This is a classic business problem-solving case disguised in a historical/institutional context. It tests the candidate's ability to develop hypotheses about declining demand (either supply-side competition or demand-side shifts), design ways to test those hypotheses, and propose actionable solutions based on root cause analysis. The case rewards structured thinking and demonstrates how consulting frameworks apply beyond typical for-profit scenarios.
Assume you are the new pastor of a rural English church in the late nineteenth century. Over the last three years, attendance has been declining. Your boss has just come to town to tell you that she is considering shutting down the church. You have two weeks to diagnose the problem and come us with possible solutions.
How would you think through what these problems might be and the possible solutions?