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

Issue Tree vs. Buckets

For a question such as: “a chain of gyms has been experiencing falling membership over the past 3 years and wants to know what is causing it and how to resolve it." What do you think is the optimal way to approach the initial structuring?

Option A: Buckets

A more generic way but I feel more MECE with this. I would investigate 3 areas (i) market (is it growing or shrinking? if its shrinking are fewer people working out or just not in gym? are competitors seeing the same trend?) (ii) customers (what are our key customer segments? are the preferences of these segments changing? are there other segments that we are missing? (iii) company (I would focus on product → are gyms in good condition i.e. right equipment, good location, clean? Price → are we pricing in line with the market? Promotion → are we marketing at all, targeting the right people/mediums?)

Option B: Issue Tree

If memberships are dropping, then that means either we are signing up fewer new customers, or churn is up. For the fewer new memberships customers either do not know about us or they do not like our product. For churn they are either switching to a competitor or leaving the market altogether. I feel like with this approach I end up asking the same questions as above relating to market, customer, etc. but this feels more structured and less MECE to me.

2
800+
8
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
Deleted user
on Nov 03, 2022

Hey there - 

Maikol is correct, that you will always be driving the problem using the drivers (option B). 


Even if you want to make buckets. you would be tackling it with the drivers for eg. 

  • Market dynamics 
    • Market growth 
    • Entry of new competition 
    • Change in customer preference
  • Company 
    • Membership numbers  
      • New member acquisition 
      • Churn rate 
    • Pricing 

And so on

6
Maikol
Coach
on Nov 03, 2022
BCG Project Leader | Former Bain, AlixPartner, and PE | INSEAD MBA | GMAT 780

The distinction between "buckets" and the issue tree does not exist. 

Your first structure, the one you call “buckets”, is extremely junior. Any experience consultant will never use it.

Problems should always be tackled by attacking the drivers of the problem (in line with the second structure). The underlying questions you propose in the first structure are absolutely good to explain the trends of some of the drivers you can highlight (e.g., churn).

Remember this: structures should be based on actual problem-solving and should be specific to the problem. 

Similar Questions
Consulting
How should I explain a change in course at university? Will it be asked of me?
on Apr 14, 2025
Global
10
3.7k
Top answer by
Alessa
Coach
xMcKinsey & Company | xBCG | +200 individual & group coachings | feel free to schedule a 15 min intro call for free
81
10 Answers
3.7k Views
+7
Consulting
Just did the Mckinsey Solve Game (January 2025) - got some questions/insights
on Apr 24, 2025
Global
5
3.9k
Top answer by
Hagen
Coach
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience
42
5 Answers
3.9k Views
+2
Consulting
Want IAPP AIGP (Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional) Exam sample Questions
on Apr 14, 2025
Global
4
2.5k
Top answer by
Hagen
Coach
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience
56
4 Answers
2.5k Views
+1
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or fellow student?
0 = Not likely
10 = Very likely
Thanks for your feedback! Your opinion helps us make PrepLounge even better.