Interviewers, is stating a hypothesis explicitly really important?

A case interview is a 30-minute simulation of a typical business project that consultants may have worked on. Cases provide a real example of an on-job experience and the assumption is that if a candidate is successfully able to tackle a case interview, they are more likely to be a successful management consultant. Unfortunately, several outstanding candidates with top grades and co-curriculars fail case interviews in the recruiting process.Why is that? One reason is that several candidates memorize standard frameworks, hoping to recall each framework during case interviews. Frameworks, though useful for a rudimentary layout of case problems, must be tweaked and customized for different cases. You can become proficient in case structuring but only with the necessary practice.While good candidates use standard frameworks to systematically solve the problems in consulting case interviews, outstanding candidates also see the big picture and adapt the frameworks specific to the business case. To become an outstanding candidate:Learn different types of business casesLearn to differentiate the various case typesUnderstand the process of breaking down complex cases into simpler componentsLearn to apply problem-solving skills in appropriate frameworks (issue trees)Practice, practice, practice!*article-lock-trigger*This BootCamp will provide you with the basic tools you need for an effective case solving process and familiarize you with most different types of cases. Once you’ve got the hang of it, solve as many cases as you can and remember:NOT to memorize the cases you solve during your preparation!NOT to blindly apply standard frameworks, especially where they do not fit!For a more detailed look at how to ‘crack’ cases, please visit our best practice approach.These case studies are the main and usually the longest part of consulting interviews. During the 20 to 40-minute case interview, you will be confronted with a business problem that is often drawn from one of the interviewer’s real-life engagements. Below is a schematic showing a typical process for a consulting interview after a resume screening. Many companies peer-review and standardize their consulting business cases prior to a real case interview to ensure that the case is neither too hard nor too easy. The companies also ensure to test a variety of skills during case interviews.Unlike the case books you may know from your university or case reports in business journals, the initial information you will get is very limited. You won’t be able to solve the case using only this initial information, also known as the opening of the case. Typical openings are:“Company ABC is a watch manufacturer who is recently experiencing profit problems and a decline in market share, what should they do?”“Company XY is an automotive company who is thinking about entering the Chinese market in 2014, should they go east?”“Company Z is a private equity company that contemplates merging with company A. Does it make sense?”After the opening of a case, you should take a couple of minutes to structure your thoughts and come up with a customized framework (more on this later). Visit our employer profiles or homepages of the companies that you would like to work with for further information about consulting casesHave a look at many prestigious employers in our career section. You will find priceless insights about their respective application process. If you are interested in applying to MBB consulting firms: below you can also find links to their respective descriptions of consulting case studies.While acing case interviews is indispensable, the "personal fit interview" is equally important. Visit the personal fit part of the Case Interview Basics for more information on this part of the recruiting process.

In the field of consulting, the hypothesis plays a central role in the analysis of problems, the development of solutions and the derivation of strategic recommendations. A hypothesis is a preliminary assumption or conjecture made on the basis of existing information and data. It serves as a starting point for investigations to gain empirically verifiable knowledge. This article explores the meaning, purpose, and application of hypotheses in the consulting context.The Importance of a Hypothesis in ConsultingIn the world of consulting, where complex business issues must be solved, the hypothesis is a fundamental component in developing structured approaches to solving them. A hypothesis allows consultants to sort through their thoughts and focus specifically on certain aspects of an issue. It also serves as a guideline to direct and guide the research process as data are collected and analyzed.The hypothesis also functions as an "educated guess" or informed conjecture based on existing knowledge, experience, and market insights. It helps structure the advisory process and guide efforts in the right direction.Components of a HypothesisA well-formulated hypothesis consists of several essential components:Independent and Dependent Variables: The hypothesis defines the relationship between an independent (manipulated) variable and a dependent (measured) variable. The independent variable is the one that is purposefully changed in an experiment, while the dependent variable is the response that is measured.Prediction: The hypothesis contains a clear prediction about how the change in the independent variable will affect the dependent variable. This prediction is what is tested in the experiment.Testability: A hypothesis must be testable, meaning that it can be tested by experimental investigation. It should be formulated in such a way that its correctness or incorrectness can be determined from observations and data.Clear Formulation: the hypothesis should be precise and clearly formulated to avoid misunderstandings. Clear wording also facilitates communication of the results.The Purpose of a Hypothesis in ConsultingFormulating a hypothesis serves several important purposes in consulting:Directional Thinking: A hypothesis forces consultants to think about possible causes and relationships that may have led to a problem. It promotes structured thinking and prevents aimless poking around in problem-solving.Focused Analysis: Hypotheses help focus the investigation on relevant data and information. This prevents an overload of unimportant details and allows for an in-depth analysis of the aspects that are most likely to have an impact.Measurable Results: A clear hypothesis makes it possible to establish concrete criteria for the success or failure of an investigation. This creates a basis for evaluating the effectiveness of proposed solutions.Structured Communication: A precisely formulated hypothesis facilitates communication between consultants and clients. It enables the planned steps, methods and expected results to be communicated in an understandable way.The Application of Hypotheses in ConsultingThe use of hypotheses in consulting spans several key phases of the consulting process and contributes significantly to structuring and finding solutions. In the problem identification phase, hypotheses help identify potential causes and influencing factors of a business problem by serving as a starting point for in-depth investigations.During data collection and analysis, hypotheses act as a guide to extract targeted relevant information, enabling more precise and focused data analysis.In the solution development phase, hypotheses play an important role in the evaluation and selection of different solution approaches. By serving as criteria to assess the probability of success of different options, they contribute to the development of the most promising solutions. Finally, hypotheses enable strategic recommendations to be derived. They provide a sound basis for formulating persuasive arguments in favor of particular strategies and for convincing clients of the soundness of proposed actions.Overall, the application of hypotheses functions as a systematic approach in consulting to bring structure to complex issues, perform targeted analyses, and ultimately derive informed decisions. This approach promotes the efficiency and effectiveness of the consulting process and ensures that the solutions developed are based on sound and validated assumptions.ConclusionThe hypothesis is an essential tool in consulting that helps structure complex problems, conduct targeted analyses, and derive informed solutions. It promotes a structured and focused approach and plays a crucial role in communicating ideas and recommendations to clients. In an industry based on informed decision-making, hypothesis is a powerful tool to influence the success of consulting projects.