Hard Case Interview Questions
Challenge yourself with 144+ hard case interview questions from McKinsey, BCG, and Bain. Tackle multi-layered problems with ambiguous data — build the creative thinking and advanced frameworks top firms expect.
Innovation in Chemical Products
BASF Management Consulting was approached by the Head of one of BASF's businesses (the Client). The Client shared with us the following information: …
GoodWind Technologies
GoodWind is a textile machinery manufacturer specialized in the production of winding machines, the machine used at the end of the cotton yarn …
National Gallery: New Revenue Streams
Your client is the UK's National Gallery, a government-funded heritage institution with the mission of welcoming the public to explore and experience …
Save the job of an INSEAD alumnus!
The client "Techking" is a 5bn€ multi-national IT provider based in Germany that provides technology and related consulting services to clients from a …
Waterlogic
Our client is LAVA, a licensed distributor of Waterlogic water purifiers in Southeast Asia. They obtained exclusive rights to distribute water …
Catch Me Or I Go; HuDisney
Your client is Disney, they're a global leader in entertainment and have a diverse portfolio of media networks, including Disney+ and Hulu. Disney+ is …
Changing Winds Under the Sun
Sovereign Oil Co. (SOC)—a large oil & gas company headquartered in Europe—has seen its share price drop by more than 35% over the last 15 months vs an …
Nook Co.
Your client Fun Ventures, an established PE firm, is looking to acquire Nook Co., a hospitality group that specializes in developing and transforming …
School Supplies
Our client is the new state superintendent of public schools, and is worried about teacher attrition in K-12 public schools in the state. Overall, the …
Uranus Co.
Uranus Co., founded in 1969 by Jack Kanof, is an established aerospace company looking to penetrate the luxury space travel market. It is looking for …
Apache Helicopter
Our client is a US defense contractor. One of its divisions manufactures Apache helicopters for military operations. The company is considering …
Applying Appliances
Your client is the appliance division of a major U.S-based consumer goods company. They manufacture mainly kitchen appliances - specifically …
Big Fat Greek Problem
We are back in 2018, and your client is AthensStay, a real estate management company located in Athens, Greece. Three years ago, AthensStay shifted …
Construct a Solution
Your client is Rebar Company, who manufacturers rebar and concrete for commercial construction. Their profits have fallen from a positive $20M profit …
Green Co
Our client, Green Co, is a $10B global manufacturer and retailer of high-end outdoor apparel, with several well-known brands. The company has big …
Hybrid Work Model
You've been called into the headquarters of Galloway Entertainment, a small television production company in New York. The company carefully managed …
Jimmy's Dilemma
It is early October, and Jimmy Smith, an MBA2 at NYU Stern, has a decision to make. After a summer interning at Firm A, Jimmy received an offer to …
Midwest Machinery Co.
The MM team has proposed moving the manufacturing process for the XL292 machine, a critical machine for many of their end products, to India. These …
Olympic City Choice
Your client is the Mayor of Houston who has reached out to you to help them determine if they should bid on the 2028 Summer Olympics and how they …
PyeongChang Winter Olympics
In the year 2012, we have been retained by a television network that is trying to decide how much to bid for the rights to broadcast the 2018 Winter …
Queen Shirley
Your client is Burger Queen, a fast food restaurant that competes directly with similar restaurants such as McDonalds, Taco Bell, KFC, Wendy's, etc. …
Race Car Barbie
Your client is an American production company who is looking for unconventional ways to market their new movie, Barbie, as much as possible. For …
Skylight Goods
Our client, Skylight Goods, is a $12B industrial goods manufacturer. They have various divisions and the division they are working with makes pressure …
Taylor's New Era
Your client is Taylor Swift, the most popular singer/songwriter globally. She has reached out to you for help regarding her Eras Tour. She has just …
Winter Olympics Bidding
Our client, a major US television network, is trying to figure out how much to bid for the exclusive right to broadcast the Winter Olympics Games in …
Yarmouth Yachts
Yarmouth Yachts is a publicly-traded luxury boat builder ($2M avg. selling price). The company experienced rapid earnings growth and share price …
A Sticky Paper Situation
Your client is PaperCo, a manufacturer of specialty papers which are sold to commercial printers in the US. PaperCo produces self-adhesive sheeted …
