BCG & Bain case interviews?

Unlike McKinsey, BCG and Bain case interviews typically follow the candidate-led format – which is the opposite of interviewer-led, with the candidate driving the case progress by actively breaking down problems in their own way.

The key to acing candidate-led cases is to master the case interview fundamental concepts as well as the frameworks.

Some BCG and Bain offices also utilize written case interviews – you have to go through a pile of data slides, select the most relevant ones to answer a set of interviewer questions, then deliver those answers in a presentation.

For a detailed guide on candidate-led cases, check out our article on BCG & Bain Case Interview .

Deloitte case interview examples

Deloitte practice cases.

Undergrad Cases

• Human Capital – Technology Institute
• Human Capital – Agency V
• Strategy – Federal Benefits Provider
• Strategy – Extreme Athletes
• Technology – Green Apron
• Technology – Big Bucks Bank
• Technology – Top Engine
• Technology – Finance Agency

Advanced Cases

• Human Capital – Civil Cargo Bureau
• Human Capital – Capital Airlines
• Strategy – Club Co
• Strategy – Health Agency
• Technology – Waste Management
• Technology – Bank of Zurich
• Technology – Galaxy Fitness

What should I know about Deloitte case interviews?

Case interviews at Deloitte also lean towards the candidate-led format like BCG and Bain.

The Deloitte consultant recruitment process also features group case interviews , which not only test analytical skills but also place a great deal on interpersonal handling.

Accenture case interview examples

Accenture divides its cases into three types with very cool-sounding names.

Sorted in descending order of popularity, they are:

These are similar to candidate-led cases at Bain and BCG. albeit shorter – the key is to develop a suitable framework and ask the right questions to extract data from the interviewer.

These are similar to the market-sizing and guesstimate questions asked in interviewer-led cases – demonstrate your calculations in structured, clear-cut, logical steps and you’ll nail the case.

These cases have you sort through a deluge of data to draw solutions; however, this type of case is rare.

Capital One case interview examples

Capital One is the odd one on this list – it is a bank-holding company. Nonetheless, this being one of the biggest banks in America, it’s interesting to see how its cases differ from the consulting ones.

Having gone through Capital One’s guide to its cases, I can’t help but notice the less-MECE structure of the sample answers. Additionally, there seems to be a greater focus on the numbers.

Nonetheless, having a solid knowledge of the basics of case interviews will not hurt you – if anything, your presentation will be much more in-depth, comprehensive, and understandable!

See Capital One Business Analyst Case Interview for an example case and answers.

Other firms case interview examples

Besides the leading ones, we have some examples from other major consulting firms as well.

• Oliver Wyman – Wumbleworld
• Oliver Wyman – Aqualine
• LEK – Cinema
• LEK – Market Sizing
• Kearney – Promotional Planning
• OC&C – Imported Spirits
• OC&C – Leisure Clubs

Consulting clubs case books

In addition to official cases, here are a few case books you can use as learning materials.

Do keep in mind: don’t base your study on frameworks and individual case types, but master the fundamentals so you can tackle any kind of case.

• Wharton Consulting Club Case Book
• Tuck Consulting Club Case Book
• MIT Sloan Consulting Club Case Book
• LBS Consulting Club Case Book
• Kellogg Consulting Club Case Book
• INSEAD Consulting Club Case Book
• Harvard Consulting Club Case Book
• ESADE Consulting Club Case Book
• Darden Consulting Club Case Book
• Berkeley Consulting Club Case Book
• Notre-Dame Consulting Club Case Book
• Illinois Consulting Club Case Book
• Columbia Consulting Club Case Book
• Duke Consulting Club Case Book
• Ross Consulting Club Case Book
• Kearney Case Book

Case interview example – Case video

The limitation of most official case interview examples is that they are either too short and vague, or in text format, or both.

To solve that problem for you, we’ve extracted a 30-minute-long, feedback-rich case sample from our Case Interview End-to-End Secrets Program .

This is a candidate-led, profitability case on an internet music broadcasting company called Pandora.

In 30 minutes, this candidate demonstrates the exact kind of shortcoming that most candidates suffer during real case interviews – they come in with sharp business senses, then hurt their own chances with inadequate techniques.

Here are seven notable areas where the candidate (and you) can improve:

Thanking Throughout the case, as especially in the opening, he should have shown more appreciation for the time the interviewer spent with him.

Structured opening The candidate’s opening of the case feels unstructured. He could have improved it by not mixing the playback and clarification parts. You can learn to nail the case in a 3-minute start through this video on How to Open Any Case Perfectly .

Explicitness A lot of the candidate’s thought process remains in his head; in a case interview, it’s better to be as explicit as possible – draw your issue tree out and point to it as you speak; state your hypothesis when you move into a branch; when you receive data, acknowledge it out loud.

Avoiding silence The silence in his case performance is too long, including his timeout and various gaps in his speech; either ask for timeout (and keep it as short as possible) or think out loud to fill those gaps.

Proactivity The candidate relies too much on the interviewer (e.g: asking for data when it can easily be calculated); you don’t want to appear lazy before your interviewer, so avoid this.

Avoiding repeating mistakes Making one mistake twice is a big no-no in consulting interviews; one key part of the consulting skill set is the ability to learn, and repeating your mistakes (especially if the interviewer has pointed it out) makes you look like someone who doesn’t learn.

Note-taking Given the mistakes this candidate makes, he’s probably not taking his notes well. I can show you how to get it right if you watch this video on Case Interview Note-Taking .

Nonetheless, there are three good points you can learn from the candidate:

The candidate sums up what he’s covered and announces his upcoming approach at the start and at key points in the case – this is a very good habit that gives you a sense of direction and shows that you’re an organized person.

The candidate performs a “reality check” on whether his actions match the issue tree; in a case interview it’s easy to lose track of what you’re doing, so remember to do this every once in a while.

The candidate prompts the interviewer to give out more data than he asked for; if anything, this actually matches a habit of real consultants, and if you’re lucky, your interviewer may actually give out important pieces you haven’t thought of.

These are only part of the “ninja tips” taught In our Case Interview E2E Secrets Program – besides the math and business intuition for long-term development, a key feature is the instant-result tips and techniques for case interviews.

