PROBLEM SOLVING WITH THE MCKINSEY METHOD

1、problem solving with the mckinsey method mckinsey problem solving approach intuition data problemsolution business need competitive organizational financial operational analyzing framing designing gathering interpreting presenting structure buy-in implementation dedication reaction completion iterat

2、ion leadership vision inspiration delegation managing team client self focus of todays discussion framing the problem key tips start with structure, not data break the problem into “mece” parts (using issue trees) form a sound hypothesis as to the answer identify what conditions are necessary and su

3、fficient to prove the hypothesis (using hypothesis trees) framing the problem issue tree example problem: how can the acme widget company increase profits from its existing business lines? framing the problem issue tree example how can acme increase profits from existing business lines? framing the

4、problem issue tree example how can acme increase profits from existing business lines? from widgets from thrum-mats from grommets which business lines? framing the problem issue tree example how can acme increase profits from existing business lines? from widgets from thrum-mats from grommets increa

5、se revenues decrease expenses which business lines? how? framing the problem issue tree example how can acme increase profits from existing business lines? from widgets from thrum-mats from grommets increase revenues decrease expenses decrease raw material costs decrease labor costs decrease overhea

6、d costs which business lines? how?how? framing the problem issue tree example how can acme increase profits from existing business lines? from widgets from thrum-mats from grommets increase revenues decrease expenses decrease raw material costs decrease labor costs decrease overhead costs negotiate

7、wage concessions implement a labor-saving production process which product lines? how?how?how? negotiate higher productivity quotas framing the problem issue tree assignment problem: how can i have more money at the end of each month without incurring debt? issue trees vs. hypothesis trees issue tre

8、es identify all potential ideas issue trees ask “how” we could meet a desired outcome issue trees are excellent for organizing ideas in a “mece” manner complete issue trees uncover all potential ideas hypothesis trees focus and build up an argument or conclusion hypothesis trees ask “why” we believe

9、 something to be true hypothesis trees are excellent for narrowing down investigation to essentials complete hypothesis trees build up a complete argument hypothesis trees focus on the “so what” of any data that is presented framing the problem hypothesis tree example hypothesis: we can increase the

10、 profitability of the acme widget company through a streamlined production process for thrum-mats. framing the problem hypothesis tree example we can increase thrum-mat profitability with the new production process. framing the problem hypothesis tree example we can increase thrum-mat profitability

11、with the new production process. it will reduce our costs. our organization can implement the necessary changes. we can maintain product quality while implementing the process. why? framing the problem hypothesis tree example we can increase thrum-mat profitability with the new production process. i

12、t will reduce our costs. our organization can implement the necessary changes. we can maintain product quality while implementing the process. the process does not require new facilities. the process does not require new skills. why?why? framing the problem hypothesis tree assignment hypothesis: the

13、 best way for me to have more money at the end of the month is to spend less through comparison shopping. designing the analysis key tips lay out the issues in a written workplan by priority identify the essential analyses necessary to draw conclusions on each issue disregard analyses that are “inte

14、resting” but not essential to prove/disprove the hypothesis avoid time-consuming analyses designed for more precision than necessary begin each analysis with the end (specific end products and timing) in mind designing the analysis workplan example issue/hypothesis can we implement the new productio

15、n process? yes does the process require new facilities? no if it does require new facilities, can we acquire them economically? yes analyses technical specifications list of facilities that meet new criteria map of “facilities gap” sources of required facilities/equipment cost to fill gaps effect on

16、 project rate of return data sources articles, interviews facilities management, interviews facilities management, thrum-mat line supervisors, interviews operations, trade publications operations, contractors, interviews finance department, prior analysis end product chart list chart list table spre

17、adsheet responsibility tom tom belinda belinda belinda terry due dates 3-jun 5-jun 7-jun 7-jun 10-jun 12-jun gathering the data key tips use the workplan to focus the search search the web and other public sources for essential facts identify and interview experts to uncover hard-to-find facts and d

18、eeper insights conduct primary research only if unavoidable interpreting the results key tips look for the 80/20 opportunities always ask, “whats the so what?” perform sanity checks draw a chart for each insight dont make the facts fit your hypothesis pull together “the story” backup 22 issue tree s

19、aving money how?how? . . . how?how? how can i have more money at the end of each month without incurring a debt? increase income reduce expenses receive a windfall receive more $ from investments receive more $ from work pay less for same amount of items buy less legally illegally work more hours ma

20、ke more per hour buy lower quality items shop around for specials food clothing utensils entertainment travel other better paid industry higher job level additional job overtime win lottery inherit 23 hypothesis-driven tree saving money the best way for me to have more money at the end of the month is to spend less through comparison sh