Activist Action
Your client is a large CPG company with multiple business units including snacks, beauty, and home (cleaning) products. Your client is under pressure …
Activist Action
Your client is a large CPG company with multiple business units including snacks, beauty, and home (cleaning) products. Your client is under pressure …
AI
Our client, JobJedi, is a major job board in the Philippines that began operating in 2019 and has experienced rapid growth. Currently, the platform …
BankCo
Our client is BankCoCard, a US credit card subsidiary of the major international bank BankCo. They have a rapidly growing $16 billion dollar credit …
Beta Optics
Beta Optics is a U.S.-based mid-size prescription eyeglass lens manufacturer. Due to the pandemic their revenues dropped by 30% in 2020 as far fewer …
Chipster Technology
Chipster Technology is a multi billion dollar technology company. The CIO has hired you to review the current talent profile of the IT organization. …
Climate change
The government of a West European country Franland has been under international pressure recently to accelerate the decarbonization of its economy. …
Consulting Impact Consulting
Your client "Impact Consulting" is a industry leader in Technology consulting globally. Over the last 3 years Impact consulting has grown its customer …
CPG Acquisition
Our client is a major global CPG conglomerate. Their star products are in home storage and home cleaning. They are acquiring an online platform that …
Customer engagement
Texas-based supermarket chain Y-E-S saw a drop in their customer engagement in 2020-21 driven by the pandemic. The customer engagement didn't improve …
Dam Dam Dam
We have just been approached by the council of Dracula, an isolated city of 900,000 people. The council is considering whether to approve the request …
Diabetes Device
Our client is a manufacturer of medical devices used to treat chronic diseases. They recently launched a new device for treating diabetic patients. …
Differentiation
Our client is a privately-held Boston-based sport shoe company New Equilibrium with $6B in sales. New Equilibrium is a beloved brand among …
Digital fitness
DoubleSweat is a national low-end gym chain with 2,400 clubs across the U.S. They're concerned about the sky-rocketed demand for digital fitness (e.g. …
Digital transformation
A global biopharmaceutical company Bio Co focuses on R&D for medications on severe central nervous system disorders, inflammatory disorders, and …
Distribution strategy
A popular fast-casual salad chain Fresh Bites has gained a loyal following for its healthy and customizable salads. The chain has been rapidly …
Drug Containers
Our client, a major pharma company, has engaged us to design a cost reduction strategy. You are working on a financial model to estimate the costs for …
DrugGen
DrugGen is a U.S.-based drug company. Given trends toward patient compliance and eco-friendliness, they are considering changing the packaging of an …
Fertilizer Company
Fertilizer Company is a U.S.-based fertilizer manufacturer that produces 1.5M tons of nitrogen, phosphatic and potash fertilizer annually. They have …
FIFA World Cup 26
Our client, Horizon Vista TV, has secured exclusive broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 26 in North America. How much revenue should they …
Fintech Startup
Your client is an up-and-coming fintech startup that has reached a critical juncture in developing its main product, a machine-learning based platform …
FitnessMate App
FitnessMate, a popular fitness tracking smartphone app, is considering shifting its revenue model from ads-based to subscription-based. By how much …
Food Frenzy
Mercado Reforma is a large B2B grocery supplier in Latin America that wants to expand into the B2C space. You are the project leader, ideate ways to …
Fringe Science
Massive Dynamic is a multi-national pharmaceutical company. One of their assets, Cortexiphan, is an anti-infective that successfully treats three …
GGC Health
Our client, GGC Health, operates eight Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC) on the east coast. GGC Health has consistently been a profitable …
GGC Health
Our client, GGC Health, operates eight Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC) on the east coast. GGC Health has consistently been a profitable …
Green Ride
Your client, Clean Ventures (CV), is an impact investment fund that focuses on technologies with the potential to improve the environment or reduce …
iPhat
Our client, Apricot, is a cutting-edge tech company that has patented a new technology called iPhat and is considering potential applications for it. …
Is Teleconferencing a Good Call?
