PrepLounge - link to homepage PrepLounge - link to homepage
Consulting Consulting
Consulting Finance General
Login Sign up for free Sign up for free
Consulting Finance General
Community
Meeting Board
Consulting Q&A
Interview Partner
Premium Membership
Coaching
Coaches
Coaching Packages
Consulting Q&A
Resources
Case Interview Basics
Case Library
AI Casebot
Tests & Guides
Mental Math Tool
Stress Questions
Drills
Video Tutorials
Brainteaser
Career
Employers
Career Events
Consulting Jobs
Consulting Blog
Sign up for free
Login
Community
Meeting Board
Consulting Q&A
Interview Partner
Premium Membership
Coaching
Coaches
Coaching Packages
Consulting Q&A
Resources
Case Interview Basics
Case Library
AI Casebot
Tests & Guides
Mental Math Tool
Stress Questions
Drills
Video Tutorials
Brainteaser
Career
Employers
Career Events
Consulting Jobs
Consulting Blog
Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Interview Partners to connect and practice with!
Meeting Board
Consulting Q&A
Interview Partner
Premium Membership
Back to overview
Anonymous A
on Jan 13, 2020
Global
I want to receive updates regarding this question via email.

Case approach when no specific numerical target is provided

Hi everyone!

I just want to clarify - for common business cases/strategic decisions, if you try to clarify with the interview on a specific financial target for the case in hand (e.g. increase Profits by X, achieve ROI of X, breakeven period of X, investment horizon of X, etc) and the interview just says 'no specific targets' - should you adjust the approach at all?

My inclination would be to still run the same economic analysis, i.e. e.g. calculate the ROI or breakeven period for an investment decision, and then in the conclusion - give recommendations based on whether the client is willing to accept more or less than the calculated financial numbers.

Is this the advised approach for cases without spefifically defined numerical targets (despite pressing the interview for this information)?

Thanks!

4
2.0k
10
Write an answer
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
Vlad
Coach
edited on Jan 13, 2020
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

First of all, you can still ask the interviewer: "What are the criteria for success?"

In general, you make a structure based on 3 things:

  • Objective
  • Context
  • Type of the case

If you have no measurable objective, you just build your case based on the qualitative objective, context, type of the case

Best

1
Contact coach
0 comments
Antonello
Coach
on Jan 13, 2020
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi,
when no quantitative objective is given I suggest to structure your decision process with the main KPI, that should include even quantitative parameters like cost of the investment, breakeven time or profitability. Give to every KPI a weigh and align the interviewer with your interview process.

These cases are actually often used in real-life interviews, therefore is crucial to make practice and develop a good mental structure to approach them. 

Hope it helps,
Antonello

0
Contact coach
0 comments
Clara
Coach
on Jan 14, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

There is no case with 'no specific targets'  at all, it may just be that there is not a main KPI outlined for the beggining. 

In this cases, is your task to find with the interviewer "what is success" for this client, that can either quali or quanti -and it can be not-straightforward, but there is always a target-. 

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

0
Contact coach
0 comments
Francesco
Coach
on Jan 14, 2020
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi Anonymous,

even if you don’t have a specific financial target, you will always have a defined goal in a case, otherwise it would be impossible to solve it. You should therefore present an analysis of that goal in your structure when you start the case, it is quite likely that the interviewer will ask you anyway to do some math at a certain stage of the case, since this is normally tested.

