How strictly should I commit to being objective orientated?

Question

Hi all,

In a profitability case where the objective is to identify the key drivers behind declining profitability, how strictly should I interpret the instruction to “identify the areas”?

For example, if I’m analyzing a restaurant and notice in the data that delivery sales have dropped and rent has increased, should I:

(1) Take a focused approach and briefly highlight the top 1–3 issues (e.g., “delivery sales have fallen” and “rent costs are rising”), or

(2) Take a more analytical approach and substantiate my points (e.g., “delivery sales fell by 15%, which is significant, and rent is 20% higher than competitors, so these are the most impactful areas to prioritize”)?

My instinct is to go with the latter — being more precise and analytical — but I wonder if that might go beyond what the interviewer is actually asking. Any thoughts on how literally we should interpret such instructions during a case?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Great question and your instinct is spot on.

In a profitability case, when asked to “identify the areas” behind a decline, you should aim for a mix: a focused but analytical approach. That means:

Prioritize the top 1–3 issues, but
Back them up with data and logic, even briefly; this shows business judgment and structured thinking

For example:
“Delivery sales have dropped by 15%, which accounts for half of revenue, that’s a key driver. Additionally, rent is 20% higher than peers, suggesting fixed costs are pressuring margins.”

This shows you’re not just listing symptoms, but actually sizing and prioritizing impact, which is exactly what interviewers look for.

Tip:

If unsure, start by saying:
"I’ll identify the top drivers based on the data provided, focusing on the most material issues."
This signals that you're interpreting instructions thoughtfully and applying business logic, a core MBB skill.

So yes, stay concise, but be analytical. That’s the sweet spot.

Answer 2

Hello,

If numbers are provided, you should always use them to prioritize next steps. Always.

Also, “sales fell by 15% and that is significant” —> avoid qualify numbers if you don’t have data to support your conclusion. If market as a whole fell by 30%, for instance, that statement wouldn’t make sense.

You should analyze the numbers compared to each other and to a benchmark in order to prioritize, and qualify only after having a proxy/goal/indicator.

Let me know if you have additional questions.

Best,

Mari