Cases, also known as case studies, are business problems that a candidate is presented with during a case interview at a management consultancy. The challenge is to solve it under pressure and in a structured way.
Practice With Cases on Various Topics
BCG + Bain - Vets2U - Healthcare Based Case WITH VIDEO SOLUTION
Our client, Vets2U, a well-established organization that runs ten Mobile Veterinary Clinics (MVC) in the US, has witnessed a concerning trend of stagnant revenues of $100M over the past few years. In light of this issue, the CEO of Vets2U has brought us in with the goal of increasing revenues by 25%.
Bain + BCG Hot Wheels - Part 2 WITH VIDEO SOLUTION
Our client is Korean Car Parts (KCP), a multi-national original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of car parts based in Korea. They've recently seen a decline in profits and have brought us in to understand how to address this falling profitability.
=================================================
To get a deep-dive explanation of the case leadership behind this case, please read this article: Candidate-Led Cases: What to Expect With Example Cases
This case is part two of a series. The goal of this series is to demonstrate how an identical case prompt (and corresponding framework) could lead to multiple different outcomes. The goal is to train you to adjust to case information in an agile and adaptable way.
The 1st part of the series can be found here:
Case - BCG Hot Wheels With Video Solution
MBB first round - Soy Technologies
Our client, Soy Technologies specializes in soy production and processing.
The client harvests their soybean crops and processes the soybeans to extract the protein and create soybean meals that are later used for animal feed.
Since the demand for soy protein has been steadily increasing in recent years, our client has been looking at more profitable alternatives to create different soybean products, but our client is unsure about the next steps since they would have to entirely change the current processing operations.
The alternatives that our client is currently considering are:
- Producing soy milk which requires 45% of the extracted protein.
- Producing soy concentrate which requires 70% of the extracted protein.
- Producing soy isolate which requires 90% of the extracted protein.
Our team has been asked to assist them in deciding which option would be best.
Practice Cases with Peers That Are Currently Looking for Interview Partners.
BCG Final Round: Stadium Naming Rights
Our client is NeuBank, a neobank in the US. A soccer stadium in Ohio is offering exclusive naming rights, and NeuBank is considering bidding for them. The client wants to understand the following:
- If this is a good idea?
- How much they should bid?
- How to make the deal a win-win?
NOTE that this case is very long and is meant for learning casing skills. If you intend to use it for mock practice then focus on very specific segments to complete it in time.
Also check out the video solution at the bottom of this page for a step-by-step work-along and detailed explanantion
Bain + BCG - Hot Wheels WITH VIDEO SOLUTION
Problem definition: Our client is Korean Car Parts (KCP), a multi-national original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of car parts based in Korea. They've recently seen a decline in profits and have brought us in to understand how to address this falling profitability.
========================================================
To get a deep-dive explanation of the case leadership behind this case, please read this article: Candidate-Led Cases: What to Expect With Example Cases
This case is part one of a series. The goal of this series is to demonstrate how an identical case prompt (and corresponding framework) could lead to multiple different outcomes. The goal is to train you to adjust to case information in an agile and adaptable way.
The 2nd part of the series can be found here:
Case - BCG Hot Wheels Part 2 With Video Solution
BCG - YodaPhone
Our client is Yoda's Phones, a national telecommunications company. They have embarked on a three-year, multi-million dollar digitization program. Unfortunately, two years into the program, they realize they are significantly behind schedule and over budget.
You have been brought in to right the ship and ensure the digitization program is delivered as planned.
=====================================================
Framework can be found here:
YodaPhone Optimal Framework Solutions
MBB - Sky China
Sky China, a government-backed Chinese airline, has recently seen profits plummet due to COVID-19. Profits are down 80% in the months of February and March, but are showing early signs of a rebound in April.
They've brought you in to first investigate what can be done immediatedly to prevent hemorrhaging cash and surive in the short-term. They are also looking to see how the current situation can be viewed as an opportunity, and what can be done to prepare for the future.
BCG Platinion/McK Digital/Monitor - Experienced Hire Tech Practice - Roma Solutions
Let’s say we’re working with a large Tech company (i.e. FB, Apple, Microsoft etc.). They are interested in getting into the low-code iBPMS space. This is a space where pseudo-code is used to deploy large-scale process-based IT applications rapidly (in months, not years).
In particular, they’re looking at a company called Roma, which is one of the leaders in the space.
