How would you best approach this question? any tips?

Question

consulting Procurement

New answer on Nov 27, 2023

5 Answers

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Anonymous A asked on Nov 15, 2023

I have a final round and case study. Any tips? How would you best approach this question?

Here is the practice:

Gowrie Construction new Head of Procurement has asked to meet you in 20 minutes to discuss how they can reduce cost in the
Construction & Maintenance category.

They currently use a mixture of both in-house operatives and third-party subcontractors to complete Construction & Maintenance
work for its clients.

Overall company spend on subcontractors is significant and the Head of Procurement is convinced that the money spent in the
Construction & Maintenance category can be reduced without compromising client satisfaction / quality of work.

Task:

Based on the information provided, please prepare and deliver a short presentation to meet the 3 objectives of the CPO

Suggest some procurement opportunities to reduce cost in the Construction & Maintenance category

Explain why we have chosen these opportunities

How much could Efficio save Gowrie Construction?

All proposals will need to be supported by a savings figure that has been calculated using the data provided and any assumptions
made by the candidate

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Answer 1

Best answer

Raj

Expert

Content Creator

replied on Nov 20, 2023

FREE 15MIN CONSULTATION | #1 Strategy& / OW coach | >70 5* reviews |90% offers ⇨ prep-success.super.site | MENA, DE, UK

In approaching this question, I would recommend following a structured framework to address the objectives of the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO). Here's how I would approach it:

Start with an introduction: Begin by briefly summarizing the current situation and the objectives of the CPO. This will set the context for your presentation.

Analyze the current state: Evaluate the current mix of in-house operatives and third-party subcontractors. Assess the overall company spend on subcontractors and identify areas where cost reduction opportunities may exist. This could include analyzing the cost breakdown, identifying any inefficiencies, and understanding the key drivers of cost in the Construction & Maintenance category.

Identify procurement opportunities: Based on the analysis, propose specific procurement opportunities that can help reduce costs in the Construction & Maintenance category. This could involve negotiating better terms with existing subcontractors, exploring alternative subcontractors with lower rates, or optimizing the allocation of in-house operatives and subcontractors based on their respective cost structures and capabilities.

Justify your recommendations: Explain the rationale behind your chosen procurement opportunities. This could include factors such as potential cost savings, impact on client satisfaction and quality of work, and feasibility of implementation. Support your recommendations with data and calculations based on the provided information and any reasonable assumptions you make.

Quantify potential savings: Calculate the potential cost savings that can be achieved through the proposed procurement opportunities. This could involve estimating the impact of each opportunity on the overall company spend and presenting a total savings figure. Be transparent about the assumptions made and ensure the savings figures are realistic and achievable.

Conclude and summarize: Wrap up your presentation by summarizing the key procurement opportunities, their potential savings, and the overall benefits they can bring to Gowrie Construction. Emphasize the alignment of your recommendations with the objectives of the CPO and the importance of balancing cost reduction with client satisfaction and quality of work.

Remember to structure your presentation in a clear and concise manner, focusing on the most impactful points. Practice your presentation to ensure a confident and polished delivery within the given time frame.

Good luck with your final round and case study presentation!

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Answer 2

Cristian

Expert

Content Creator

replied on Nov 16, 2023

#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach

Hi!

This sounds like a case prompt that they already provided you with and expect to solve.

My recommendation would be that you take a first shot at it, publish the answer here and then we can give you feedback. You're also going to get more out of the exercise this way.

Aside from this, here are a couple of things you can expect from final round interviews:

Work on the feedback provided in the previous rounds. Most firms communicate the feedback from the previous rounds to the final interviewer. It's important then to show the final interviewer that you have a growth mindset and are reactive to feedback. This matters immensely. Make sure you are clear on your development areas and that you get the right support to polish them before the final interview.
Expect less structure. Senior interviewers already have the confidence that you are a decent candidate, your skills having been already vetted by their younger colleagues. They are rather more interested in your as a person and your way of thinking. So they might present you with an unusual case, or one that is created on the spot or no case altogether. Expect anything.
Focus on excellent communication. Senior interviewers care a lot about how clearly you communicate and how you manage to forge a connection with the interviewer. It's important to be top-down and concise as much as possible with your answers, while allowing the conversation to flow in a natural way.
Put yourself in their shoes. The one question senior interviewers are asking themselves throughout the interview is what will happen when they'll put you in front of a client they've groomed for years? Make sure that even based on this first impression you seem somebody who can be trusted and who can work with any client regardless of how difficult they might be.

Good luck!
Cristian

———————————————

Practicing for interviews? Check out my latest case based on a first-round MBB interview >>> CodeWave

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Answer 3

Alberto

Expert

Content Creator

replied on Nov 19, 2023

Ex-McKinsey Associate Partner | +15 years in consulting | +200 McKinsey 1st & 2nd round interviews

Hi there,

Give it a try first so you can at least think on a first approach. We would not make you a favor if we give you the solution and then you get questions on the case.

A coach should be able to help you think how to structure the case. Happy to keep talking about this in private, just send me a message.

Best,

Alberto

—

Check out my latest case based on a real MBB interview: Sierra Springs

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Answer 4

Ian

Expert

Content Creator

replied on Nov 15, 2023

Please hire a case coach here.

This is a big big topic and we're not going to be able to do it justice here.

The best answer here is going to come from a dedicated coach, spending dedicated time solving it for you, and working with you live to craft an optimal powerpoint.

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Answer 5

Mohamad replied on Nov 27, 2023

Hey, could you possibly help me with this? I have the same case study tomorrow and would be grateful if you could share what the full case was for guidance!

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