Once you’ve mastered them, you can nail any case they throw at you!

For more “quality” practice, let’s have a mock case interview with former consultants from McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Oliver Wyman, Strategy& and many other consulting firms. They will help you identify your problem areas and give you actionable feedback, making your preparation much easier and faster.

Hi! This is Kim and welcome to another performance in the Tips & Techniques part of our amazing End-to-end program. You are about to hear a really interesting performance.

There is a common Myth that Profitability cases are easier. Well, for beginners, that’s may make sense, but I would argue that Profitability cases can be really tricky and candidates without good foundation will make about the same level of mistakes regardless of type of cases given.

The profitability case we are about to watch will show that. It’s a very unconventional

Profitability. It started out like a typical one but getting more and more tricky toward the end.

The candidate is fairly good in term of business intuition, but the Tips & Techniques aspect needs a lot of fine tune! Now let’s go ahead and get started! 

It’s actually a little better to playback the case information and ask clarifications. The candidate does not distinguish between the two and do both at a same time. Also, the candidate was asking these clarifications in an unorganized and unstructured fashion. This is not something terrible, but could have been better, especially when this is the very first part of the case, where the crucial first impression is being formed.

My pitch would sound like this:

“That’s a very interesting problem and I am happy to get the chance to solve it. First of all let me tell you my understanding of the case context and key objectives. Then I would like to ask a few clarifying questions regarding a few terminology and concepts. Both of these are to make sure that I will be solving the right problem.

So here is my understanding of the case: The client is ABC. Here are some DEF facts about the situation we just talked about. And the key case question is XYZ.

Does that correctly and adequately summarize the case?”

Once the interviewer confirms, I would move to the clarification part as follows: “Now I would like to ask a few clarification questions. There are three of them: No 1, … No 2, … and No 3, …”

You may see above pitch as obvious but that’s a perfect example of how you should open any cases. Every details matters. We will point out those details in just a second. But before we do that, it’s actually very helpful if you can go back, listen carefully to the above pitch, and try to point out the great components yourselves. Only after that, go back to this point and learn it all together.

Alright, let’s break down the perfect opening.

First of all, you hear me say: “That’s a very interesting problem and I am happy to get a chance to solve it”. This seems trivial but very beneficial in multiple ways:

1. I bought myself a couple of seconds to calm down and get focused. 2. By nature, we as human unconsciously like those who give us compliments. Nothing better than opening the case with a modest compliment to the interviewer.

And (c) I showed my great attitude towards the case, which the interviewer would assume is the same for real future consulting business problems.

You should do that in your interviews too. Say it and accompany it with the best smile you can give. It shows that you are not afraid of any problems. In fact, you love them and you are always ready for them.

Secondly, I did what I refer to as the “map habit”, which is to always say what you are about to do and then do it. Just like somebody in the car showing the drivers the route before cruising on the road. The driver would love it. This is where I said: “Let me tell you my understanding of the case context and key objectives. Then ABC…”.

Third, right at the beginning of the case, I try to be crystal clear and easy to follow. I don’t let the interviewer confused between playing the case vs. asking clarification questions. I distinguish between the two really carefully. This habit probably doesn’t change the outcome of how the case goes that much, but it certainly significantly changes the impression the interviewer has of me.

Fourth, in playing back the case, each person would have a different way to re-phrase. But there are three buckets to always include:

1. Who is the client 2. The facts regarding the client and the situation and (c) The key question and the objective of the case.

Fifth, after playing the case context and objectives, I pause for a second and ALIGN with the interviewer: “Does it correctly and adequately summarize the case?”. This is a habit that every consulting manager loves for young consultants to do. Nobody wants first-year folks to spend weeks of passion and hard-work building an excel model that the team can’t use. This habit is extensively taught at McKinsey, Bain and BCG, so therefore interviewers would love somebody that exhibits this habit often in case interview.

Lastly, when asking clarification questions, you hear me number them very carefully to create the strong impression that I am very organized and structured. I said I have three clarifying questions. Then I number them as I go through each. No.1, No.2, and No.3.

Sometimes, during interviews it’s hard to know exactly how many items you are going to get. One way is to take timeout often to carefully plan your pitch. If this is not possible in certain situations, you may skip telling how many items you have; but you should definitely still number your question: No.1, No.2; and so on. 

Just a moment ago, the candidate actually exhibited a good habit. After going through his clarification questions, the candidate ended by asking the “is there anything else” question. In this case, I actually give out an important piece of data.

Though this is not very common as not every interviewer is that generous in giving out data. But this is a habit management consultants have to have every day when talking to experts, clients, or key stakeholders. The key is to get the most data and insights out of every interview and this is the type of open-ended question every consultant asks several times a day.

To show of this habit in a case interview is very good!

There are three things I would like you to pay attention to:

First, it took the candidate up to 72 seconds to “gather his thoughts”. This is a little too long in a case interview. I intentionally leave the 72 seconds of silence in the recording so you get an idea of how long that is in real situations. But it’s worth-noting here is not only that. While in some very complicated and weird cases, it’s ok to take that long to really think and gather ideas. In this case, the approach as proposed by the candidate is very simple. For this very approach, I think no more than 15 to 20 seconds should be used.

No.2, with that said, I have told I really like the fact that this candidate exhibits the “map” habit. Before going straight to the approach he draws the overall approach first.

No.3. You also see here that the candidate tried to align the approach with me by asking my thoughts on it. As I just said on the previous comment, this is a great habit to have. Not only does it help reduce chance of going into the wrong direction in case interviews, but it also creates a good impression. Consulting interviewers love people doing it often!

Here we see a not-really-bad response that for sure could be much better. The candidate was going into the first branch of the analysis which is Revenue. I would fix this in 3 aspects:

First, even though we just talked about the overall approach, it’s still better to briefly set up the issue tree first then clearly note that you are going into one branch.

Second, this is not a must, but I always try to make my hypothesis as explicitly clear as possible. Here the candidate just implicitly made a hypothesis that the problem is on the revenue side. The best way to show our hypothesis-driven mindset is to explicitly say it.

Third, you hear this a ton of times in our End-to-End program but I am going to repeat it again and again. It is better to show the habit of aligning here too. Don’t just go into revenue, before doing that, give the interviewer a chance to agree or to actually guide you to Cost.

