Crack the Case Plenary   (90 Minutes)                                        

Cases are not just for consulting interviews anymore. They are now showing up in all types of interviews. Marketing, banking, high tech, health care and a variety of other industries are now using cases to differentiate candidates.  Our talented presenters will give you a complete overview of how to do well on your cases in this engaging workshop that is geared to a broad audience. You will be challenged to think beyond memorized frameworks and be prepped to handle a variety of analytical problems in your upcoming interviews. All attendees will benefit from seeing how to solve a variety of cases including those found in marketing, internal finance, operations, general management and strategy. The following will be covered in a 3 part approach:

Part 1 – Case Basics and Showing Your Natural Logic

• What is a case interview question and how might it vary across style, length, difficulty and content
• Why case problems are showing up in all industries and what you should expect
• Insights on how the interviewer will evaluate you and the CLASSIC skills you need to show throughout your “fit” discussion and during the case.  CLASSIC is short for:
  o    Communication – being Answer First
  o    Logic – showing Breadth and Depth of thinking
  o    Analytics – displaying a numbers orientation
  o    Social Skills – placing in the norm
  o    Integration – pulling together disparate ideas
  o    Creativity – using it after establishing credibility

• Deep dive into how to show solid logic and breadth and depth of thinking across a variety of case topics:
  o    Improving operations
  o    Marketing a new product
  o    Financing an internal venture
  o    Prioritizing between non-profit strategic options
  o    Evaluating an acquisition

• Partner Exercises:  this section will include a communications exercise to practice being Answer First and a logic exercise to practice showing how to make a plan to break-down and solve a problem

Part 2 – Numbers and Estimates, Market Sizing and Analytical Cases

• Why interviewers still emphasize numbers cases, even for advanced degree candidates
• How to prepare for the variety of analytical challenges with easy methods for refreshing and improving your math skills
• Market sizing and estimation case tips using a simple, but effective method (SPEAK Method) that ensures you solve the problem while articulating your analytical and creative ideas
• Group case where we solve a market sizing case together using SPEAK and work through how to engage the interviewer with insightful notes that synthesize our math and thoughts
• Partner Exercises:  this section will allow each person to practice giving and receiving an analytical, market sizing case.  Participants choose cases reflecting a variety of business scenarios in a take home packet with answers.  Cases not used will be homework.

Part 3 – Full Case Flow:  Structure, Analyze and Integrate

• How to think about longer business cases and how to break them down into 3 distinct areas along the MBACASE Case Path
• Review 13 brief video clips highlighting the patterns of a business case interview along the Case Path, showing the back and forth between an interviewer and an experienced, successful candidate
• Work through practice drills for each of the 3 distinct areas:
  o    Structure – how to structure the “case start” and be MECE (Mutually Exclusive Collectively Exhaustive)
  o    Analyze – what analytics to expect with business cases in the areas of operations, finance, marketing and strategy
  o    Integrate – how to use the initial structure with the data from the case to pull together a fully integrated recommendation

• Learn how to manage your paper and engage the interviewer with useful notes, a comprehensive structure and clear analysis while communicating to your interviewer

Now the group will solve a full, analytical case that includes a breadth of topics including analysis on supply chain factors, a return on investment, the launch of a new product and some strategic trade-offs. This case is unique and not found in the book, Crack the Case System. With the help of volunteers and lots of group participation, attendees will:

• Understand the back and forth tone between an interviewer and candidate
• Demonstrate how to structure their plan
• Practice qualitative and quantitative aspects of the case using handouts and “data dumps” from the interviewer
• Break down numbers to gain insights
• Learn how to use their notes and data effectively to generate conclusions quickly