McK - Advanced Case Interview Partner

The model of the "Five Dysfunctions of a Team" comes from the business novel of the same name by Patrick Lencioni. The author, an experienced consultant in team development, tells the story of a tech company that was once successful – until the team began to fall apart. Lencioni shows how certain patterns can hinder a team – leading to a real crisis.Especially in study projects, group work, or later in your career (especially in consulting), it’s important to recognize these dysfunctions – and actively address them. Teamwork is more than task division. It thrives on trust, clarity, and real collaboration.Here are the five main dysfunctions – and how to avoid them. The Five Dysfunctions of a TeamLack of Trust: Without trust, little happens in a team. If you hide weaknesses or uncertainties instead of addressing them openly, no real collaboration occurs. Teams that allow vulnerability perform better, learn faster, and use everyone’s strengths. Trust is the foundation – and without it, all problems follow.Fear of Conflict: It might sound strange, but good teams argue constructively. Avoiding conflict often leaves things unsaid, causing tension and frustration. Open and respectful discussions lead to the best ideas.Lack of Commitment: When decisions aren’t made clearly or collectively, commitment suffers. Why should you commit to a goal you didn’t agree on? Open discussions and clear commitments ensure everyone is truly on board.Avoidance of Accountability: Accountability works only when clearly assigned. When no one knows who’s responsible for what, the “someone else will do it” problem arises. Set clear responsibilities and hold each other accountable.Inattention to Results: What matters most is what you achieve together. If personal egos or career goals take over, focus is lost. This is crucial in consulting teams, where results are measurable. Keeping the bigger picture in mind makes all the difference. Actively Addressing the DysfunctionsBuild Trust: Openness, honesty, and vulnerability lay the foundation for trust.Promote Constructive Conflict: Respect different viewpoints and encourage open communication to turn tensions into productive debates.Make Clear Decisions and Commit to Them: Transparent decisions and commitment ensure accountability.Take Responsibility and Demand Accountability: Ensure everyone takes responsibility and holds each other accountable.Prioritize Team Goals: Put the team’s goals first and make sure personal interests don’t hinder collaboration. What Does This Mean for You as a (Future) Consultant?In consulting, success rarely happens alone. Projects are complex, require teamwork, and are often under time pressure. Without trust, suppressed conflicts, or unclear accountability, projects can fail.Lencioni’s model helps you spot these patterns early – and take action. Openness, accountability, respect, and shared goals are not just “nice to haves” but true success factors. Especially in consulting, where you work with many stakeholders. 

The product life cycle is a way to map the common stages a product undergoes throughout its lifespan. The product life cycle is typically divided into 5 different stages, each having specific strategic decisions affecting profits and revenues: Four Stages of the Product-Life-Cycle(1) Development: In the development phase, the product has just been finished and the most important facts and figures have been determined. As no profits are made here, this phase is not shown in the curve diagram.(2) Introduction: In the first phase, the product is introduced. Normally, at this stage, there are a few competitors and customers. Therefore, sales and profit are low and the risk that the product will not succeed is high. In order to boost sales, the focus lies heavily on promotion activities.(3) Growth: Products that succeed in addressing customer’s needs will lead to an increase in sales. Advertisement is still a key component to promote further growth.(4) Maturity: At this stage, the product can be seen as well established and widely accepted within the targeted customer group. Profits are high and risks are low. Typically, in this phase, competition increases. To keep the market position and expand this phase, companies often employ strategies such as the introduction of complementary or updated products or simply invest in marketing activities.(5) Decline: At this point, the product may not fulfill the current needs of the customers, and sales start to decline. The important decision at this stage is deciding when to take the product off market, such that the client optimizes financial gains and minimizes losses due to time and investment. Meaning of the Product-Life-Cycle in Case InterviewsThe product life cycle is a key concept in case interviews, especially when dealing with market entry, competitive strategy, or growth opportunities. Candidates should be familiar with the different stages and be able to derive strategic decisions accordingly.A common case question might be: "A company is planning to launch a new product. What factors should be analyzed to maximize success in the introduction phase?" A structured approach should consider aspects such as market demand, competitive landscape, pricing strategy, and marketing efforts. Similarly, cases related to the maturity or decline phase could focus on whether a product should be further developed or phased out.