So, summarizing the above insights, my pitch would sound something like this:

“So as we just discussed, a profit problem is either caused by revenue or by cost. Unless you would like to go into cost first, let’s hypothesize that the problem is on revenue side. I would like to look deeper into Revenue. Do we have any data on the revenue?”

And while saying this, you should literally draw an issue tree and point to each as you speak.

There is an interesting case interview tip I want to point out here. Notice how the candidate responds after receiving two data points from me. He went straight into the next question without at least acknowledging the data received and also without briefly analyzing it.

I am glad that the candidate makes this mistakes… well, not glad for him but for the greater audience of this program. I would like to introduce to you the perfect habit of what you should react and do every time you have any piece of data during case interviews. So three things you need to do:

Step 1: Say … that’s an interesting piece of data. This helps the interviewer acknowledge that you have received and understand the data. This also buys you a little time. And furthermore, it’s always a good thing to give out modest compliments to the interviewer.

Step 2: Describe the data, how it looks, is there any special noteworthy trend? In this case, we should point out that revenue actually grew by more than 50%.

Also notice here that I immediately quantified the difference in specific quantitative measurement (in this case, percentage). Saying revenue went up is good, but it’s great to be able to say revenue went up by more than 50%.

Step 3: Link the trend identified back to the original case question and the hypothesis you have. Does it prove, disprove, or open up new investigation to really test the hypothesis? In this case, this data piece actually opened up new investigating areas to test the hypothesis that the bottleneck is within revenue.

My sample pitch for this step 3 would sound like this: “It’s interesting that revenue went up quite a bit. However, to be able to fully reject our hypothesis on the revenue, I would like to compare our revenue to that of the competitors as well.”

Then only at this point, after going through 3 steps above, I ask for the competitors’ revenue like the candidate did.

Notice here that I ended up asking the same question the candidate did. This shows that the candidate does have a good intuition and thought process. It’s just that he did all of these implicitly on his head.

In consulting case interview, it’s always good to do everything as explicitly as possible. Not only is it easier to follow but it helps show your great thought process.

… the rest of the transcript is available in our End To End Case Interview

Learn the Secrets to Case Interview!

Join countless other successful candidates around the world with our Case Interview End-to-End Secrets Program ! 10 example cases with 100+ real-time feedbacks on tips and techniques, 50+ exercises on business intuition and 1300+ questions for math practice!

Preparing for case interviews is a hard task when you only have 1 week, so the first part you need to learn during this time is fundamentals of case interview

Case interview in consulting is difficult with the passing rate is around 10%. This is because big consulting firms keep an extremely high recruitment standard

A case interview is where candidates is asked to solve a business problem. They are used by consulting firms to evaluate problem-solving skill & soft skills

Related product

Case Interview End-to-End Secrets Program

Elevate your case interview skills with a well-rounded preparation package

• +91- 9640901313 [email protected]
• Search for a Case
• Publications

4 th International Case Study Conference (December 14-15, 2023)

Theme: the future of case method.

⇨Deliberations on The Future of Case Method ⇨Cash prizes for Top 3 case studies ⇨Editorial and mentoring support to selected case authors ⇨Opportunity to publish case studies in reputed indexed journals and case repositories ⇨Networking opportunity with experts in case teaching and case writing Contact Us Email: [email protected] Register here: https://www.ifheindia.org/conference/ICSC2023/ Tel: +91 96409 01313

ICMR (IBS Center for Management Research)

Asia Pacific's largest case study repository for management students, faculties, trainers and corporate executives

ICMR is Asia's most popular repository of management case studies. ICMR Case Collection provides Teachers, Corporate Trainers, and Management Professionals with a variety of teaching and reference material. The collection consists of case studies on a wide range of companies and industries - both Indian and international. ICMR is involved in business research, management consulting, and the development of case studies and courseware in management. ICMR also provides knowledge process outsourcing services to international clients. Over 10 million copies of ICMR case studies have been printed in international and Indian textbooks, workbooks and case study volumes. More than 200,000 individual copies of our case studies have been purchased by many of the leading business schools and universities around the world. Our case studies have won prizes in several global case writing competitions, and also appear in many international management textbooks. More than 5500 case studies, short case studies, and business reports are available for immediate download from this site. The material is available for download as pdf files, with a 'Do Not Copy' watermark.

Case Study Categories

Varieties and numbers of case studies are available in our repository in different management subject categories. Below are the most popular categories in management areas:

Business Strategy

Human resource management, it and systems, leadership and entrepreneurship, business ethics, awards and achievements.

ICMR cases have won awards in some of the most prestigious global case writing competitions such as EFMD, oikos, John Molson, CEIBS, The Case Centre, E-PARCC and many more...

New Arrivals

Please check our recent case studies

Corporate Governance Crisis at Startups: The Zilingo Story

The case discusses how Zilingo Pte Ltd (Zilingo), a Singapore-based B2B fashion tech platform, ended up in liquidation after a protracted crisis due to issues that led to corporate governance failure. Founded in 2016 by Ankiti Bose (Bose) and Dhruv Kapoor, Zilingo was an online fashion and beauty startup company that empowered apparel supply chain players to produce, source, and trade efficiently through its technology platform. It was one of Southeast Asia’s vaunted startups...

Amazon's Private Label Brands: An Ethical Perspective

The case “Amazon’s Private Label Brands: An Ethical Perspective” discusses the ethical implications surrounding the promotion of US-based multinational technology company Amazon.com, Inc. (Amazon) of Amazon Private Label (APL) products on its online marketplace. The case starts out with a brief look at– the world's largest e-commerce platform's launch of various APL products from the late 2000s. It then delves into the various controversies surrounding APL products through the years...

Twitter under Elon Musk: Present Tense, Future Perfect?

The case discusses the problems faced by social media platform Twitter and its future under the ownership of Elon Musk. After he acquired Twitter for US$44 billion in October 2022, Musk primarily known for his innovative efforts, introduced a list of controversial policy and feature changes to the platform. These included rebranding Twitter to ‘X’, making policy changes and sweeping layoffs, resorting to cost cutting, reinstating accounts, and introducing paid verification...

