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

Question about sales planning

When I was doing the sales planning, I also calculated the growth rate for the last three years and took an assumption for this year's sales growth. But the answer is not to assume any growth in the company since this is based on last year's data. Is that reasonable?

4
1.3k
8
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
Ian
Coach
on Jan 10, 2022
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi Xuqi,

In real life what you did is correct! In a case, they care more about just assessing certain things. The case may or may not have you assume growth - it's up to the case creator/interviewer.

It's always good to check/ask, but if they say no growth that's perfectly fine for case purposes!

Luca
Coach
on Jan 10, 2022
BCG |NASA | SDA Bocconi & Cattolica partner | GMAT expert 780/800 score | 200+ students coached

Hello Xuqi,

I don't agree with you and other answers here. Maybe I didn't get your point but the prompt states the following:

Against the background of expected stagnating sales for the current financial year, short-term action is required.

Considering this, I wouldn't expect you to use any sales growth. Generally it's nice to show this proactivity but be sure that you don't go against the case prompt and if you have any doubt, ask your interviewer. 

Best,
Luca

Clara
Coach
on Jan 10, 2022
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

That is totally fine, and it furthermore demostrates proactivity, so kudos! 

Written cases like this one don´t allow this type of flexibility, but if you were doing this with a partner or a coach, they would accept this perfectly once explained. 

Cheers, 

Clara

Hagen
Coach
on Jan 11, 2022
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience

Hi Xuqi,

First of all, congratulations on reflecting on your case performance so thoroughly!

This is indeed an interesting question which is probably relevant for quite a lot of users, so I am happy to provide my perspective on it:

  • In the prompt, it is written “Against the background of expected stagnating sales for the current financial year, short-term action is required.” As such, I would advise you to assume no revenue growth in the projection.
  • Still, in real life, your approach would most probably be the correct one since absolutely stable revenues are unrealistic either.

In case you want a more detailed discussion on how to best communicate contingencies, please feel free to contact me directly.

I hope this helps,

Hagen

Similar Questions
Consulting
Just did the Mckinsey Solve Game (January 2025) - got some questions/insights
on Apr 24, 2025
Global
5
3.2k
Top answer by
Hagen
Coach
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience
35
5 Answers
3.2k Views
+2
Consulting
Employment Gap on Resume and How to talk about it during Interview
on Apr 14, 2025
Global
9
7.8k
Top answer by
Ariadna
Coach
BCG | Project Leader and Experienced Interviewer | MBA at London Business School
110
9 Answers
7.8k Views
+6
Consulting
How should I explain a change in course at university? Will it be asked of me?
on Apr 14, 2025
Global
10
3.4k
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
3.4k Views
+7
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.