Before we look at individual Cases, it is important to begin by looking at analysis frameworks that commonly can be used to address Case Study questions. In this chapter, we will outline some of the core frameworks and some additional Consulting concepts that are important to grasp and will form part of many interviews. The frameworks will be helpful to answer certain types of cases, depending on the type of case. In reality, few case interviews or real-life business situations cover just one concept or business problem, so you have to have the flexibility to apply a range of concepts/structures. For example, a Company bringing a new product to market would require a market size analysis, competitor analysis, as well as understanding the key customer segments. The more you practice, the easier the cases will become and the more articulate and structured you’ll be in your answers.

An important note on this: historically, the vast majority of Consulting candidates have used specific business frameworks to answer cases. Frameworks remain important as concepts to answer Case Studies, but you should absolutely avoid any rigid use of a specific framework. In reality, the main purpose of learning the frameworks is to help you to structure your answers, just as the case situations in our later examples should do. The key frameworks that follow should be used directly in certain Case situations, but more broadly they should be used as a way to expand your strategic thinking, which is the critical component of success in the Case Study interview process. Ultimately, a top-flight candidate will build his or her own framework/structure for evaluating the Case as it progresses, often drawing from many of the frameworks and concepts in this module, and potentially others.

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In other words, you should absolutely avoid using the phrase, “I will apply framework X to this case.” However, be aware of the “famous” frameworks in case they are mentioned in an interview setting, and don’t be shy about referencing them as you dive into the specifics of the Case Study you’re evaluating. Porter’s Five Forces has become an incredibly well known framework in the business strategy world.

It is probably the most famous of all of them. It was introduced by Harvard Professor and Monitor Consulting firm founder Michael Porter. Porter’s Five Forces is a high-level framework that you can draw upon to perform a market landscape and competitor dynamics analysis. It can help determine whether a market or company is attractive, whether the client for whom the analysis is being performed is a private equity firm thinking about buying a company, or a major company thinking about entering or exiting a certain market segment. In most cases, a Case Study will address at least some of the components found in this framework.