I want to improve the structure of the brainstorming question, for example non financial considerations for market entry, or launching a ne product in the market? risks? next steps? in general, information to consider with important words to show myself off
Does anyone have advice on how to improve the brainstorming part?
Hi there,
When brainstorming in a case study, I find it helpful to adopt a structured approach to ensure comprehensive coverage and clear communication. For example, if the task involves identifying non-financial considerations for market entry, I would organize my ideas into key categories, such as:
1. Market Dynamics:
• Regulatory requirements (e.g., licenses, permits, compliance with local laws).
• Cultural and consumer behavior (preferences, trends, and purchasing habits).
• Competitive landscape (number and strength of competitors).
2. Operational Feasibility:
• Supply chain and logistics (proximity to suppliers, infrastructure readiness).
• Talent availability and local expertise (labor laws, skill levels).
• Technology and innovation readiness (e.g., digital adoption rates).
3. Brand and Reputation Considerations:
• Impact on brand positioning and perception.
• Corporate social responsibility alignment with market values.
4. Geopolitical and Environmental Factors:
• Political stability and trade relations.
• Environmental regulations and sustainability concerns.
Similarly, when evaluating risks for launching a new product, I would prioritize:
1. Strategic Risks:
• Market adoption uncertainty.
• Misalignment with target audience needs.
2. Operational Risks:
• Supply chain disruptions.
• Scalability challenges in production.
3. Financial Risks:
• Unexpected cost overruns.
• Cannibalization of existing products.
4. Reputational Risks:
• Quality or performance issues leading to brand damage.
Finally, for next steps, I would emphasize a phased approach:
1. Conduct thorough market research.
2. Pilot the product in a small, controlled environment.
3. Gather customer feedback to refine the strategy.
4. Develop a detailed go-to-market and risk mitigation plan.
By categorizing my thoughts into logical buckets and using key terms like ‘strategic,’ ‘operational,’ and ‘geopolitical,’ I ensure my brainstorming is clear, comprehensive, and impactful while highlighting critical business concepts.
I’ve worked on many cases with a brainstorming component, so I’d be happy to practice together and have a coaching session with you—feel free to DM me!
Best,
Evelina
Hey there,
There are quite a lot of elements here. But 2 features I found quite fundamentally important and helpful to improve brainstorming are to:
- Improve structuring: The better your structuring and ability to go deeper into 3rd level (or more), the better your brainstorming would be for any specific problem statement, as it would create order, width (i.e exhaustiveness) and depth to your solutions.
- Be creative: Think about creative ideas that support your drivers, and this invariably builds stronger, unique and more interesting brainstorming solutions. That said, don't ignore the more obvious/basic solutions.
You can use a variety and blend of conceptual, analytical and formulaic approaches to generate ideas. I teach this a lot, and if you'd like further help on implementation - feel free to reach out
All the best
Hi Friend, I hope your day is going well.
This is an interesting question and connects with the main suggestion that is usually given to improve your brainstorming: structuring it.
I will give the whole view cause you check if structuring is really where you are struggling with. To answer well your brainstorming question, you need to 1) structure first, 2) connect with the details of the case in hand, and 3) think outside the box. There are two main ways for you to improve the structuring aspect:
1- Have your basic structures in mind. As you would expect, and sorry to confirm pre-work is needed, the more structures you have in the back of your mind, the stronger you would be here. Applying the 80X20 rule, there is a short list of 10 that would cover most the brainstorms. For example, as you talked about risks, they can be operational, financial, or strategic - write these buckets and think of three ideas for each of them. For your example of non-financial considerations, you can break it into Operational and Strategic and think of four ideas per bucket.
2- If no applicable structure is in mind, apply derivatives of basic structures. For example, External X Internal; topline X bottomline; upstream X downstream; Process X People X Tech. All of those are structures that can basically be applied in any situation.
It is important to reinforce that you should never do a brainstorm without an initial structure.
hey there!
A great way to improve your brainstorming is to keep a few flexible structures in mind that help you stay organized while showing a logical and comprehensive approach. Even if you shouldn’t explicitly present frameworks, having concepts like CCC (Customer, Competitor, Company) or the Ansoff Matrix as a mental guide can really help. Focus on using structured thinking and key buzzwords such as feasibility, scalability, regulatory challenges, competitive landscape, customer segmentation, etc.
If you’d like more tips or specific practice ideas, let me know—happy to help! 😊
Alessa
Hi!
Below follow some ideas to improve your brainstorm skills and to make it more structured.
1) Learn the basics of industries that often are cased. You may find it in casebooks, websites and even here on Prep Lounge.
2) Use a MECE structure to force you come up ideas. In case you feel lost, you may rely on known ones such as the 4Ps, or BCG matrix (whatever makes sense for that specific case). If even this is difficult, use opposite words (e.g.: online vs offline) - however that should be for mock only until you get to the ideal structure. That also helps you communicate your ideas in an organized manner, which is key, often overlooked and may cost you an offer. Studying for the first part of the case (structuring) should help you with that.
3) Use a proxy to come up with ideas. For instance, you may know little about executive train services, but you probably know a little about the executive airline one.
4) After each case related to an industry you don’t know much about, invest 10min to research it and do the brainstorm part again using what you discovered. and improving your structure. 10/10 times you’ll find opportunities to improve and this exercise will help you consolidate this ideas in your mind.
Good luck in your preparation, feel free to contact me if you could be benefited by professional guidance.
Best,
Mari