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Creating a BCG matrix

2x2 Matrices and the BCG matrix
New answer on Mar 17, 2021
4 Answers
1.9 k Views
Sepp asked on Mar 14, 2021

Hi there, my BCG matrices never look great in Excel. I just came across this tool: www.fancybcgmatrix.com. Has anyone experiences with it or knows a better solution? It seems a bit expensive, but the graphical features including export as SVG have their advantages.

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Anonymous updated the answer on Mar 15, 2021

Why not do it in powerpoint? If you don't have expensive chart plugins like thinkcell or mekkographics, you can just add an empty chart for a coordinate system (if you do need a quantitative scale) and then add bubbles and descriptions manually with the built-in power point tools.

(edited)

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Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Mar 15, 2021
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

I didn´t know about this resource, and honestly, it´s great.

Thanks for sharing :)

I agree Excel is not great, I have always done them with PPT. In particular, there is this add-in called Thinkcell -very very common in MBB- that makes your life so much easier! It´s very expensive, but you can check out the trial.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

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Ian
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replied on Mar 15, 2021
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi Sepp,

While this looks great, I personally would never drop a chunk of cash for such a narrow set of functionality. That said, if you like it, and it helps you do your job, that's all the really matters!

While at BCG, I exclusively used 1) Thinkcell and 2) Powerpoint in my work.

Most BCG Matrixes aren't with actual data. Rather, they're "arbitrary" placements of different initiative,s projects etc., generally on more qualitative measurement aspects. Furthermore, the client + BCG Partners/Principals like to live edit the matrix in Powerpoint.

I literally never tried - nor needed to - even create a BCG Matrix in excel. I did it all in powerpoint (and I just copy-pasted and edited a template from a colleague's deck)

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Gaurav
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replied on Mar 17, 2021
#1 MBB Coach(Placed 750+ in MBBs & 1250+ in Tier2)| The Only 360 coach(Ex-McKinsey + Certified Coach + Active recruiter)

Hi Sepp,

Thanx for sharing!

I agree with Ian and Clara- PowerPoint and Thinkcell might be enough, I wouldn't spend money on such a tool for only BCG matrices.

Cheers, GB

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