MECE - What is it? How to apply it in Case Interviews?
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
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I'm newbie in case interviews, but I think that what commenters didn't get about the exercise being non-MECE is that it proposes a structure with three branches (Background, skills and evaluation) but displays it without respecting the levels (besides not following the rule of 3). I would organize it this way:
1. Have and impressive *background*, both
1.a) In education
1.b) in work experience
2. Have these *skills* well developed:
2.a) Analytical
2.b) Consulting
3. Do really well in the *evaluations*:
3.a) Resume screening
3.b) Case interviews
that's even better organised!
This is exactly what I was thinking as well.
1. Non-paralel: "impressive educational background and working experience" (collective experience) is a logically different kind from "pass the bcg potential test" (one time event)
2. Non-mutually exclusive: "having an impressive educational background" and "passing the BCG potential test"/ "having a good analytical skills" can overlap, "having work experience" and "have a good consulting resume" can also overlap.
3. Non-collectively exhaustive: "Having a relative/family member/connection that works at BCG" is also another way of getting into BCG without having to qualify for those four points mentioned.
Any feedbacks would be appreciated, as I am just starting to learn more about the field. Thanks
Funny how point #3 actually true as in the case of a good friend... (:
Here is my thought,
1. The parts are overlapping. For instance, be good at analytical overlaps with doing well case interviews.
2. The sum of the parts is not the whole. There more to do to get into BCG such as researching the company, networking, submitting an application, etc.
3. The parts are not parallel, e.g. having impressive resume is not parallel with passing BCG test.
4. There are too many parts.
It will be MECE when presented this way:
How to get into BCG: pass resume screening, pass BCG potential test, and pass case interviews.
are these three parallel? They are continuous.
How I defined is like below:
How to get into BCG
1. Through Open Recruitment
2. Through on demand Recruitment
3. Through Internship.
These are overlapping
I'm thinking maybe
1. Recruitment
2. Technical Skills
3. Education and other experience
Right, This is my MECE Issue tree :
1. Have good Qualification (What we should have)
A. Have good experience (Our Past Action)
A.1 Have good education Experience
A.2 Have good working Experience
B. Have good cognitive (Our mind)
B.1 Have Analysis Skill (Left-Brain)
B.2 Have Communication Skill (Delivering thoughts)
B.3 Have Creativity Skill (Right-Brain)
C. Have good personality (Our Heart)
C.1 Be Company-Fit
C.2 Be Interviewer-Fit
2. Pass all test (What we should do)
A. Pass Resume Test
B. Pass Problem Solving Test
C. Pass Interview Test
How to get into BCG?
1. Possess
a. Consulting resume detailing - impressive working and academic background
b. Skillset of - analytical and other consulting skills
2. Perform well in - BCG test and case interview
It is non-MECE because the first two items and the last two items are not mutually exclusive and, hence, can be paired into one. This would result in a clean list of 3 items:
1. Have a good consulting resume that showcases your impressive educational background and work experience.
2. Pass the BCG Potential Test
3. Do well in case interviews in order to display your analytical and other consulting skills.
Yes I would agree with you on this one, but I would take out the addition of point 1 in 2 and 4 in 5.
It is still non-MECE because the small items are not parallel. For example, you also have to be good at analytical and other consulting skills in order to pass the BCG test.
1. Statement 1 & 2 are not Mutually Exclusive, since an impressive background and experience will result in good resume.
2. Statement 3, 4, & 5 are not Mutually Exclusive, since you have to be good at analytical + consulting skills in order to (3) pass the test and (5) do well in case interviews
So it'll left us with:
Option 1
1. Have an impressive education background and working experience
2. Be good at analytical and consulting skills
💡Option 2: How to get into BCG💡
1. Have a good consulting resume
2. Pass the BCG test
3. Do well in case interviews
Option 1 are not MECE since we cannot define if the smaller parts = the big group. Option 2 can be defined as MECE if we call the big group as 'How to get into BCG' and if we assume that the selection process of getting into BCG involves just resume screening, test, and case interviews. It's also will be better if presented with the same positive verb.