What are your thoughts here?
You can clarify the following (if asked)
- iBPMS - Intelligent business process management suites. Think SAP for example. They are IT systems that take users through business processes.
- The business model of these Tech firms is primarily to find ways to integrate diverse offerings/capabilities to build better products and ecosystems. Therefore, technical synergies are important here.
- The market is fairly competitive with about a dozen players.
- Roma is a market leader in this space, vying for 1st against 2 competitors. The top 3 dominate the market.
Baby Formula
BabyformulaCo is a leading producer of baby formula with a 30% market share in the US that is looking for ways to increase their market share without significantly lowering profitability. Recently, a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for low-income women and their children was introduced, which provides vouchers to purchase baby formula.
The client is interested in bidding for the tender contracts but needs help in determining the appropriate bidding price.
MBB - Climate Change Operations
A mid-sized manufacturing company is concerned about the potential impacts of climate change on its operations. The company has a number of factories located in coastal regions that are vulnerable to flooding and other weather-related events, and it is concerned about the potential financial and reputational risks associated with these events. The company's leadership team has asked your consulting firm to help them understand the risks they face and develop a plan to mitigate those risks.
Clarifying Info:
- Our client’s objective is to maintain long-term profitability
- Our client’s factories are located throughout the US
===================================================
Note: Once you have solved this case, make sure to solve the 2nd version of this case: MBB - Climate Change Operations - Part 2 | PrepLounge.com
This case is designed to show you how a case can evolve/change based on new information. The first half of this case is the same, but diverges once data and #s are provided.
To learn more about how to use case leadership to navigate dynamic cases, please read here: Candidate-Led Cases: What to Expect With Example Cases
Would you like to access all our cases?
Sign up now to prepare for your interview with real cases from top firms.
The Jaywalking Case
The Government of Spain has tasked the City of Barcelona to increase their revenue generated from the City.
Thus, in order to generate more revenue, the Local Government of Barcelona has engaged our firm to examine the viability of passing a new law imposing a fine on jaywalking violations.
How should we approach this?
MBB 1st Round Case - Hazella Light
Our client is an Italian multinational manufacturer of branded chocolate and confectionery products. One of their most popular products is Hazella, a hazelnut spread.
Despite its worldwide popularity, Hazella is considered to be high in calories by some customers. For this reason, our client has developed a new version of the spread, Hazella Light, and is assessing whether they should launch it in the Italian market.
Kearney First Round Case - Top Chemicals
Our client is the US-based biotech company Top Chemicals. They have just developed a fertilizer that is waiting to get approval for commercialization. They hired us to identify the best price for it.
Bain/BCG - Hunger Warriors
Our client is Hunger Warriors, a non-profit with ambitions to solve world hunger. While approximately one tenth of the human population goes to bed hungry, Hunger Warriors aims to bring this number to zero. One of their primary initiatives is to reduce food waste, which represents $1.5 Trillion in lost value per year. They have tasked us with identifying the major sources of food waste and determining the best course of action to reduce this.
Clarifying questions:
- You can think of them as similar to the WHO or the UN in their scope and reach
- All options are on the table to reduce food waste
- We do not have a set budget = this is dependent on the donations and funding we are able to get
Swiss Coffins – The Death Business
Your client is the CEO of a coffin manufacturing company based in Geneva, Switzerland (Europe).
The company has existed with little changes to the business model for three generations, manufacturing high-quality, hand-crafted coffins, with a highly skilled and specialized labor force. The industry has been recently disrupted by new technologies that no longer need human manufacturing: machines can manufacture faster and cheaper.
Your client needs your help in deciding whether to invest in this technology and transform his business, or remain in the hand-manufactured business for coffins
*Note: On top of this initial question that focuses on the strategy and should be tackled by the candidate with an issue tree, the case includes more questions that can be found in the "Detailed solutions" and "Difficult questions" boxes below, with the correspondent proposed answers.
Merger of two beer manufacturers
Our clients are two beer manufacturers from a well-developed country who just decided to merge. We can call them Company A and Company B. The decision about the merger has already been taken and our clients are certain it will soon be approved by regulators.
What is expected from you is to help them with two objectives: Firstly, they would like you to help them decrease the costs of their post-merger operations. Secondly, they would like you to help them develop a new marketing strategy.
How would you like to go about helping our clients?
