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Interviews

Researching the company before an interview

Many candidates spend numerous hours perfecting their resumes, preparing for case and technical interviews, and crafting their fit story. However, they often forget to research the company itself. Conducting due diligence on the company you are interviewing for will help you build rapport with the interviewer, learn the firm’s culture and values, and showcase that […]

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Frameworks

MECE Framework

MECE stands for “mutually exclusive” and “collectively exhaustive” 1. Background MECE stands for “mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive” and is one of the hallmarks of problem solving at McKinsey (The McKinsey Way by Ethan M. Rasiel). 2. Benefit of the MECE framework You can use the MECE framework to help you think clearly about a business problem. […]

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Frameworks

Product Life Cycle Model

The Product Life Cycle Model can be used to analyse the maturity stage of products and industries 1. Background THE idea of the Product Life Cycle was first developed in 1965 by Theodore Levitt in an article entitled “Exploit the Product Life Cycle” published in the Harvard Business Review on 1 November 1965. 2. Benefit […]

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Frameworks

Five C Analysis of Borrower Creditworthiness

When a company is trying to borrow money, executives, entrepreneurs and consultants should be aware that there are five criteria that most lenders care about What are lenders looking for? IT IS important to understand what lenders look for when they lend money because companies often need to borrow money for various reasons: increase cash […]

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Frameworks

Value Chain Analysis

To understand which activities provide a business with a competitive advantage, it is helpful to separate operations into a series of value-generating activities referred to as the “value chain” 1. Background VALUE Chain Analysis is a concept that was first described and popularised by Michael Porter in his 1985 book, Competitive Advantage. 2. Relevance of […]

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Frameworks

Four P’s Marketing Framework

A useful framework for evaluating the marketing strategy for a product                 THE Four P’s consists of: price ; product ; position/place; and promotion . 1. Price The pricing strategy employed by a firm for a particular good or service will have a significant effect on profit. There […]

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Frameworks

McKinsey 7 S Framework

The 7 S Framework can help executives and consultants to understand the inner workings of an organisation, and it provides a guide for organisational change 1. Background DEVELOPED around 1978, the 7 S framework first appeared in a book called The Art of Japanese Management by Richard Pascale and Anthony Athos, and also featured in […]

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Frameworks

NPV: Net Present Value

The NPV of an investment is the present value of the series of cash flows generated by the investment minus the cost of the initial investment 1. Net Present Value (NPV) explained THE net present value (NPV) of an investment is the present value of the series of cash flows generated by the investment minus the […]

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Frameworks

Porter’s Five Forces Analysis

The Porter’s Five Forces framework is used to determine the competitive intensity and attractiveness of an industry HARVARD Business School professor Michael Porter, in his 1979 book Competitive Strategy, developed the Porter’s Five Forces. The Porter’s Five Forces framework is used to determine the competitive intensity and attractiveness of an industry. Attractiveness in this context […]

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Frameworks

BCG Growth Share Matrix

The BCG growth share matrix is a simple conceptual framework for resource allocation within a firm 1. Background to the BCG matrix IN 1968, BCG developed the growth share matrix, which is a simple conceptual framework for resource allocation within a firm. 2. Purpose of the BCG matrix The BCG matrix is a simple tool […]

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Frameworks

SWOT Analysis

SWOT Analysis is a strategic planning tool used to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats involved a business venture 1. SWOT Analysis Explained ALBERT Humphrey is credited with inventing the SWOT analysis technique. SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool used to evaluate the strengths (S), weaknesses (W), opportunities (O), and threats (T) involved a business […]

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Frameworks

Cost Benefit Analysis

The cost benefit analysis is a basic analysis framework that involves weighing up the costs and benefits of one course of action against another                 IN YOUR consulting case interview you will most likely be required to make a recommendation on a hypothetical business problem. Understanding how to […]

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Career Advice

Researching consulting firms: what do you need to ask?

THIS article looks at some of the questions that you should consider asking in your consulting case interview. After reading this article and one of my previous articles on researching for your consulting case interview, make sure to access the practice case interview questions. Questions, everyone’s asking them Preparing a resume, and building a personal […]

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Career Advice

Researching consulting firms: what do you need to know?

THIS article looks at why, how and what to research for your consulting case interview. To get started with your interview preparations, take a look at my list of consulting case interview practice questions. Preparing for an interview with a consulting firm can be a difficult task. Having obtained an interview, you will need to […]