PrepLounge - link to homepage PrepLounge - link to homepage
Consulting Consulting
Consulting Finance General
Login Sign up for free Sign up for free
Consulting Finance General
Community
Meeting Board
Consulting Q&A
Interview Partner
Premium Membership
Coaching
Coaches
Coaching Packages
Consulting Q&A
Resources
Case Interview Basics
Case Library
AI Casebot
Tests & Guides
Mental Math Tool
Stress Questions
Drills
Video Tutorials
Brainteaser
Career
Employers
Career Events
Consulting Jobs
Consulting Blog
Sign up for free
Login
Community
Meeting Board
Consulting Q&A
Interview Partner
Premium Membership
Coaching
Coaches
Coaching Packages
Consulting Q&A
Resources
Case Interview Basics
Case Library
AI Casebot
Tests & Guides
Mental Math Tool
Stress Questions
Drills
Video Tutorials
Brainteaser
Career
Employers
Career Events
Consulting Jobs
Consulting Blog
Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Interview Partners to connect and practice with!
Meeting Board
Consulting Q&A
Interview Partner
Premium Membership
Back to overview
Anonymous A
on Mar 24, 2024
Global
I want to receive updates regarding this question via email.

Producer Food Source Sunlight affected by Cloud cover?

Hey there,
I had a question regarding the Forest Ecosystem within the problem solving game. 
There are producers (so no calories needed, only provide calories), that are either having Food Source = Waste, or Food Source = Sunlight.
I was wondering whether the Producers having their Food Source from Sunlight are affected by the “Cloud cover” metric, that on can check on the monitors? Therefore covered cloud might reduce the calories the Producers can actually produce and then I have to take that percentage into account??
But I guess I'm thinking way too complicated about this and Imbellus actually does not care about real biology at all…

6
1.1k
28
Write an answer
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
Ian
Coach
on Mar 25, 2024
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi there,

Love the thinking!

From what I've seen historically, this should not have an impact. As in, just calories matter.

However, remember that McKinsey has an incentive to change things up and TEST your ability to THINK.

If I were McKinsey, I would change the game without telling anyone.

The more cheating (using online simulations, etc.) there is, the more frequently I would change.

They've already done this before multiple times (changing the games, bringing in RedRock, etc.)

So, if the game has a RULE written regarding ANYTHING that you haven't seen before….then….THINK. Use your brain not what you've memorized :)

If you have a choice between a cloudy spot and not cloudy, I'd put it in a not cloudy  spot :)

13
Contact coach
0 comments
Hagen
Coach
edited on Apr 10, 2024
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 9+ years consulting, interviewing and coaching experience

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the (assumed) invitation from McKinsey!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

  • First of all, your intuition regarding the impact of "cloud cover" on producers using sunlight as a food source is quite astute. In the context of the McKinsey Solve pre-interview assessment, it is reasonable to assume that environmental factors such as cloud cover affect producers.
  • Moreover, however, in this case, this is just an (admittedly ambivalent) way of saying "plants have no food source".

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming McKinsey interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

 

You can find the salary report of consulting firms in Germany here!

13
Contact coach
0 comments
Francesco
Coach
on Mar 25, 2024
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

Q: I was wondering whether the Producers having their Food Source from Sunlight are affected by the “Cloud cover” metric, that one can check on the monitors?

The food source indicated for producers is irrelevant in terms of the strategy to follow during the game (there is no rule of the game related to that). Whether it is waste or sunlight it doesn’t matter, therefore you can ignore that variable for the sake of building the chain.

Good luck!

Francesco

12
Contact coach
0 comments
Florian
Coach
on Mar 25, 2024
1400 5-star reviews across platforms | 600+ offers | Highest-rated case book on Amazon | Uni lecturer in US, Asia, EU

Hi there,

Don't give them ideas to make it more difficult than it already is. ;D

In short, no it does not affect anything.