Bain 1st Round Case – BlissOttica
Our client is a BlissOttica, an Eyewear Manufacturer that is looking to reach a 10% increase in profits. How would you help our client?
Caribbean Island – MBB Final Round
A wealthy client has recently bought an island in the Caribbean. She has engaged us to identify possible uses for her new island.
Case with a twist: Chinese Alloy Wheels – US Market Entry
Our client is an alloy wheels manufacturer based in China. The client is contemplating entering the US market. At this point of time, the client sells the wheels in the China market. In order to make the wheels for the US market, he will have to expand its production capacity. As a result, whether to enter the US or not is a high-stake decision. He has hired BCG to advise him on this issue.
MBB Case – Consulting a Government
Our client is the government of an imaginary country which is suffering from strong protests and riots by its own population. The client would like to understand the reason for these protests. In a second step, the client wants you to make suggestions for improvement to end these protests. In answering those two questions, what factors would you consider in making your potential recommendation?
Would You Like To Discover More Cases?
Difficulty Levels
More Topics
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
We are happy to answer the most frequently asked questions.
Consulting interviews are among the most competitive and difficult job interviews that exist. Interviewers use cases as an indicator to test whether you have what it takes to become a successful consultant. In order to pass, you need to ace the case interview part. And in order to ace the case interview part, you need to be well-prepared. Thus, practicing cases is one of the most important aspects of interview preparation in consulting. During different rounds of interviews you will have to solve cases again and again to prove your structured and analytical thinking as well as your communication skills.
You can practice cases on your own and go through them to get a first feeling for the structure. Afterwards, you should go into a real interview environment and practice cases with other members on the platform. You will find more than 50 mock-interview requests on the Meeting Board every day, which you can easily accept. If there is nothing suitable on the Meeting Board, you can also use the Candidate Listing. Here you can find active members on the platform and send them a direct meeting request. If you want to take your case practice to the next level, we recommend you to schedule coaching sessions with our coaches who have many years of experience in helping candidates receive their dream job offer.
In an interviewer-led case interview, the interviewer leads through the conversation. This means that the interviewer asks specific questions and also controls the time you have to analyze and answer different questions and therefore the depth of your analysis. In contrast, the candidate-led style (which is more common) is about you taking the initiative as a candidate. The initial problem is given to you by your interviewer. Afterwards, you have the freedom to structure the case according to your ideas and to ask questions proactively in order to find a solution to the problem.
Real cases in the PrepLounge Case Library are cases that were submitted by management consultancies and have been treated as such within the company. They were made available from the real interview process. In this way, you can gain deep insights into the requirements of the case interview with the respective top consultancies (e.g. Bain & Company, Roland Berger, Deloitte, Oliver Wyman). We have marked these cases with the corresponding company logo.
Expert cases were created by our PrepLounge coaches and either contain real problems that the experts have already dealt with in their lives as consultants or cases from actual consulting interviews they took part in. They offer you an optimal preparation through the different subjects, levels of difficulty and styles. And the best thing is: If you have questions about the cases, you can ask them directly to the authors.
Video case solutions are cases in which we provide you with a solution that includes a YouTube video. With this we want to help you to understand case solutions even better.
Every member has the possibility to rate a case and leave feedback on the case. This gives you the opportunity to call up a ranking and solve the cases that are particularly popular in the community. It also gives us the opportunity to continuously improve our cases in order to provide you with the best possible practice material.
Which cases are most interesting for you depends on your personal preference and your level of knowledge. If you are just starting with the case interview preparation, beginner cases are probably the most interesting ones for you. You also have the possibility to filter by different categories, such as personal fit, market analysis or brain teaser and many more, in order to address exactly the topics that are most relevant for your application.
Practice Case Interviews - Browse Our Extensive Case Library
Invite other candidates for a meeting to crack the case interactively or solve it on your own. If you like to check your case approach just have a look at the given sample solution.
A Vast Selection of Management Consulting Cases
Our selection of case studies mirror the wide variety in real case interviews. Thus, you can solve challenging problems around market sizing, market-entry, pricing, or operations strategy. Moreover, all provided cases are marked with a level of difficulty and the respective case style. This will allow you to filter for interviewer-led (as used by McKinsey) and candidate-led cases. In addition, some of our corporate partners granted some great original cases that have been used in real interviews. Check them out to get some authentic insights about the real application process of top firms like Bain, Roland Berger, and many more. These cases are clearly indicated by the firm's logo.