Five Steps to Master Any Consulting Case: Lessons from a PwC Consultant
What makes a strategy consultant's recommendation truly stick? It's not just the answer; it's the structured process they follow to get there.
This week, the I DO consulting teams attended an insightful Consulting In Practice workshop led by Stefan Kluwer, a strategy consultant from PwC. During the session, students worked through a sample case interview and uncovered key lessons that apply not only to top-tier firms but also to our NGO consulting work. One student reflected, “Seeing how a clear structure can make a messy problem much easier to tackle was really eye-opening. I can definitely see us using this in our projects.”
Five Essential Steps to Master Any Case Interview
Stefan shared a five-step framework to turn an ambiguous client prompt into a clear, data-backed recommendation.
Define the True Objective: Don’t stop at the initial problem statement. Your first task is to confirm the real goal and restate it in one clear, measurable sentence. Without alignment on the objective, even the best analysis can miss the mark.
Structure Your Approach: Before diving into details, map out your logic using a consulting structure such as an issue tree. Keep it MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive) so your reasoning is sound and easy to follow.
Focus Your Time: Direct your energy to the part of the problem that matters most. Great consultants prioritize what drives the biggest impact instead of getting lost in low-value details.
Be Data-Driven: Every finding and insight must be supported by facts and figures. Keep your calculations handy so you can easily justify every decision when asked by an interviewer or client.
Master the Recommendation: End with clarity and confidence. Your final recommendation should be one concise sentence, supported by two or three data-backed reasons, key risks, and clear next steps.
By following this five-step approach, our I DO consulting teams move beyond theory to develop practical skills that deliver real impact. Using this framework, every team can present actionable, evidence-based recommendations that shape decisions and drive lasting change for our NGO partners.
Discover how our I DO student consultants are driving lasting change for NGOs here.