Your client is a national wealth management firm within a larger bank. The current CIO has created a test pilot of a cutting-edge virtual conferencing …
K-12 teachers
Around a quarter of U.S. K-12* teachers are thinking of leaving their jobs (~900k educators). 9% of teachers left the profession in 2022 (e.g. …
Madecasse (2011)
Two entrepreneurs are launching a non-profit chocolate bar manufacturing company called Madecasse. The goal of Madecasse is to improve conditions for …
Mapflix Nollywood
Our client is Mapflix, a US-based video streaming company that streams movies/shows over the internet. Mapflix has established market leadership for …
Mickey Tires
Mickey Tires is a U.S.-based tire manufacturer. In 2020 their sales shrank by 10% due to the pandemic-related drop in car mileage as states were …
Munder-Difflin
Our client is Munder-Difflin (M-D), a $6.6B business unit of a $25B paper manufacturer. The business unit started out as a paper distributor to small …
NeuroNow
Our client, NeuroNow, is a mid-market biopharma company having 2 products in the US market. They have developed a new oral medicine to treat multiple …
OmegaMed
Our client is a clinic chain OmegaMed that offers primary care services at their 500 clinics. The company has been expanding rapidly in an inorganic …
Online training
Our client is Shey Investment, SI, a British-American global asset management group. They offer a range of financial products to individuals, …
Pencils & Backpacks
Our client, the governor of a southeastern state here in the US, is worried about student performance in K-12 schools in the state. The state has 180 …
Plant-based meat
The CEO of a $1B regional fast-food chain Up-N-Down Burger (UDB) has asked your team to help her prepare for the annual strategy meeting with the …
POS Vend
Our client is a U.S.-based point-of-sale (POS) software provider POS Vend that offers inventory systems for retailers and restaurants to process …
Potash Co.
Your client is Karnalyte Resources, which is a small potash producer. On the morning of July 30th , Uralkali, the dominant Russian producer announced …
Pre-K Education (2017)
Your client is the State Department of Education and it is looking to improve the education outcomes of the general population. The department …
Presence at Amazon
Paw Pet Products (PPP) is a U.S. major premium dog toy manufacturer with $50M in revenue (2022). With over 300 items, they offer many puzzle toys and …
Race to 270
The United States Presidential election is 2 weeks from today. Our client is the campaign manager for President Rump who is seeking re-election and is …
Reputation
Robert Sandler School of Drama (RSSD), an internationally recognized top U.S. acting school, would like to retain their standing as a reputable and …
Sustainability
Curex, one of top-5 laundry detergent brands in the U.S., has been experiencing pressure from their parent company to push the sustainability of their …
Swedish Death Metal (2015)
Your client is a record producer looking to bring a new music act to the United States. While traveling through Scandinavia he came across a Swedish …
Timber Crisis (2015)
Our client is a Canadian-based Timber Company in 2009. It primarily makes 2x4s, and the U.S. Residential construction market is, by far, the largest …
Timeless Watches
Your client is Timeless, one of the world's largest and most successful watchmakers. Based in the U.S., they are renowned for offering fashionable …
To Port or not to Port
Our client, Beertastic Ventures, is a global beverage manufacturer, specializing in producing beer and cider. They've been approached with an …
Vitriolic Wealth
Your client, the President of Vitriolic Wealth Advisors, has come to you in a crisis. Vitriolic's Chief Financial Officer was recently found to have …
Women's equality
You're working on an internal project for McKinsey Global Institute (MGI). Your team is preparing a report on advancing women's equality in Africa. …
AFRICAN GOLD MINES CO.
African Gold Mines Co. (AGM) is a junior gold producer with one open pit mine currently in production in Cameroon. The mine was established 10 years …
Apartment Co.
Apartment Co is a residential real estate company that owns and operates 10 buildings throughout three different boroughs within New York. The …
Athlete Training Business
E2, a boutique fitness franchise with 60 locations, offers individual and group training classes. They'd like to start training programs for high …
Build, Baby, Build!
Philadelphia is among the host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026 to be held in the US. Currently, the MLS team Philadelphia Union plays at the Subaru …
Cents and Sensibility
The city of Philadelphia is planning to sell the rights to all of its parking meters for 20 years to a private company. The idea is that in exchange …
Cloud Migration
Boards is a visual analytics platform for B2B clients. Given recent trends, they'd like to build a cloud version of their platform. What would be the …
Coffee Shop
Your friend runs a nice coffee shop in Palisades, the largest ski resort in Tahoe. Situated in a prime location, her coffee shop is a great success. …
Cowbon Emissions
Our client is a major milk producer in New Cowland, Milking it Co., MIC. New Cowland has recently introduced a law that means MIC has to reduce its …
Cowbon Emissions
Our client is a major milk producer in New Cowland, Milking it Co., MIC. New Cowland has recently introduced a law that means MIC has to reduce its …
Credit Cards
Birch Bank, a major regional U.S. bank, provides a diverse range of financial products (e.g. loans, bank accounts). The bank would like to launch a …
Entertainment Co.