Best,

Francesco

0
Contact coach
0 comments
Sign up for free to read all answers.
Sign up for free to read all answers.
Yes, I would like to be informed about new content, exciting jobs, relevant events, and selected employers.
By creating an account, I confirm that I agree to PrepLounge's Terms of Use. Please read our Privacy Policy.
Sign up with
You already have an account? Log in here.
Similar Questions
Consulting
Clarifying Questions
on Aug 15, 2024
Global
5
1.2k
58
5 Answers
1.2k Views
Consulting
McK final round - can you get dinged for not asking the “right” clarifying questions?
on Aug 26, 2024
USA
5
1.3k
66
5 Answers
1.3k Views
Consulting
The exhibits of the case
on Dec 28, 2024
Global
5
1.1k
24
5 Answers
1.1k Views
Consulting
What are some good recommendations for case books that focus on McKinsey-type cases?
on Jan 06, 2025
Asia
7
2.2k
22
7 Answers
2.2k Views
Consulting
What are some tips for a case interview where you know nothing about the industry/sector?
on Jan 15, 2025
Global
9
1.5k
22
9 Answers
1.5k Views
Consulting
Does anyone have advice on how to improve the brainstorming part?
on Jan 21, 2025
Global
7
900+
21
7 Answers
900+ Views
Consulting
Knowing what information to ask for
on Jan 24, 2025
Global
5
800+
21
5 Answers
800+ Views
Consulting
McKinsey PEI - What should I cover in the "Action" portion of my STAR Story?
on Jan 24, 2025
USA
6
1.0k
21
6 Answers
1.0k Views
Consulting
Case Prep: a) Self-practice recommendations, b) structuring advice, and c) clarifying questions
on Mar 18, 2025
Global
3
600+
15
3 Answers
600+ Views
Consulting
How to structure this case?
on Mar 31, 2025
Europe
5
600+
21
5 Answers
600+ Views
Consulting
Fluctuations in casing performance - is this normal?
on Apr 06, 2025
Global
6
700+
20
6 Answers
700+ Views
Consulting
Follow-up questions and structuring
on Apr 17, 2025
Europe
10
800+
25
10 Answers
800+ Views
Consulting
How to Practice Structure Drills and Present in a Clear, Structured Way?
on Apr 19, 2025
Global
4
600+
17
4 Answers
600+ Views
Consulting
How strictly should I commit to being objective orientated?
on Apr 21, 2025
Global
7
700+
18
7 Answers
700+ Views
Consulting
Is more Math Drills the way to solve my issue?
on Apr 27, 2025
Global
7
600+
15
7 Answers
600+ Views
Consulting
McKinsey First Interview Question – Was My Approach Wrong?
on May 29, 2025
Global
6
400+
14
6 Answers
400+ Views
Consulting
Market Size the number of Pilots in your home country ?
on Jun 10, 2025
Global
4
200+
8
4 Answers
200+ Views
Consulting
MBB Interview – Differences & Structure Timing Advice?
on Jun 28, 2025
DACH
8
200+
7
8 Answers
200+ Views
Consulting
Exhibit Reading Approach
on Jul 15, 2025
Global
9
100+
6
9 Answers
100+ Views
Consulting
Hard time structuring my cases
on Jul 23, 2025
Global
6
< 100
0
6 Answers
< 100 Views
Show more
Top Answer by
Vlad
Coach
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School
Related Article
Case Interview Frameworks – Most Common Frameworks
Free case interview frameworks to boost your structure and stand out in interviews.
View article
Related Case
Expert case by
Francesco
BCG Case Style - Online Groceries [NEW]
5.0
10.1k times solved
Intermediate
Candidate-led
Open case
Similar Questions
Consulting
Clarifying Questions
on Aug 15, 2024
58
5
1.2k
Consulting
McK final round - can you get dinged for not asking the “right” clarifying questions?
on Aug 26, 2024
66
5
1.3k
Consulting
The exhibits of the case
on Dec 28, 2024
24
5
1.1k
Consulting
What are some good recommendations for case books that focus on McKinsey-type cases?
on Jan 06, 2025
22
7
2.2k
Consulting
What are some tips for a case interview where you know nothing about the industry/sector?
on Jan 15, 2025
22
9
1.5k
Consulting
Does anyone have advice on how to improve the brainstorming part?
on Jan 21, 2025
21
7
900+
Consulting
Knowing what information to ask for
on Jan 24, 2025
21
5
800+
Consulting
McKinsey PEI - What should I cover in the "Action" portion of my STAR Story?
on Jan 24, 2025
21
6
1.0k
Consulting
Case Prep: a) Self-practice recommendations, b) structuring advice, and c) clarifying questions
on Mar 18, 2025
15
3
600+
Consulting
How to structure this case?
on Mar 31, 2025
21
5
600+
Consulting
Fluctuations in casing performance - is this normal?
on Apr 06, 2025
20
6
700+
Consulting
Follow-up questions and structuring
on Apr 17, 2025
25
10
800+
Consulting
How to Practice Structure Drills and Present in a Clear, Structured Way?
on Apr 19, 2025
17
4
600+
Consulting
How strictly should I commit to being objective orientated?
on Apr 21, 2025
18
7
700+
Consulting
Is more Math Drills the way to solve my issue?
on Apr 27, 2025
15
7
600+
Consulting
McKinsey First Interview Question – Was My Approach Wrong?
on May 29, 2025
14
6
400+
Consulting
Market Size the number of Pilots in your home country ?
on Jun 10, 2025
8
4
200+
Consulting
MBB Interview – Differences & Structure Timing Advice?
on Jun 28, 2025
7
8
200+
Consulting
Exhibit Reading Approach
on Jul 15, 2025
6
9
100+
Consulting
Hard time structuring my cases
on Jul 23, 2025
0
6
< 100
Show more
Questions by Categories
Questions about MBB
CV Questions
Personal Fit Questions
Everything for Your Career
  • Interview Coaching
  • Q&A
  • Interview Partner
  • Mental Math Tool
  • Interview Drills
  • Stress Questions
  • Blog
Everything for Your Career
  • Interview Coaching
  • Q&A
  • Interview Partner
  • Mental Math Tool
  • Interview Drills
  • Stress Questions
  • Blog
Popular in Consulting
  • Case Library
  • Meeting Board
  • Interview Partner
  • Case Interview Basics
  • Case Interview
  • Consulting Q&A
Popular in Finance
  • Finance Q&A
  • Interview in Investment Banking
  • Investment Banking Salaries
Popular in Consulting
  • Case Library
  • Meeting Board
  • Interview Partner
  • Case Interview Basics
  • Case Interview
  • Consulting Q&A
Popular in Finance
  • Finance Q&A
  • Interview in Investment Banking
  • Investment Banking Salaries
Consulting and Finance Employers
  • RWE Consulting
  • Whiteshield Advisory
  • All Employers »
About PrepLounge
  • For Companies
  • For Universities
  • For Coaches
  • About Us
  • Career
  • FAQ
© 2012 PrepLounge
Our servers are powered by electricity from renewable sources.
  • Cookies & Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Imprint
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
Facebook Linkedin Instagram TikTok Youtube
Questions or Feedback?
Select category
  • Select category
  • General Feedback
  • Case Interview Preparation
  • Coaching
  • Technical Problems
  • Other
Your name
Your email address
Cancel