Cheers,

Florian

8
Contact coach
0 comments
Cristian
Coach
on Mar 25, 2024
#1 Rated McKinsey Coach | Top MBB Coach | Verifiable success rates

Based on the latest version of the game, this does not have a contribution. 

It might have in the future. But for now I wouldn't worry about it. 

Best,
Cristian

7
Contact coach
0 comments
Pedro
Coach
on Mar 25, 2024
Bain | EY-Parthenon | Former Principal | 1.5h session | 30% discount 1st session

No, right now it doesn't have an impact! :)
Well thought, though!

7
Contact coach
0 comments
Similar Questions
Consulting
McKinsey Solve - Ecosystem building & Redrock study
on Jul 21, 2024
Global
3
1.3k
Top answer by
Francesco
Coach
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching
28
3 Answers
1.3k Views
Consulting
McKinsey solve test / PSG
on Jul 24, 2024
Global
1
1.2k
Top answer by
Anonymous
For which office did you do the Solve? I had a similar situation with the ecosystem. Btw how many questions did you h... (read entire answer)
For which office did you do the Solve? I had a similar situation with the ecosystem. Btw how many questions did you have for the first part of Redrock? In my case I had only 1 q... (read entire answer)
30
1 Answer
1.2k Views
Consulting
Ghosted by McKinsey After Imbellus – What Now?
on May 04, 2025
DACH
4
500+
Top answer by
Thabang
Coach
Ex-McKinsey Consultant | McKinsey Top Coach & Interviewer | Special Offer: Buy 1 Session Get 1 Free (Limited time!)
13
4 Answers
500+ Views
+1
Top Answer by
Ian
Coach
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success
To coach profile
Related Article
The McKinsey Imbellus Game – Everything You Need to Know
McKinsey’s Imbellus Game: Learn how this digital assessment works and how to prepare for it!
View article
Related Product
Prepped and Primed 3
5.0
31 reviews
USD 1,478
USD 1,185
More information
Related Case
Expert case by
Francesco
MBB 1st Round Case - Hazella Light
5.0
6.0k times solved
Advanced
Candidate-led
Open case
Similar Questions
Consulting
McKinsey Solve - Ecosystem building & Redrock study
on Jul 21, 2024
28
3
1.3k
Consulting
McKinsey solve test / PSG
on Jul 24, 2024
30
1
1.2k
Consulting
Ghosted by McKinsey After Imbellus – What Now?
on May 04, 2025
13
4
500+
Everything for Your Career
  • Interview Coaching
  • Q&A
  • Interview Partner
  • Mental Math Tool
  • Interview Drills
  • Stress Questions
  • Blog
Everything for Your Career
  • Interview Coaching
  • Q&A
  • Interview Partner
  • Mental Math Tool
  • Interview Drills
  • Stress Questions
  • Blog
Popular in Consulting
  • Case Library
  • Meeting Board
  • Interview Partner
  • Case Interview Basics
  • Case Interview
  • Consulting Q&A
Popular in Finance
  • Finance Q&A
  • Interview in Investment Banking
  • Investment Banking Salaries
Popular in Consulting
  • Case Library
  • Meeting Board
  • Interview Partner
  • Case Interview Basics
  • Case Interview
  • Consulting Q&A
Popular in Finance
  • Finance Q&A
  • Interview in Investment Banking
  • Investment Banking Salaries
Consulting and Finance Employers
  • RWE Consulting
  • Whiteshield Advisory
  • All Employers »
About PrepLounge
  • For Companies
  • For Universities
  • For Coaches
  • About Us
  • Career
  • FAQ
© 2012 PrepLounge
Our servers are powered by electricity from renewable sources.
  • Cookies & Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Imprint
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
Facebook Linkedin Instagram TikTok Youtube
Questions or Feedback?
Select category
  • Select category
  • General Feedback
  • Case Interview Preparation
  • Coaching
  • Technical Problems
  • Other
Your name
Your email address
Cancel