Entertainment Co is the leading, diversified global media company, specializing in family entertainment. Recent earnings reports show Entertainment …
Eurotech
Your client is ChemCo, a global manufacturer of Chemical specialties based in the UK with profits of approximately $200M. Although Petrochemical …
EV Charging Stations
A U.S. hotel chain would like to install fast charging stations to its 100 hotels to attract more customers. The availability of charging stations is …
Evening Nightcap
Our client, Evening Nightcap, is a media company based in New York that specializes in a daily email newsletters recapping world news and top business …
Eye Can See Clearly Now
Your client, a PE firm, is considering an investment in Dr Kelso's Ophthalmology Practice, located outside Philadelphia. Dr. Kelso's Practice is …
Firebird Sports
Our client, Firebird Sports, is a sports equipment manufacturer headquartered in Hong Kong specializing in manufacturing shuttles used for playing …
Fuquan Land
A retired Fuqua professor is thinking about buying a piece of land in the surrounding Durham area. The land includes 10 acres which is ready for …
Great Burger
Let's assume our client is Great Burger (GB) a fast food chain that competes head–to–head with McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, KFC, etc. GB is the …
Green Airlines
Due to the recent bankruptcy of a major airline, the aviation authority of Brazil recently opened an auction for landing and takeoff slots in one of …
High-End Fashion Boutique Chain
Your client, a PE firm, is considering the acquisition of a seven-store high-end fashion boutique chain located on the West Coast. The owner would …
In You to Give
HemoTrue is a start-up working out of San Francisco in the US. Its sole product is a blood product containing red blood cells (RBCs) manufactured …
Into the Unknown
Arendelia Pharmaceuticals is a fast growing, innovative pharmaceutical company that has developed best-in-class treatments for Frozen Heart Syndrome …
Investment Bank Spin-off
Your client is a leading retail bank in a South American country, with over 3,000 branches across the country. In addition to the retail business, the …
Jimmy's Dilemma
It is early October, and Jimmy Smith, an MBA2 at NYU Stern, has a decision to make. After a summer interning at Firm A, Jimmy received an offer to …
OrthoGel
Your client is OrthoGel, a medical device company that manufacturers a hydrogel used in surgeries to help patients recovery. The gel is applied with a …
Orthopedics
ArtiNova, a major global manufacturer of joint replacement and spinal implants, has recently experienced a decline in profitability. To restore the …
Palm Beach Capital: Cruise Line Acquisition
Your client, Palm Beach Capital, is a private equity firm that specializes in the Travel and Tourism industry. They have recently asked you to help …
PayCo
Your role on the PayCo engagement is to develop the business case for commercializing PayCo's contactless technology 1. Which market and transit …
Pipeline Oil Technology
Minerva's University Fluids Research Lab has discovered a more efficient way to transport crude petroleum oil inside pipelines. This new technology …
Rush Hour
The authorities of the Lagos Nigeria airport have decided to issue 2,500 new taxi permits for $1,000 each. These permits authorize a taxi to service …
Self-Service Kiosks
A regional fast-food chain has been struggling with long lines, which hurt customer experience, drive away customers, and decrease retention rates. …
Shots, shots, shots
Our clients, the Governor of a state and the state's Director of the Department of Health Services (DHS), seek to improve SARS-COV-2 or "COVID-19" …
Thunder, Lightning, Strike
Our client, AirChief, is a small industrial company in Kansas, USA that manufactures aircraft maintenance and repair equipment. Their clients include …
Activist Action
Your client is a large CPG company with multiple business units including snacks, beauty, and home cleaning products. Your client is under pressure …
Audio Inc.