Google's Post-Pandemic Multi-Purpose Workplace Design

The case touches upon the early office design initiatives at Google including at its headquarters Googolplex. Next, it describes in detail how Google’s Real Estate and Workplace Services team (REWS) focused on redesigning the existing office spaces in 2022 and creating and testing new multi-purpose offices and private workspaces to enable employees to collaborate effectively across work environments. Google designed Team Pods with chairs, desks, white boards, and storage units on casters that could be shifted based...

Reliance's Foreign Currency Bond

The case study is about Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL)'s foreign currency bond issuance and listing on international stock exchanges. The case starts with a brief history of the company, from the founding of RIL by Dhirubhai Ambani in 1966 to being led by Mukesh Ambani in 2022.The case then moves on to the details of RIL's financials, showcasing how the company has grown over the years, and how efficiently it has raised funds from the global capital market and utilized these funds for expansion. Finally, it delves into the details of foreign currency bonds issued by RIL...

Enbridge: A Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Leader in the Energy Industry

The case describes the various initiatives taken by Enbridge, a Canadian energy company, to create a diverse and inclusive culture where employees would feel good coming to work, collaborate across teams, and be successful and grow their careers. The case first touches upon the main goals of the D&I strategy put in place at Enbridge. It then describes how Enbridge decided to encourage its employee community through various initiatives that included activities, education, and networking...

ICMR Books Collections

ICMR books are ideal resources designed to help deepen knowledge on the management theories and concepts helping to enhance decision-making skills

Strategic management consists of a set of decisions and actions resulting in the formulation and implementation of strategies designed to achieve the objectives of an organization. It involves taking decisions about the products, location, and the organization's structure-decisions that determine the survival of the organization in the short and long term.....

Business Communication

Communication is an essential aspect of business life. Everyday, business persons have to communicate with people at different levels of the organization or with people external to the organization. And in this globalized environment they also have to communicate with people from different countries, with different cultural backgrounds....

Economics For Managers

Economics is the study of how economic agents or societies choose to use scarce resources to satisfy unlimited wants. It examines how resources can be optimally distributed to satisfy the needs of individuals and society as a whole. Knowledge of economics helps businesses become more profitable through proper allocation of resources....

Testimonials

Case studies are an important tool to highlight managerial dilemmas. The ICMR case studies are of highest quality and tackle important managerial issues, including social and environmental sustainability. The case studies have repeatedly won international case study contests and have been tested around the globe with much success.

-Dr. Michael Pirson, Assistant Professor of Management, Fordham University; Research Fellow in Psychology; Harvard University; Co-founder and Academic Director, Humanet

I am impressed about the quality of ICMR cases, combining relevant issues, innovative organizationa and excellent case writing handcraft. In recent years, ICMR cases have performed extraordinarily well within the double-blind reviewed annual oikos Global Case Writing Competition.

-Dr. Jost Hamschmidt, Managing Director, oikos Foundation, St. Gallen, Switzerland; Head, oikos Global Case Writing Competition Program

Our Premium Services

ICMR provides knowledge partnership services as well as training services

• February 07, 2020

IBS Center for Management Research (ICMR) offers a subscription model for the purchase of case studies. At present, we are offering two subscription options…

Read More »

While ICMR regularly comes out with casebooks, case packs, and e-books comprising our cases, we have witnessed a high demand for our cases for…

ICMR India conducts workshops to train all the interested individuals in case research and writing. For more details, please write a mail to…

Copyright © 2020 - All Rights Reserved - ICMR India

The Social Impact Case Interview: Everything You Need to Know

• Last Updated March, 2023

Are you driven to make the world a better place by leveraging your strong problem-solving skills? Social impact consulting could be the perfect fit for you. But to land that dream job, you’ll need to ace the social impact case interview. 

In this article, we’ll discuss:

• Key things to know about solving social impact cases
• Examples of social impact case interview questions
• A comprehensive case interview example
• 4 tips for acing social impact case interviews

Let’s get started!

What You Should Know About Social Impact Cases

Social impact consultants help mission-driven organizations make a positive impact on the world. Social impact clients are in the public, private, or philanthropic sectors, such as non-profits, family foundations, investment funds, and even some corporations with a social or environmental mission. In the public sector, these consultants serve government agencies to improve policy analysis and program management.

In social impact, the priority is creating measurable impact first and financial sustainability second. It’s important to focus on maximizing impact and understand how the client defines success before you dive into the case. 

There are unique industry considerations in social impact, such as: 

• Understanding the political landscape and its potential impact on the project
• Examining the relationships, decision-making powers, and roles of international, government, state, and local organizations
• Assessing the availability of local talent and resources
• Evaluating the existing infrastructure and its ability to support proposed initiatives
• Navigating bureaucracy and potential delays in the public sector
• Different options for financing, including philanthropic grants, government grants, and earned revenue

Sound complicated? Let’s look at an example:

A non-profit’s mission is to improve access to clean water in developing countries such as India. This non-profit needs to work closely with local authorities to build water wells in villages, taking into account the political and social dynamics. 

Additionally, the organization would evaluate the existing sewage system to determine what type of technology the village can support. It also must ensure that residents are trained to maintain the system long-term. Because the beneficiaries (village communities) will be unable to pay for the wells, the non-profit will also need a strategy to finance its work.

To learn more, check out our deep dive on Social Impact Consulting .

Examples of Social Impact Case Interview Questions

Social impact cases can encompass a wide range of issues and industries. The problems could involve assessing an expansion of services to a new geographic market, launching a new product or service, or streamlining costs. Topics could include economic development, global health, food systems, or climate risk. 

These cases can be challenging as they require the ability to think creatively and strategically, while assessing the potential impact of the proposed solutions.

Examples of social impact case interview questions:

• A private equity firm has recently established a social impact investing fund focused on climate change. They’re seeking advice on how to deploy their capital in the most impactful projects.
• A telecommunications company plans to introduce a mobile money transfer service in India to improve digital and financial inclusion. They want a recommendation on how to price their service offering.

It’s also worth checking out examples of public sector case interview questions in case you’re interested in working for government agencies:

• The Department of Agriculture aims to increase agricultural productivity and wants guidance on how to accomplish this as a federal organization. 
• A national park foundation is facing financial challenges and wants to develop a five-year strategy to increase revenue and allocate it effectively for conservation efforts.