1. Pass resume screening
2. Pass BCG test
3. Pass case interviews
Coming across your channel is one of the things I am most grateful for this year. Thank you, Kim!
Rules for MECE:
1. Non-overlapping
2. The sum of small parts = the big group
3. Parallel each other
4. Stick to the magical “three"
Violation for Rule Number 1:
1. A strong correlation between the 1st and the 2nd point
2. Weak correlation between the 4th, 1st and the 2nd point
3. A strong correlation between the 3rd and the 5th point
Violation for Rule Number 2:
1. Some other possible reasons are not included.
Violation for Rule Number 4:
1. They have more than 3.
*Note: Rule number 3 (Parallel each other) isn’t violated.
1. Non- exclusive. 1& 2 overlap (also 3). 4&5 overlap.
2. Does not follow rule of 3. There are 5 bullet points
3. Non-parallel. Some points are about education. Others about performance.
4. I want to say no-exhaustive also. :)
How to get into BCG? You need........
A. Strong Background:
- Education (Target/Non-Target school? Undergrad/grad? GPA? Major? etc)
- Work experience (Big /small company? Type of company? Position? Year of experience? etc)
B. Special Skills:
- Soft Skills (interpersonal and communication/conflicting solving/ leadership/ etc)
- Hard Skills (problem-solving/creative thinking/data analyzing /time management/ etc)
Be well prepared for the hiring process:
1) Resume screening
2) BCG potential test
3) Case interview
Awesome!!
Mine is this:
1. Developed a character of consultants during University years and exposed yourself to working environments
2. Applied to BCG with resume organized and put out properly
3. Aim to pass each interview stages such as the BCG potential test and case interviews
Hi Kim!
Thank you for sharing this insightful video!
I am Cahaya from Indonesia and I am very happy to try broke down "How to get into BCG" in MECE way.
Problem structure
A. Good consulting resume
1. Impressive working experience
2. Impactful working experience
3. Relevant skills
4. Intriguing interests
B. Good consulting skills
1. Good non human connected skills (to past the BCG potential test)
2. Good human connected skills (to past the case interview; excluding the analysis skills because it would be under non human connected skills, but will include the case-interview note taking skills because it requires a human connection which is to listen the interviewer)
I hope that this problem structure is MECE and I am happy to welcome your feedback on this problem structure.
Thanks!
Hi Cahaya, thank you for the attempt.
Yes your structure is quite MECE. But if I am to nitpicking that, here are a few items:
- Unbalanced weight between A and B
- A and B somewhat overlap. I can argue that with "good consulting skills", you can write "good consulting resume" (just like "good consulting skills" help past the BCG Potential Test like you said).
Nice job though. Keep it up! ^^
Nice video.
Below is how I put it in a MECE way:
1. Impressive education background&working experience
2. Pass BCG potential Test
3. Master analytical&other consulting skills
4. Excel in the case interview
My answer is: Either point 1&4, Or point 2&3&5.
1&4 talks about all parellel qualities that BCG looks for: edu, working experience, skills.
2&3&5 talks about every single step in the procedure of getting into BCG: pass resume screening; pass online test; and finally pass the interview.
i think the first two are overlapping because if one has a good working experience he or she will have a good resume in the same field ,so it repeats the same thing, because resume means the past experience and qualities one has in cooperate world.the last two , if one is really good at analytic and other consulting skills than he or she will almost do well , there is no different thing in doing really well or be a good analytic , they almost mean the same and overlap at some points, not completely exhaustive
Hi all, I think all contributions are very good. I know I am fairly late to this but in reconstructing the breakdown I will have it as follows:
HOW TO GET INTO BCG:
1. Have a good resume that includes your educational background and work experience.
2. Pass the BCG Potential test using a strong analytical and consulting skillset.
3. Demonstrate competence in constructing case interviews.
I would love to know what anyone's take is on my attempt above! God bless :)
My thoughts about the Ecercise:
Its not MECE because:
1. Too many topics
2. Topics overlap (eg. doing well in case interviews and being good at analytical thinking)
How i would fix them:
1. Quantitative Factors
1.1. Impressive education (grades)
1.2. BCG potential test
2. Qualitative Factors
2.1. Qualitative Resumes
2.1.1 Working experience
2.1.2 Good consulting resume
2.2. Qualitative Impression at BCG
-> Proving good analytical and consulting skills in case interviews
Non MECE - (I am self-educating through reading and video.)
I would summarize
How to get into BCG:
Have the Education
Possess the Skills
and has the Experience.
Each covers the various points without overlap, the sum of all parts is the whole (job). Any feedback is helpful.
1. Impressive edu background and work exp
1a. Good resume
2. Be good at analytical and other consulting skills
2a. BCG Potential Test
That would make it ME with whats given, but it isn't CE. There are many other aspects, like the interviewer liking you.
I'm a little late to the party but I think that I found very similar reasons as everyone else already stated. The resume and Ed. background/work and consulting experience overlap and the magic number 3 being surpassed were good. I felt like there was more information to getting into the group. Maybe the way it was organized would have made the list far smaller. Also, do well on case interviews makes me wonder what is considered "well" in this case. I'm been struggling with the entire semester of my capstone. Thanks to everyone and Pieter for really simplifying this.
Reasons that it is a non MECE categorisation because:
1) Non mutually exclusive
2) Not collectively exhaustive
3) Did not follow the rule of 3
According to me a MECE way would be:
1) Have a good resume which showcases an impressive educational background and working experience
2) Pass the BCG potential test
3) Perform well in the interviews including the case interview to showcase your impressive personality, analytical skills and other consulting skills.
Impressive Education overlaps with Good consulting resume, analytical skills.
Comparing Resume TO Test TO Skills TO Case interviews is not parallel.
I would go with:
1. Consistent EDUCATION Background
2. Consistent CONSULTING WORK EXPERIENCES/background
3. Consistent CONSULTING INTERVIEW TEST SKILLS
I think it could be broken into:
1. background
1.1 skills
1.1.1 hard
1.1.2 soft
1.2 experience
1.2.1 school
1.2.2 work
2. test
3. interview
they're not parallel quite, but i can think of also before BSG and during BSG process. in before it's going to be skills and experience, in after - test and interview
Hehe ... didn't know consultants like ya still have some sense of humor ^^. Very fun and helpful video! Thanks!
I would break it down as follows.
To get into BCG you need to :
1) Have impressive education, skills and experience.
2) Present this well in resume, cover letter
3) Show this well in BCG test, case interviews, and other assessments.
Where should we start?
5 items (not 4 or less)
Use of qualitative assessment - doing well (how well, very well, just well, so-so well) - is this for analytical and other (which other?) skills...
Have a good consulting resume (how good)?
1. Point 1&3 are like subsets of point 2, having a good consulting resume.
2. There are two many items that broke magic three rule.
The above example is a non-MECE since -
1) It has more than 4 branches to it
2) The first two and the last two statements overlap in a way
3) There are some missing steps which can be put forth in a sentence
Here's what I thought,
1. The bullet points are mentioned are not mutually exclusive and there seem to be many parts.
2. These do not sum up to all the possible actions/options for candidates to get into BCG.
We could fix this in the creating the following bullets and subsequently sub-bullets in each part to determine success:
1. Preparing initial application for the role the candidate is interested in.
2. Clear the resume screening application.
3. Pass the BCG Potential Test.
4. Pass the case interview.
My thoughts. It's not MECE because:
1. Working experience suggests that you should have good analytical skills and so it's not mutually exclusive
2. The consulting resume and other consulting skills are not parallel and so not MECE.
yessssss
The criteria are not MECE because:
- Working experiences and a good consulting resume are not mutually exclusive, they indicate the same experience
- Being good at analytical and consulting skills and have a good consulting resume are not totally ME
1.) The parts are overalapping here as:
1.1) Having a good consulting resume vs good working experience.
