Session 21: Development Areas, Regional-focus, Strategy & Partner-style cases

The training wheels are now off and the dynamic of the relationship should have changed. The final two candidates are no longer rookies in the program. We see them more as refined ambassadors of Firmsconsulting with the demonstrated competence to engage a partner on any type of case, in any situation, sector or function.

The focus of their development and training is to round out their development: pin-point the areas which were not as carefully addressed in the beginning of the program and carefully guide their development through them. Earlier in the program we focused on sector themes and now we will focus on functional themes. In today’s session we want to ensure the candidate is able to solve a case even if the case follows no conceivable style they may have seen.

We call these partner-style cases where the case develops from a seemingly innocent conversation, thereby misleading the candidate.

Both of the final two candidates are targeting offices where they have very little experience and knowledge. Our fundamental objective starting in this session, and continuing over the next 7 sessions, is to start drilling them in understanding value creation and the drivers of each sector in both Australia and Germany.

When the times come we want the candidates to be able to discuss, in detail, the key issues and obstacles facing a sectors development, and in the language of a management consultant.

We will be using McKinsey productivity studies as the basis but then taking the discussion even further by showing the candidate how to weave key observations, insights and findings into a general discussion. This process is done to ensure the partner doing the final must have no doubt in his mind that this candidate understands the interviewing offices sector issues as well, if not better, than a local candidate.

We also made a decision to remove one further candidate from the program, using the same criteria we used for the mid-point sessions.

In the session descriptions which follow, we are using one description for 4 different candidates. Yet candidates do not perform the same, and while the descriptions are mostly accurate, there will be some differences as a few cases are brought forward, others moved back or candidates fail to prepare adequately. While these differences are minor, they sometimes occur.

Cases questions taught in the session:

Felix’s cases recorded in the session; What are the most valuable skills you feel you have gained in your studies (Fit Question), Let’s discuss a trend in the German economy and provide some insights to the average German executive, Felix’s country of focus: McKinsey Asset Management Article, Brainstorm the ways Frankfurt can improve its global image, Let’s have a discussion about what is happening in the global auto industry, How would you go about developing a strategy for VW, Estimate VW’s total sales per annum & McKinsey Strategy function data interpretation case.

Sanjeev’s cases recorded in the session; Talk me through an example where you led people without formal titles or allocation of resources (Fit Question), Let’s discuss a trend in the economy and provide some insights to the average Indian executive, Brainstorm ways for a gas extraction company to increase its margins, How would you help a Central Asian gas behemoth understand the strategy to take, Estimate gas consumption per year for residential use in Russia & McKinsey Strategy function data interpretation.