Nail the case & fit interview with strategies from former MBB Interviewers that have helped 89.6% of our clients pass the case interview.

Social Impact Case Interview Example

There are 4 parts to an effective case interview:

• Opening – Understand the client’s problem and ask clarifying questions.
• Structure – Brainstorm the key issues underlying the client’s problem in a structured way. Present your Issue Tree , a visual diagram that breaks down a larger problem or question into several smaller questions. 
• Analysis – Use a hypothesis-driven approach to gather data and evaluate options.
• Conclusion – Present a recommendation using the 5R’s Approach: recap the problem, recommend the solution, give your reasons and analysis, address potential risks , and retain the client by outlining the next steps your team would work on to achieve the client’s goals.

For more information on this 4-part approach to case interviews, read our Comprehensive Guide on Case Interview Prep .

Let’s walk through a social impact case interview. We’ll outline tips and provide a sample dialogue. 

Try answering each section of the case on your own. This practice will help you improve your casing faster!

Client’s Problem

Interviewer : An education organization seeks to expand its U.S. national program, Unlimited, to enhance student success at community colleges. The program currently offers two services: technical assistance to colleges, such as staff training, and advocacy for policy changes at the state and national levels. How can our client reach more students and expand the Unlimited program?

First, restate the client’s problem to the interviewer to confirm your understanding. This is also an opportunity to check how the client defines impact. Remember to ask questions in a succinct and organized way without jumping into solutions.

Pretend you’re the candidate and think about how you’d approach this before reading on.

Candidate : I’m excited to help our client grow the reach of their national program, Unlimited, which focuses on improving student success at community colleges through providing technical assistance and advocating for policy changes. I understand their main goal is to increase impact through the number of students using the Unlimited program. Is this correct?

Interviewer : That is correct. The program is currently meeting its goal of impacting student success, but they’d like to raise the bar and help more students.

Candidate : Before we explore growth opportunities, I want to better understand the Unlimited program:

• Can you provide more information on the specific services offered through the program and its current reach and impact? 
• Are there any limitations or constraints on resources or funding?

Interviewer : Let me provide some additional context:

• Unlimited brings resources and services to community colleges. For example, the program would run training to upskill college teachers to improve the education quality for students. Another example is disseminating best practices for improving the curriculum. 
• The program currently serves over 100 community colleges in 18 states, primarily targeting students of color and low-income communities.
• The organization has secured $24 million in annual funding from a family foundation to support its growth efforts.

With this context, take a moment to develop a hypothesis of how your client can best impact more community college students. Then, lay out the key issues you want to dive into further to see whether your hypothesis is correct. A great structure will have 3-4 key issues with sub-issues underneath each. 

Give this a try before reading further.

Candidate : There are 3 different directions Unlimited could take: 

• Doubling down on the existing footprint by scaling existing programs to more schools within the states already served.
• Expanding their footprint by moving to new states.
• Broadening or deepening their impact by designing new programs.

My hypothesis is that doubling down on the current program in its existing footprint will be the most effective way of helping additional students. There is likely still potential for growth within the communities served and it would also be more efficient to leverage existing resources and networks.

To validate this hypothesis, you want to present your issue tree and demonstrate you can problem-solve in a structured and analytical way. Ask for a minute to outline your thoughts.

Candidate : I’d like to walk through how I’d approach our client’s problem. Here are some key questions to inform our work:

How can the organization grow the Unlimited program?

• Can existing services be enhanced or expanded to improve student success?
• Are there other community colleges in existing states that could benefit from the Unlimited program?
• Are there opportunities for partnerships or licensing the program to increase scalability and reduce resource needs?
• Is there a demonstrated demand for the program in new states?
• What resources would be required to expand the program into new states?

What external factors could affect program growth?

• What are the various types of community colleges and their student populations?
• What are the demographics of students?
• Is enrollment in community colleges trending upward?
• What are the expected future developments in community college education (e.g., curriculum changes, online learning)?
• What are the alternative programs or solutions currently available to community colleges?
• Is there funding interest in specific regions or program areas?
• What are the potential new sources of funding in new states?
• Could increasing advocacy work generate more state funding?
• Are there any local, state, or federal policies to consider?

What internal factors could affect program growth?

• What are the areas for improvement?
• What are the industry’s best practices?
• Which service is more impactful (technical assistance or policy advocacy)?
• What is the cost of the program in existing vs. new states?
• What are the current capacities and capabilities of staff and management?

Don’t worry if you didn’t capture as much detail in your issue tree. Case interviews are time constrained, so the interviewer is mainly interested in seeing your structured thought process.

After presenting your issue tree, the interviewer prompts you to explore the growth opportunities. They are testing your ability to brainstorm ideas, synthesize information, and use exhibits for quantitative analysis.

Before you continue reading, think about what analysis you would want to do if you were the candidate.

Interviewer : The client’s leadership team mentioned they are interested in two growth initiatives: 1) expanding to new schools in New York, which Unlimited is already in, and 2) expanding to Tennessee, which would be a new state. 

How would you evaluate these options?

Candidate : We need to understand the cost of expanding within New York vs. offering the Unlimited program in Tennessee for the first time, as well as how many students we can impact, given our funding.

Interviewer : What are Unlimited’s different types of costs, and what do you think are the key drivers of these costs?

Candidate : The costs for expanding to new schools in new states would be greater than in existing ones.

Start-up costs would be one-time investments required to start operations in a new state. These could include:

• Due diligence on schools in the state
• Technology infrastructure

Ongoing fixed costs could include:

• Administrative or headquarters support for colleges in each state
• Policy and advocacy staff
• Facilities and infrastructure maintenance

Ongoing variable costs would be driven by the number of community colleges and the number of students served. These costs could include:

• Staff providing direct community college support
• Transportation
• Curriculum costs (e.g., training)

Could you provide more information on the costs for the 2 growth options? Also, would the costs vary depending on school size or the number of students?

Interviewer : Yes, we have some data on the costs. 

For start-up costs, you can assume there are none. 