1.2) having analytical and consulting skills and doing well in case interviews.
1.3) If you have a good consulting resume then you would be good at analytical and other consulting skills.
2.) These are not the only small parts that can add up to the statement as there are multitude of other factors like guestimates, etc.
3.) factors like impressive education background and doing well in case studies are not running parallel.
4.) total number of factors is three which is considered fair in consulting domain.
For the exercise, Point 2 already covers points 1 and 4 whereas point 5 covers point 3
MECE is the non-maths equivalent of 'supplementary subspaces'.
How about a structure on a higher level?
- Before the application
- Before the Interview
- During the Interview
Not MECE because:
1. More than 3 subcategories
2. Education background work experience overlap with resume, Potential test overlap with case interview
3. Sum of all parts is not the whole, because getting into BCG may be through networking skills and other factors. Getting ino BCG IT department is different from BCG consulting group.
Here is how I will use MECE for "How to getinto BCG Consulting department"
1. Resume
2. Case Interviews
3. Networkings
Within Case Interview, there could be subcategory of Tips and Techniques
regarding the customer breakdown, if I said the customer base can be split into male and female, would that be MECE? It's less than 3 items and I think it's comprehensively exhaustive, but it would simply not be a useful answer?
***** "a" useful. :)
1. and 2. are somewhat similar and thus not mutually exclusive. The smaller parts don't equal the whole as you skip over the applying for BCG. The elements are not parallel to each other as 1 and 2 refer to having something, but 3. refers to doing something. And this is not broken down into the magical three.
For the exercise, this is not MECE for a variety of reasons. Work experience and resumes are not mutually exclusive simply because the work experience of a candidate is within the resume. While not only possessing characteristics that are not mutually exclusive, the categories are not parallel to one another. For example, ones skills and one's interviews are not the same categories of metrics. In addition, these categories are far too overwhelming. Ideally, it'd be nice to concise them and bring them together while following a more MECE approach. Below I will outline a potential solution on "how to get into consulting" through a more MECE approach.
1) Possess a strong resume that has balance of work experience and accredited college.
2) Possess the necessary critical and analytical thinking skills to optimize success in interviews.
Problems: 1st and 4th point overlap with 2nd point, list is not complete and there are too many points.
My solution:
1) Prepare consulting resume that would be accepted by recruiters at BCG
2) Pass the BCG Potential Test
3) Pass through case and other interviews (e.g. final)
4) Sign an offer with BCG company
Let me consider that given case info is a mix like a fund raising donation box
It may contain
1) Coins
2) Currency
3) Gold
4) check
Each of the items are not overlapping with each other hence they are mutually exclusive .At the same time they collectively give a unique value and it is collectively exhaustive. But I am not clear about " Parallel concept ".. Is there any glamorous example that allows us to remember the concept..?
is NOT collectively exhaustive ! -you missed at least Bit-coins, and other payments systems
Very fun and informative, thanks for sharing!
BEEEEEH, non-MECE, too many items, let's stop there.
To Make it MECE
Get into BCG
1. Have the Knowledge - via experience and education
2. Be able to apply the Knowledge - Passing the BCG PT and Interviews demonstrating the consulting skills
Why it's not MECE:
A) Overlapping B) Does not sum up [Sum is greater than 1 for lack of better words] C) Not parallel D) More than 3 items that can be summarized and improved into:
1. Showcase your impressive education background and working experience in your resume
2. Prepare for and pass your BCG potential test
3. Demonstrate your analytical skill and business acumen (other consulting skills) during the case interviews
Problem: "How to get in to BCG"
Here are the following components which are non-parallel or overlap are in-fact sub-set of
- Have a good consulting resume, have a good education background & working experience are pretty same
- Do really well in case interviews is not exclusive to passing BCG potential test
How to get into BCG?