Audio Inc is a consumer tech company specializing in headphones, speakers, and audio equipment. Lately, they have been losing market share to …
Fuquan Land
A retired Fuqua professor is thinking about buying a piece of land in the surrounding Durham area. The land includes 10 acres which is ready for …
Green Chips, Clean Chips
Your client, Chip Co., is a manufacturer of semiconductors. While chips help the world in energy efficiency and electrification, the manufacturing …
I Want My Em-TV
Emerson is a $10b company that offers landline phone and broadband internet services to an area with 20 million households and businesses. To …
Muni Golf Opportunity
Our client, FSB Capital Holdings LLP is a real estate focused private equity firm, with experience in developing and operating properties over medium …
Opus Two
Our client, Opus Two, is one of the most prestigious wineries in Napa Valley. The winery is renowned for crafting a single, exceptional wine – a …
State of Blue Devils
Your client, state of "Blue Devils" is looking to grow their capital project footprint post-Covid-19 now that construction restrictions have been …
Swift Business
Your client is 12-time Grammy winning recording artist Taylor Swift. Taylor has a reputation for her commitment to her fans and their concert …
News Co.
NewsCo. is a TV network that offers live news and pre-recorded entertainment programming. They're concerned about a recent survey showing a decline in …
Pet Paws
Your client is PawsPlus Retail, a national specialty retailer offering premium pet food, treats, supplements, toys, and grooming products through 430 …
Scrub Strategy
The CEO of G&P, a consumer product company, has approached you with a new type of sponge known as the smiley. This sponge could be used within many of …
Swift Business
Your client is 12-time Grammy winning recording artist Taylor Swift. Taylor has a reputation for her commitment to her fans and their concert …
Water Provision Scheme
As of March 2021, the Education Ministry (EM) in India believes that more than 42,000 government schools across the country don’t have drinking water …
BioPharma LOE
Fuqua & Co. is a global BioPharma firm. In 2009, they acquired a smaller player, Kenan-Flagler Co., for $41B. The key driver was a breakthrough …
GREEN AIRLINES
Due to the recent bankruptcy of a major airline, the aviation authority from Brazil recently opened an auction for landing and takeoff slots in one of …
Medical Tourism
The client is the Ministry of Tourism in a GCC country. The client oversees policies related to promoting and developing domestic and international …
Pressing Parts Problems
Our client is a small auto-parts manufacturer (Name: APM Co.) with roughly $350M in revenue and operations on two continents. The company has …
Voter Turnout
Over the last few election cycles, the city of Philadelphia has seen decreasing voter turnouts. Presidential elections happen every 4 years, and the …
Lux Rides
Lux Rides, an Italian 2-wheeler brand is looking to enter the luxury scooter segment in Vietnam. 2-wheelers are very popular in the country and the …
New Rubber Plant Investment
The federal government of a country in a certain part of the world is investigating whether to restart a rubber factory in the western part of the …
PSU Bank Co.
PSU Bank Co. is a public sector bank and their mutual fund division has not been doing well recently. The CEO wants your support in identifying the …
Happy Bellies
Your client, Happy Bellies, is a meal kit delivery service that streamlines the culinary journey for the customer from grocery shopping to …
Canyon Capital
Your client is Canyon Capital Partners (CCP). CCP is a long-established hedge fund headquartered in Hartford, CT. Hedge funds make money mainly out of …
Medical Devices Co
Our client, Medical Devices Co., is a medical device company that manufactures a blood clotting product called BloodStopper. This product is currently …
Rubber Bumper Laboratories
Rubber Bumper Co is a small family owned producer of rubber products. It prides itself on producing a limited range of products but producing the …
To Automate or Not
After returning from a trade show, the CEO of a large grocery distribution center calls you. He enthusiastically describes a new technology which …
High Engineer Attrition at SLS Oil Gas Services
Our client SLS is one of the world’s largest oil and gas services provider operating in 85 countries and employing about 100,000 people from over 140 …
Insurance for the underserved in India
The Indian insurance market is heavily underpenetrated. The majority of insurable, adult population either is not insured and this has serious …
Mining Competitive Strategy
Our client is an Australian mining company, whose main product is Iron Ore, which it sells exclusively to China. This company is the largest producer …
US Manufacturing
A major U.S. shoe manufacturer is currently manufacturing its entire product line domestically. Because of increased labor costs and competitive …
Wellington Equestrian Festival
Prompt: Your client is Mark Bellissimo, CEO of Wellington Equestrian Partners (WEP). Mark, a Harvard MBA with no background in the equestrian industry …