For ongoing fixed costs, there are no new fixed costs for New York since the headquarters is already set up. If Unlimited enters Tennessee, the fixed costs to operate in the new state would be $12 million per year.

As you mentioned, there are two types of variable costs: costs associated with serving each additional college and costs per student attending the college. These costs can vary depending on the size of the school and the number of students. Here is an exhibit with more data:

Candidate : Thank you for the data. This chart indicates that the costs of serving large schools vs. small schools differ greatly. To understand whether expanding in New York or launching the Unlimited program in Tennessee will serve more students, I need to know how many large and small colleges are located in New York and Tennessee, respectively.

Interviewer : The organization’s approach is to prioritize working with a significant number of large community colleges to establish a presence in the state before focusing on smaller colleges. In New York, Unlimited is already working with all the large community colleges. 

How would you estimate the number of additional students that Unlimited can serve annually in New York versus Tennessee with the funding?

Once you have the necessary data, ask for a few minutes to perform your analysis. 

For practice, try doing the analysis before reading the answer below.

Candidate : First, we can solve how many community colleges can be served in each state, given the $24 million budget. Then, we can use that information to calculate the number of students impacted. I’m assuming only small colleges for New York and only large colleges for Tennessee. 

Candidate : The number of students impacted is greater if we expand to large community colleges in Tennessee rather than small community colleges in New York, so I’d recommend expanding to Tennessee.

Interviewer : Are there any other considerations you would like to explore?

Always keep in mind the ultimate objective is to achieve the greatest possible impact. In this case, it is reaching the highest number of students. The interviewer is interested in evaluating your structure, creativity, and social impact knowledge.

Candidate : You mentioned earlier that the program focuses on students of color and low-income communities. I’d want to ensure the proposed growth initiatives in Tennessee reach these groups.

Interviewer : Can you walk me through what you would do?

Candidate : We can gather both quantitative and qualitative data to support our analysis. Quantitative data could include census data, such as demographics and the number of low-income families. Additionally, we could interview education experts or current parents of students at Unlimited to gain insights into their experiences.

Use the 5R structure in your conclusion: recap, recommend, reason, risks, and retain.

Before you read the answer, give it a try. 

Interviewer : What would your recommendation be?

Candidate : Our client wants help expanding the Unlimited program to reach more students. After analyzing the data, I am revising my initial hypothesis of expanding an existing market. 

I recommend entering the Tennessee community as it presents the opportunity to serve 100K new students, which is 25K more than if we allocated funds to expand in New York. This aligns with the current expertise of serving large community colleges. Expanding to a new state could increase visibility at a national level, open up more funding options, and increase advocacy power.

A risk to expanding to a new state is the potential lack of suitable leadership. To mitigate this, we could identify top performers from existing states and assign them to lead the launch in Tennessee.

The next step would be to develop an implementation plan that outlines how to engage stakeholders in Tennessee and establish successful operations.

How did you do? 

If this was your first consulting case and it was harder than you expected, don’t worry. They get easier with practice. See the links below for other helpful articles, or sign up for our exclusive free training.

4 Tips for Acing a Social Impact Case Interview

1. prepare early and focus on social impact cases.

Practice your mock interviews with people experienced in impact-driven approaches. It’s important to familiarize yourself with a range of social impact cases with different perspectives.

2. Align on Success Metrics

At the beginning of your interview, always make sure you’re clear on the client’s impact goals. Be sure to understand both how they define impact and whether there is a specific level of impact they are aiming for. Solve for impact first, then financial sustainability.

3. Apply a Hypothesis-Driven Approach

Formulate a hypothesis and create an issue tree before collecting data. This approach will help you avoid getting stuck in excessive analysis without making progress toward a recommendation.

We recommend our hypothesis-driven approach article for more information.

4. Show Your Passion for Social Impact

Familiarize yourself with the firm’s case studies on its website. Use your past experience or general knowledge of social impact to bolster your reasoning during the case.

– – – – –

In this article, we’ve covered:

• Important elements to keep in mind when tackling social impact cases
• Examples of case interview topics and questions
• A full case social impact case example
• Practical tips on how to excel in social impact case interviews

Still have questions?

If you have more questions about the social impact case interview, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s case coaches will answer them.

Other people prepping for social impact case interviews found the following pages helpful:

• Social Impact Consulting
• Our Ultimate Guide to Case Interview Prep
• Consulting Cover Letters
• Hypothesis-driven Approach

Help with Case Study Interview Prep

Thanks for turning to My Consulting Offer for advice on case interview prep. My Consulting Offer has helped 89.6% of the people we’ve worked with to get a job in management consultin g. We want you to be successful in your consulting interviews too. For example, here is how Victoria was able to get her offer from Bain.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

© My CONSULTING Offer

3 Top Strategies to Master the Case Interview in Under a Week

We are sharing our powerful strategies to pass the case interview even if you have no business background, zero casing experience, or only have a week to prepare.

No thanks, I don't want free strategies to get into consulting.

We are excited to invite you to the online event., where should we send you the calendar invite and login information.

Hacking the Case Interview

Consulting group case interviews are given to candidates to assess teamwork in addition to communication skills, quantitative skills, and business acumen. They are used by consulting firms such as Bain, Deloitte, PwC , and EY-Parthenon .

Have an upcoming consulting group case interview? We have you covered. In this article, we'll go through in detail:

• What is a consulting group case interview?
• Different formats of consulting group case interviews
• Why are consulting group case interviews used?
• What do consulting group case interviews assess?
• How to solve consulting group case interviews
• How to stand out in consulting group case interviews
• Consulting group case interview tips

If you’re looking for a step-by-step shortcut to learn case interviews quickly, enroll in our case interview course . These insider strategies from a former Bain interviewer helped 30,000+ land consulting offers while saving hundreds of hours of prep time.

What is a Consulting Group Case Interview?

Consulting group case interviews are a special variant of the traditional case interview. Before preparing for group case interviews, you should first become familiar with how to solve a traditional case interview .

Like a case interview, you’ll still be placed in a hypothetical business situation and asked to develop a recommendation or answer to a business problem. However, for consulting group case interviews, you’ll be put in a group of 3 to 6 people with other candidates that are also interviewing for the same consulting job.