1. Have a resume that is qualified for the interview
2. Pass the BCG potential test
3. Your performance in the case interview is accepted by the interivewers
Why the original 5 points are not MECE?
1. They overlaps: point 1 and 2, 4 and 5 are overlapped
2. The sum of the parts are not comprehensive enough
3. Not parallel: some of the points are about the interview process, some others are about personal background
4. Too much points
"How to get into BCG"
Have a good consulting resume
Pass the BCG Potential Test
Do really well in case interviews
Is broken down into is unnecessary...
There are five bullet point. You already need to be good at analytic to pass the potential test. The first two bullet point should be pack together.
It should be
How to get into BCG
-Display Adequate background and Experience in the Resume
-Credited with BCG potential Test
-Pass the case Interview.
I hope this is correct.
Hi +MConsulting Perp,
thank hou very much for this amazing video, but if i just put the first and second point in one bucket and third and forth in one bucket.
would that be a correct MECE?
PLEASE REPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Hi Kim, Please find my analysis for the below exercise
Exercise: Point out why the is not MECE?
How you would fix it?
“How to get into BCG”.. is broken down into
Solution:
The Statement is not MECE due to following
1. Good Consulting resume will contains the Education and Working Experience.
2. Analytical skill overlaps with Education and Working exeprience.
3. Consulting skill overlaps with the Working experience.
Here is my solution to get the MCEC
1. Having a good resumes ( It should contains the Working experience, Education, Consulting and Analytics skills)
2. Pass the BCG Potential test
3. Do really well in case interview.
Why above solution is MCEC ?
1. Good Resume contains all the details like Education , Work experience, Consulting Skill and Analytical skill.
2. Passing BCG Potential test is must to get to the case interview
3. Doing good in Case interview will lead you to the BCG
The first two are not mutually exclusive, the last three are not mutually exclusive, and it does not follow the rule of 3.
Many of you are correcting the Non-MECE example at the end with further Non-MECE answers. The two can have to be mutually exclusive, so 'passing screening' and 'possessing skills' or 'passing the interview' are not MECE either when paired together. A better MECE response would be:
How to get into BCG: 1) Be Hired Through Face-to-Face Interview Method. (2) Be Hired Through Phone/Virtual Interview
This is how I would make it have the MECE formula
The candidate should:
1. Have a good educational background - Evidenced in their good consulting resume.
2. Have relevant and sufficient work experience: To match the requirements of the posted position at BCG
3. Pass the BCG Consulting test - Requires Case Interview Sucess (analytically and behaviorally)
Case interview will be sub part of BCG potential test. That could be overlapping?
No they are two different things. You will pass the Potential Test first, then do case interviews. Check out this article ^^.
mconsultingprep.com/bcg-potential-test/
@@MConsultingPrep thank you so much :)
Already 5 bullet points
1st and 2nd point overlaps
well I do not agree that 1 and 2 are overlapping. having a good resume and being able to present it in a consulting friendly way are totally different. you !ight have good work experience but you might not be able to show it or you may have bad resume but it makes sense from consulting point of view.
How to make it MEC for me: 1. Have a skill set needed for consulting company; 2. Have good performance in Mckinsey selection
The break down of "How to get into BCG" is non MECE because:
1) the small parts (answer 2,4 or even all of them overlap each other, they mean the same thing = be a good potential BCG consultant)
2) the answers given are very generic - having a good consulting resume and good set of consulting skills are not clearly defined. How is "good" measured? Is working in a small local consulting group for 6 months considered having a good set of consulting skills?
3) there are more than 3 very general answers given
I would solve this by:
1) putting down specific figures for eg, specifying the amount of years working in a consulting firm to have a good consulting resume
2) state the highest qualification of academic background needed
3) explaining how to do well in case interviews - the key criteria needed to be fulfilled
4) reducing the number of solutions
It can be non-MECE because, in my opinion, they are not parallel.
