Making a quick start to your case Flashcards
What are the areas you must understand before starting a new case?
You must understand:
- The industry
- Your client
- The proposal and topic
- Your role and the team
What areas do you need to understand about the industry your client is in? Resources for this?
Understand:
- How the industry is structured
- What the key segments of the industry are
- What the key success factors are
- What companies are major players
Resources: Industry primers, KN (BCG materials, KT experts, research center), external sources
What areas do you need to understand about the client? Resources for this?
Understand:
- Is your client successful
- How profitable is it
- What are the company’s key products/services, customers, competitors
- Has BCG supported this client before? On what topics?
- What is BCG relationship with the management of the client?
Resources: investor relation reports; self-service materials (company profiles, broker reports, stock market filings); external (company website, annual reports); KT; external experts (very expensive)
When you’re starting a case, what are the 6 steps you should take?
1) Define research focus/identify relevant framework
2) Leverage BCG resources
3) Gain insight from proposal
4) Understand the topic
5) Understand your role and the team
6) Set up basic organizational norms
How can you define research focus/identify relevant framework when starting a case?
Flip through proposal–list key facts you will need to know (e.g., segment, how industry works, reasons for productivity gaps). Make flashcards (this is an Andrew-only tip ;))
How can you leverage BCG resources before starting a case?
LAB courses, A/C who has worked there before, insurance KT
How can you gain insight from the proposal before starting on a case?
Understand:
a) Context and value (understand context and what problems client facing. Learn client’s objectives and key elements requested. Understand the value BCG is bringing)
b) Why BCG? (Learn our perspective on the industry/topic. Understand our preliminary view of client’s underlying problems and our current hypotheses. Learn similar cases we’ve done.
c) Proposed project approach (Understand current thinking on approach to case. Get familiar with approach and framework. Learn activities and deliverables. Use as input for your work plan)
d) Timeline, team commercial terms (Timeline for key milestones. Who is on your team and who is responsible for what.)
How can you understand the topic area before starting on a case?
Understand:
- Relevant framework and approach
- Application to client situation
- Previous case examples
How? Use case vignettes on KT, topic handbook and toolkit, people who have worked there before
How can you understand your role and the team before starting?
Figure out what you will actually be doing on the case – what is your role? Do you have the experience or do you need to ramp up key skills? Understand and assess your skills and use available resources to equip yourself
Get to know your team and plan logistics
- BCG team: who is on your team and what are your norms?
- Client team: who do I need to know? Who is relevant to my role? Dress code, etc.
- Project logistics so you can start smoothly
What are the broad questions you should ask yourself when considering the industry and client?
Have you:
- Checks LAB to see if any primers or talks explaining industry?
- Contacted KT or topic experts about the industry?
- Asked round about who else has worked in this industry and/or client?
What are the broad questions you should ask yourself when considering the proposal and topic?
Have you:
- Read the proposal?
- Determined which frameworks will be needed for the case?
- Researched the topic and checked LAB and PA pages to learn more?
What are the broad questions you should ask yourself when considering your role and the team?
Have you:
- Determined if you need to take extra training to complete your module?
- Filled out your MDA?
- Set up time wit your PL to discuss development goals?