The group will be given materials which contain the case background, objective, and other information needed to solve the case. You’ll initially have some time to read the information independently, but will spend most of the time discussing the case and working together as a group.

During these discussions, the interviewer will be observing and taking notes on each candidate.

For some group case interviews, you will also create a group presentation. As a group, you’ll present your recommendation to the interviewer who will ask follow-up questions on the work and findings.

Consulting group case interviews are much less commonly used than traditional case interviews, but they are as equally as important. They are typically given in second or final round interviews .

For firms and offices that use group case interviews, you will not receive a consulting job offer unless you can pass them.

Different Formats of Consulting Group Case Interviews

There are two different formats of consulting group case interviews:  

Discussion only group case interviews

Presentation group case interviews.

A discussion only group case interview has the following structure:

This format of group case interview has no presentation component. The group will be given materials with the case background information and objective.

You’ll have some time to read the information independently, but then the interviewer will bring the group together and ask the group to discuss different questions related to solving the case.

The interviewer will be heavily involved in the discussion by asking questions for the group to answer and steering the direction of the discussion.

The discussion only group case interview is focused on assessing the answers that candidates contribute to the group and how well candidates communicate with each other.

A presentation group case interview has the following structure:

The group will be given materials that not only contain the case background and objective, but contain other information needed to solve the case. There is typically more material given in this format because you will be given more time to prepare and discuss.

The group will be given about an hour to discuss the case and create a group presentation. During this time, the interviewer will be listening in on the conversations that the group will have, but they will not interfere or answer any questions.

It is up to the group how they want to allocate their time, what topics they want to discuss, and how they want to handle creating and giving the group presentation.

Once time is up, the group will present their work and findings to the interviewer, who will ask follow-up questions.

The presentation group case interview is focused on assessing how well each candidate contributes to the group, how well candidates work with each other, and the quality of the final presentation.

Why are Consulting Group Case Interviews Used?

Consulting group case interviews are used because they are another way for consulting firms to predict which candidates would make the best consultants.

Group case interviews simulate the consulting job by placing you in a hypothetical business situation. You will need to work as a team to analyze and discuss information and then give a presentation on your recommendation. This is what consultants do every day .

These types of case interviews are used in addition to traditional case interviews because they assess a set of skills that traditional case interviews cannot assess.

Group case interviews focus on teamwork and collaboration. By putting candidates into groups, interviewers can assess how candidates work with other people and how open candidates are to other people’s ideas.

They can see how effectively candidates communicate and persuade teammates and how candidates can balance listening and leading.

What do Consulting Group Case Interviews Assess?

There are four major qualities that group case interviews assess.

Logical, structured thinking : Consultants need to be organized and methodical to work efficiently.

• Can you structure complex problems in a clear, simple way?
• Can you use logic and reason to make appropriate conclusions?

Interpersonal skills : Relationships are important in consulting. You’ll be working with teammates and clients every day, so fostering strong relationships is imperative.

• Are you easy to work with?
• Can you handle conflict or disagreement with teammates?

Teamwork skills : Consultants work closely in small teams. To be successful, consultants need to know how to work effectively in groups.

• Can you make meaningful contributions while working in a group?
• Do you bring out the best ideas and qualities in other people?

Presentation skills : Consultants need strong communication skills to present their work in a clear, concise, and persuasive way.

• Can you communicate in a clear and concise way?
• Are you articulate and persuasive in what you are saying?

How to Solve Consulting Group Case Interviews

Solving consulting group case interviews follows the same steps as solving traditional case interviews. There are four main steps:

• Understand the problem
• Create a framework
• Answer quantitative and qualitative questions
• Develop a recommendation

1. Understand the problem

The first step to solving a consulting group case interview is to fully understand the problem or objective. What is the overall business question that the group is trying to answer?

Answering or solving the wrong business problem is the quickest way to fail a group case interview.

2. Create a framework

Next, as a group, you’ll want to create some kind of framework to help you solve the case. A framework is a tool that helps you structure and break down complex problems into simpler, smaller components.

For group case interviews, your framework will help guide the group discussion. The framework collects and organizes all of the topics that the group needs to discuss and all of the questions the group needs to answer.

3. Discuss and answer quantitative and qualitative questions

Once your group has aligned on a framework to use, you can move onto the discussion. During the discussion, you will answer many of the questions that were raised in the framework that was created.

Some of these questions will be qualitative, requiring only business knowledge and judgment to answer. Other questions may be more quantitative, requiring some calculations or estimations from the case information provided.

It is up to the group what order they want to answer and discuss the questions. It is also up to the group whether they want to tackle these questions as an entire group or if they want to split up into smaller groups.

Discussion will continue until the group has reached an answer or conclusion that is accepted by everyone.

4. Develop a recommendation

Once you have finished discussing and answering all of the important questions, you will need to align on an overall recommendation.

To do this, review all of the answers and conclusions that the group has drawn. Identify which recommendation they collectively support.

If the group case interview has a presentation component, you will also need to decide how to split up the presentation across the different members of the group.

How to Stand Out in Consulting Group Case Interviews

The best way to stand out and distinguish yourself in a group case interview is to focus on adding as much value as you can to the group.

There are six different ways you can add value to the group.

Lead or facilitate the discussion

If the interviewer is not leading the discussion and just observing the group, one way to add value is to lead or facilitate the discussion.

You can propose what topics to discuss, the order they should be discussed in, and how much time should be allocated to each topic. When the group gets off track or goes on a tangent, you can bring the group’s focus back together.

Leading or facilitating the discussion establishes you as a group leader, which will leave a positive impression on the interviewer. However, because this role has so much responsibility and visibility, many people will try to take on this role.

Therefore, a group may have multiple leaders or facilitators. When trying to lead the group, make sure you remain respectful and do not interrupt other people when they are speaking.

Expand upon other people’s ideas

Another way to add value is to expand upon other people’s ideas. If a group member suggests a great idea or raises a good point, you can build upon it.

Wait until the group member has finished speaking and then jump in and compliment that person’s idea. Add more details or give more examples to make the idea more concrete.

Synthesize information

Another easy way to add value to the group is to synthesize information that other people have said. A synthesis is simply a reconciliation of different viewpoints and ideas together. This requires minimal effort, but adds tremendous value to the group.