The way your list breaks down the answers to the question "How to get into BCG" is a non-MECE way for three main reasons:
1) It breaks the "magical rule of three" in that there are more than four elements. Ideally, the optimal number of bullets, ideas and elements should not exceed four, and if possible, the number should stay around three.
2) The list is not mutually exclusive because "being good at analytical and other consulting skills" may already guarantee you passing the BCG potential test and doing really well in case interviews. Each component on the list overlaps.
3) The list is also not collectively exhaustive because you may need other factors to get into BCG, for instance, you will need to have good attitude; you will need to be physically placed somewhere near BCG office to go to work, etc.
The answer is rather chronological, than MECE. And for these reasons I think the list is non-MECE!
First, there are too many criteria -- five is more than the ideal three. Second, the topics are not ME. One can have a good resume, educational background, and work experience but fail to pass the test or the interviews. Third, the criteria are non-measurable and the ME is in jeopardy. What does "good" even mean? Who's judging what's "good"?
Instead, I would split it into three criteria: 1) Master's degree and non-Master's degree holders (or Bachelor's, depending on the specifics); 2) passed the BCG potential test and did not pass the BCG test; and 3) earned passing marks in the case interview session and did not earn passing marks in the case interview session. Each is ME in itself (but not against other criteria) and would cover all candidates and thus be CE.
Is this consistent with the MECE principle?
MECE practice - "How to get into BCG" example breakdown is not MECE because:
- Having a good consulting resume and impressive working experience overlap each other. You wouldn't be able to put together a good consulting resume if your past working experience was not impressive. Likewise for analytical and consulting skills.
- These five items are not parallel, some are more granular than others. For example, passing the BCG potential test and performing well in case interviews can be aggregated into the same category of maybe "Interview Performance"
My MECE structure (if has to be categories of 3) can be broken down into :
1) Have impressive education background (relevant courses, good GPA, meaningful extra-curricular)
2) Have impressive working experience (relevant experiences, good performance, achievements)
3) Have impressive interview performance (showcasing interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills, communication skills, etc.)
Please let me know your thoughts on the above. Would much appreciated it, thanks!
why not demonstrate concepts like choosing a framework, listing a hypotheses....using a case study example..??
Basically, this list has bulletins overlapping each other. Secondly, it is not detail enough to separate the bulletins and make them parallel with each other. This MECE concept really sounds like a baby of a VERY OCD person who is meticulous and detail oriented.
start from 1:32
end from 7:16
Why didn't you focus on what is MECE instead of what isn't MECE?
1. the requirements are too many, not adhering to the magical 3 principle
2. they are not mutually exclusive, candidate with work experience may have worked in a consulting firm and vice versa
3. They don't add up to become the whole. a candidate should be excellent in communication skills, non-violent, etc
Haven't seen one response in the comments that's collectively exhaustive.
Make yours ^^
if we remove resume from the options I think it would become a mece
? is this supposed to be MECE ? I have also NEVER seen a slide deck that conforms to these rules, especially those from highly ranked consulting firms! Yes I believe in the principles of clear writing and that the Minto pyramid has a dominant effect on clarity but even her book and video she does not conform even remotely.
How is not MECE: Small parts are not parallel, they have different sizes to be made comparisons with on the same level. The magical 3 rule wasn't followed.
MAGICAL THREE IS VIOLATED
RESUME AND BACKGROUND ARE OVERLAPPING
GROUPS ARE NOT ON THE SAME LEVEL
Looks good ^^
I thought i knew it until this video confused me
Oh really? What made you confused in this case? You may wanna visit our article to clarify all the confusions at mconsultingprep.com/case-interview-mece/.
If there is still confusion, don't hesitate to contact us via our live chat/ FB messages/ email!
Ghanta bhi kuch samjh nhi aya🫣