Case Interview Structure: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet

A collection of vocabulary terms and strategic components used for building case interview structures, covering frameworks like Profitability, the 4 P’s, Porter’s 5 Forces, and M&A.

Profitability

A case interview structure comprised of Price, Quantity, Variable Cost, and Fixed Cost.

Variable Cost

Costs relating to Labor, Materials, and Distribution.

Fixed Cost

Costs relating to Salaried labor, Rent, and Utilities.

Pricing

A structure consisting of Product, Competition, Strategy, and Synergies.

Synergies (Pricing)

Considerations including product bundling, cross-selling opportunities, and concerns regarding cannabilization.

4 P’s

A marketing structure consisting of Product, Price, Promotion, and Place.

Promotion

A component of the 4 P’s that evaluates marketing strategies, their effectiveness, and competitor marketing tactics.

Place

A component of the 4 P’s that examines distribution channels, their effectiveness, and the need for a human salesforce.

Porter’s 5 Forces

A framework evaluating New Entrants, Substitutes, Competition, Supplier Power, and Buyer Power.

New Entrants

A force in Porter’s 5 Forces defined by barriers to entry, economies of scale, and product protections.

Substitutes

A force in Porter’s 5 Forces defined by notable substitutes and the cost for switching.

Market Entry

A structure consisting of Market, Competition, Financial, and Considerations.

Market Entry (Financial)

Considerations involving profitability timing, entry methods such as Acquisition or Joint venture, and expected market share.

New Product

A structure consisting of New Product, Portfolio Fit, Market, and Feasibility.

M&A

An acronym for Mergers and Acquisitions, with a structure consisting of Target Market, Target Company, Post-Acquisition Strategy, and Risks and Benefits.

Post-Acquisition Strategy

An M&A component examining how a company fits within a portfolio, potential revenue or cost synergies, and the target's management team.

Black Belt

The title of a case prep program for expert resources and feedback on structures.