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!
Back to overview

Mathematical transformation

Dear users, 

If we have a product portfolio of 4 products and an overall market share of 40%, can we assume for simplification in case cracking that we have 40% market share in each of the product's market, as it is just a math operation? 

Thanks!

4
2.7k
14
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
on Aug 27, 2018
ex-Manager - Natural and challenging teacher - Taylor case solving, no framework

Hi,

On one hand its good that you take assumptions on your own.
On the other hand for such structural choice in the resolution make sur the interviewer agree with it ot provide more info for the rest of the case.

Best
Benjamin

Vlad
Coach
on Aug 27, 2018
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

You can only make this assumption if the interviewer confirms it is true. 

I can easily imagine a situation when you have 40% market share in one product's market and 30% share in another. (Put any number)

Best

Sidi
Coach
on Aug 27, 2018
McKinsey Senior EM & BCG Consultant | Interviewer at McK & BCG for 7 years | Coached 400+ candidates secure MBB offers

Never make this assumption without verifying with interviewer! Making this assumption without checking would just demonstrate lacking depth of thinking, since you exclude the possibility of structural issues hiding behind the global average (which is actually quite common in case interviews!).

Cheers, Sidi

on Aug 27, 2018
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi Anonymous,

I agree with Benjamin, Sidi and Vlad. When you have multiple products it is actually typical to have product mix differences and that the interviewer wants to specifically assess your ability to verify the correct data before moving forward. Thus, you should definitely verify your hypothesis with the interviewer before moving forward.

Best,

Francesco

Similar Questions
Consulting
Market Share
on Jul 14, 2019
Global
3
2.5k
Top answer by
16
3 Answers
2.5k Views
+1
Consulting
Difference between penetration rate and market share?
on Aug 21, 2021
Global
2
3.5k
Top answer by
Agrim
Coach
Top Awarded Coach | BCG Dubai Project Leader | Master Casing in only 3 Hours | 10y in Consulting | Free Intro Call
26
2 Answers
3.5k Views
Consulting
market share vs. share of wallet
on Aug 23, 2021
Global
2
4.9k
Top answer by
Deleted user
52
2 Answers
4.9k Views