What is the best way to synthesize information?

First, concisely summarize the major ideas that group members have made. Then, state what you like about each idea. Finally, propose an idea that consolidates the best points of each idea.

Synthesizing information does not require much thinking because you are simply repurposing the ideas of other people. This makes it an easy way to contribute to the group.

Keep track of time

Time goes by very quickly in a consulting group case interview. Therefore, a simple way to add value is to be a time keeper and make sure that the team is on track.

In the beginning of the discussion, you can propose a schedule or plan to make the most of the limited time that the group has. You can then volunteer to keep track of the time so that the group can finish discussing and deciding on everything that it needs to.

Play devil’s advocate

Another way to add value to the group is by playing devil’s advocate. You can help the team develop strong points and ideas by testing the team’s thinking and considering potential risks or downsides.

When the team has decided on an idea, bring up potential risks or downsides that the team should consider. This helps the team develop a more fully thought out answer or recommendation.

Be careful when playing devil’s advocate. You do not want to be attacking ideas or bringing them down. Instead, you want to be offering constructive feedback to test the idea and make it stronger.

The final way to add value to the group is to take notes for the team. By taking notes and keeping track of what other people are saying, you’ll be able to recall what has been discussed if any group members have questions.

This way of adding value to the group is not as recommended as the other strategies to add value.

Taking notes deprives you of opportunities to speak. Therefore, it is better to focus on understanding what other people are saying to identify opportunities to speak up rather than to focus on taking the best notes.

Consulting Group Case Interview Tips

Below are the seven biggest group case interview tips. Follow these tips to give yourself an edge over other candidates.

1. Treat your group members as teammates, not competition

While you may feel like you are competing against members of your group for a job offer, this is not the case. Multiple people or even all people in your group can receive job offers.

Rather than treating your group members like competition and trying to make yourself look better than them, treat your group members as teammates. You should think about the group case interview as your team versus the case, not you versus your teammates.

If you work well as a group and deliver an outstanding discussion or presentation, that increases the likelihood that members of the group will receive offers. If the group spends all of their time attacking each other’s comments and fighting for speaking time, the group will likely deliver a poor discussion or presentation, which makes everyone in the group look bad.

The key is to focus on delivering an outstanding result and not to focus on competing with other teammates.

2. Don’t speak too much and don’t speak too little

How much should you speak in a group case interview?

The problem with speaking too little during a group case interview is that you won’t have many opportunities to demonstrate your interpersonal, teamwork, and presentation skills. Interviewers may also think that you are shy and afraid of speaking in a group, qualities that are not ideal for a consultant.

The problem with speaking too much during a group case interview is that you may be seen as too aggressive and controlling. Speaking too much reflects poorly on you because you are taking away opportunities from other teammates to speak and contribute. You may come off as rude and disruptive if you interrupt people and talk over them.

If you were to rank order all of the members in your group by how much each person spoke, you would want to fall right in the middle. That is the perfect balance of speaking and listening.

3. Speak only if you are adding value to the group

Just because you speak a lot during a group case interview does not mean that you are doing well. The quality of what you are saying is much more important than the quantity.

If you are speaking a lot, but not adding that much value to the group, you will be seen as a poor teammate. A great teammate knows when to speak and when to listen.

Therefore, you should only speak if you are adding value to the group. Do not speak just to reach your participation quota.

4. Don’t interrupt or talk over people

The most common way to fail a group case interview is to come off as a jerk. Consultants work closely in small teams and no one wants to work with someone that is a jerk.

How do you avoid this?

First, don’t interrupt or talk over people. If someone is speaking, allow them to finish what they are saying before jumping in with your own thoughts. Second, don’t attack other people’s ideas. You may bring up your concerns and disagreements, but you should never blatantly tell someone that their idea is bad.

As long as you are a nice and respectful teammate, you will be miles ahead of anyone that is overly aggressive, pushy, or rude.

5. Involve other people

An easy way to demonstrate that you are a great teammate is to involve other people.

If you notice that someone has not spoken in a long time, ask them what their thoughts are on the discussion. If you notice that someone was cut off when speaking, ask them to finish their thoughts after the person interrupting them finishes what they are saying.

All of these actions require minimal effort, but add tremendous value to the group while making you look like a great teammate.

6. Don’t spend too much time reading independently

In the beginning of the group case interview, your group will be given materials on the case background, objective, and other information needed to solve the case. Your group members will likely spend the beginning of the group case interview reading the materials by themselves.

Do not spend too much time reading the material independently.

The purpose of the group case interview is to have discussions and work together as a group. The more time your group spends reading the material independently, the less time the group has to demonstrate interpersonal and teamwork skills.

7. You don’t need to have your idea or recommendation chosen

Remember that multiple or even all people in your group can receive job offers. Therefore, you do not need to have your own ideas or recommendations chosen in order to receive an offer.

Fighting or pushing too hard for your own ideas and recommendations may actually harm you. It may suggest that you are not open to other people’s ideas and not willing to support your teammates.

Learn Case Interviews 10x Faster

Here are the resources we recommend to learn the most robust, effective case interview strategies in the least time-consuming way:

• Comprehensive Case Interview Course (our #1 recommendation): The only resource you need. Whether you have no business background, rusty math skills, or are short on time, this step-by-step course will transform you into a top 1% caser that lands multiple consulting offers.
• Hacking the Case Interview Book   (available on Amazon): Perfect for beginners that are short on time. Transform yourself from a stressed-out case interview newbie to a confident intermediate in under a week. Some readers finish this book in a day and can already tackle tough cases.
• The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook (available on Amazon): Perfect for intermediates struggling with frameworks, case math, or generating business insights. No need to find a case partner – these drills, practice problems, and full-length cases can all be done by yourself.
• Case Interview Coaching : Personalized, one-on-one coaching with former consulting interviewers
• Behavioral & Fit Interview Course : Be prepared for 98% of behavioral and fit questions in just a few hours. We'll teach you exactly how to draft answers that will impress your interviewer
• Resume Review & Editing : Transform your resume into one that will get you multiple interviews

Land Multiple Consulting Offers

Complete, step-by-step case interview course. 30,000+ happy customers.