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3 Buckets

It makes sense to me, to divide the Case into the two Buckets, Marketing Strategy and Cutting Costs. But in my opinion the customers should be a part of the bucket Marketing Strategy. I don't understand why it is treated like a bucket of the same level (just like Cutting costs and Marketing Strategy).

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Julia
Coach
on Aug 09, 2025
30% OFF 1st Session in August | Ex-McKinsey Engagement Manager in US and Europe | 3 years+ interviewer | Columbia MBA

Hello Schahin! Which specific case are you talking about? Would like to help you here

12 hrs ago
Hey Julia, thank you so much! I'm talking about the "Merger of two beer manufacturers" Case. It's about Section "III." where they split the case into a structure of 3 "buckets".
Julia
Coach
11 hrs ago
30% OFF 1st Session in August | Ex-McKinsey Engagement Manager in US and Europe | 3 years+ interviewer | Columbia MBA
Hi Schahin!

I’d probably keep customer analysis inside the marketing strategy bucket, that feels more MECE to me. Customer insights feed directly into the marketing levers (pricing, product, promotion, place), so it makes sense to have them under that umbrella instead of as a separate top-level bucket…

I think the reason it’s split out in this solution is just to make sure it’s not missed because people sometimes jump straight to ideas without first checking what customers want.

In an interview, you could cover both by making “understand the target customer” the first step in your marketing bucket. That way it’s still MECE but you’re showing you won’t skip that part.

So your instinct was on point, I’m happy to help you more!
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