Case Questions

Question 1

Framework for analyzing industry?

Answer 1

Porter’s 5 Forces

Question 2

What are Porter’s 5 Forces?

Answer 2

1. Rivalry
2. Buyer Power
3. Supplier Power
4. Threat of Substitute
5. Threat of new entrants

Question 3

Customer Purchase Decision Process

Answer 3

1. Attention
2. Interest
3. Desire
4. Action

Question 4

4 P’s of Marketing Matrix

Answer 4

1. Product
2. Price
3. Promotion
4. Place

Question 5

Frame work that connects 4 P’s and 5 C’s

Answer 5

Segmentation, Targeting, Positioning (STP)

Question 6

SWOT Framework

Answer 6

Strength
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats

Question 7

The Five C’s

Answer 7

Company
Competitors
Customers
Collaborators
Climate

Question 8

Approach to strategy question

Answer 8

1. Think about both micro (product) and macro (company vision plus markets)
2. Apply SWOT and Five Forces

Question 9

Approach to Marketing question

Answer 9

Understand the company, competition, customer, and landscape, and plan your marketing accordingly

Question 10

Approach to Launchin question

Answer 10

1. The Product –Discuss the vision of the product, along with its strengths, weaknesses, and risks.
2. Launch Goals–Determine goals of the launch.
3. Launch Design–determine how you will achieve goals.
4. Launch Implementation (Pre+During+Post)

Question 11

Things to consider/cover during pre, during, and post launch.

Answer 11

Target Market 
User Types/Components 
MVP or Full Product 
Distribution 
Rollout 
Buzz 
Partnerships 
Risks

Question 12

Brainstorming Approach 1.

Answer 12

Suspend disbelief—It’s okay to name a few stupid ideas, particularly because so-called “stupid” ideas are often the crazy ideas that get interviews excited.

Question 13

Brainstorming Approach 2

Answer 13

Think about strengths and key assets—if stuck, focus on what you can do with the product’s strengths and key assets.

Question 14

Brainstorming Approach 3

Answer 14

Think about one vs. Many—the use cases when you have just one object can be different from when you have many

Question 15

Brainstorming Approach 4

Answer 15

Thank about as-is vs. with modifications—if you can do modifications with the object, the scope gets much broader

Question 16

Bases for pricing

Answer 16

1. Cost-Plus Pricing
2. Value Pricing
3. Competitive Pricing
4. Experimental Pricing

Question 17

Pricing Models

Answer 17

1. Free, Ad-Supported
2. Freemium
3. Tiered
4. A la Carte
5. Subscription
6. Free Trial
7. Razor Blade Model

Question 18

Reason for falling profits

Answer 18

decline in revenue or increase in costs

Question 19

Reasons for falling revenue

Answer 19

results from decrease in sales volume or decrease in price. This could mean a shift of purchasing behavior across tiers of a product.

Question 20

Reasons for falling sales volume

Answer 20

results from a decline in traffic or in conversion rate. Either of these could come from repeat visitors versus new visitors on a website

Question 21

Reasons for declining new customers

Answer 21

decline in traffic or in conversion rate. Either of these could come from repeat visitors versus new visitors on a website.

Question 22

Reasons for increase in costs

Answer 22

caused by increased fixed and/or marginal cost as well as suppliers, distributors, spike customers returning, and more

Question 23

Reasons for decline in traffic

Answer 23

decline in both the number of and engagement by new and returning users

Question 24

Reasons for decline in new visitors

Answer 24

decline in search, referral, or direct traffic.

Question 25

Approach to problem-solving questions

Answer 25

Breaking down the problem into components can help you isolate the problem. When asked to choose between two options, let the company/product goals guide you.

Question 26

Approach to Pricing&Profitability

Answer 26

The goal is to identify a strategy to maximize profits. This can be done by understanding what to base the price on, how much a user is willing to pay for such product, and what the most appropriate pricing model would be.