1. 2015 Mini Case Competion Case Solving Workshop
JHGCC Case Competition Committee
Nov. 10, 2015

2. Outline of the Event
3 hours to design strategy for a real world business situation
1 round present to a closed panel of judges from McKinsey, LEK, ClearView and IMS
1 hour to edit slides between 1st and 2nd round
5 teams will be selected as finalists, present to open audience

3. What Judges are Looking For
Structure
Mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive (MECE)
Analysis
Identified factors with the biggest impact
Use data and assumptions to support recommendation
Recommendation
Answers the question and “so what?”
Presentation
Clarity, concision, slides, figures, charts

4. Structure Provides precision in communicating the message
Forces the writer to be explicit about analyses and conclusions
Provides clarity to the reader
Makes case solving more efficient
Issues can be analyzed in parallel
Discerns issues necessary to test hypothesis and reveals gaps in logic

5. Building an Issue Tree Explains how or why
Governing Thought: States the answer to the question raised in the readers mind (hypothesis)
Explains how or why
Key Line:
Major points which, taken together prove the answer
Support:
Data and facts which support the key line
Adapted from Deloitte U of T Presentation

6. Developing your Hypothesis
A limited amount of “unstructured” research will be required to come up with a hypothesis
After this data gathering, take your best guess at what your answer is. Use your “intuition” and business sense.
A hypothesis is an answer to the question that is presently not supported by data. It must be testable.

7. Dividing up Analysis Hypothesis Key Line: Team Member 1 Team Member 2
Company X Should outsource it’s manufacturing of product Y to China
Hypothesis
Manufacturing costs are 100% lower, resulting in break even point for new factory of 1 year
Company X can leverage it’s experience with existing factories in China to maintain operational efficiency and quality of product Y
Manufacturing technology in China is on par with the US and will allow Company X to keep pace with competitors as technology advances.
Key Line:
Team Member 1
Team Member 2
Team Member 3
Adapted from Deloitte U of T Presentation

8. Dividing up Analysis Hypothesis Key Line: Slide 1 Team Member 1
Company X Should outsource it’s manufacturing of product Y to China
Slide 1
Hypothesis
Manufacturing costs are 100% lower, resulting in break even point for new factory of 1 year
Company X can leverage it’s experience with existing factories in China to maintain operational efficiency and quality of product Y
Manufacturing technology in China is on par with the US and will allow Company X to keep pace with competitors as technology advances.
Key Line:
Team Member 1
Team Member 2
Team Member 3
Slides 2-4
Slides 5-7
Slides 8-10
Adapted from Deloitte U of T Presentation

9. Consider Quantitative and Qualitative Evidence
Often the “hard justification” for a decision.
Ex. Increase in Revenue, decrease in cost, increase in market share
Qualitative
Supports the explains the practical applications of quantitative data
Ex. Higher costs due to decrease in worker productivity, decrease revenue due to lower brand perception, loss of market share due to inferior technology

10. Some tips for time efficiency
Prepare slide templates ahead of time
Saves time on making slides, which can add up
Understand business basics
How to read an income statement
Terminology Ex. Revenue, costs, market share, scale
Collect relevant resources ahead of time (industry will be released at 6 pm night before)
Market reports, market trends, census data, financial information, major movements in industry
Become comfortable with ambiguity
Your answer will not be 100% irrefutable, but must be defensible
Make reasonable assumptions, consider only the most important factors

11. A good recommendation Addresses the question that was asked
Contains qualitative and quantitative justification
Considers major risks
Considers “so what?”. Eg. Customers will demand the new technology, which releases in So what? What does that mean for us? What do we do?
Remember this is not a market report or SWOT analysis, the purpose is to recommend a strategy

12. Presentation Pointers
Be concise, minimize text, convey only what is necessary to arrive at the conclusion
Remember to communicate how this relates to the recommendation. Don’t make the reader “work”.
Good rule of thumb is to tell me what you’re going to tell me, tell me, then tell me what you just told me
Neat professional slides help the reader follow along
Practice your presentation
Confidence, enthusiasm and professionalism enhance your message

13. Example from Last Year Situation Complication Questions
Tesla is a electric car manufacturer with the goal of increasing adoption of electric vehicles
Complication
Tesla plans to build a $5 Billion Gigafactory to produce lithium batteries for electric vehicles and other applications
Questions
What should Tesla do to maximize profitability from the Gigafactory?