Problem Solving interview questions – page 2

Company is failing, you have been brought in to save it, what do you do?

The client is a high tech company that manufactures crystal giftware. The market for crystal giftware is growing at 3% a year yet the client is experiencing declining sales and shrinking market share. Why is market share declining? What can we do about it?

A French soft drink company, Le Seine, is looking to diversify its holdings by investing in a new fast food chain in the US. You are hired to determine whether they should pursue this path and, if so, how they should go about execution.

A bank has a new credit card product. How would you price it?

A company is having a cash flow problem and needs to reduce its costs, otherwise it will have to lay off staff. How should the company proceed?

We are analyzing a manufactures high-end athletic footwear. The company's sales are up but profits are flat. What do we need to look at?

Our client is the New York City Opera. They want to develop a growth strategy for the next five years. What would you advise them to look at, and what are your recommendations for growth?

Our client is a retailer of fine and expensive oriental rugs in Manhattan. They are experiencing declining profits. Why and what can they do about it?

An elevator company wants to know why their sales have fallen and with it their profits. Quantify the loss they have made. Tell me how we need to get around it.

How would company x dealing in BPO service can increase revenue without incurring a significant cost?

Lets say our bank has hired you to determine how it can grow in the local market, specifically in retail banking. What are the factors you would look at to assess the situation? What is your recommendation?

A 350-bed hospital in a metro city has historically exhibited strong financial performance, and had a 1-3% operating gain each year for the last five years. However, they are projecting a Rs.30 Cr operating loss this year and expect this situation to worsen in the future. The CFO believes that they will be out of cash within five years. They are our big client and have asked us to identify the source of this sudden downturn, and to come up with alternatives to restore them to a break-even position. They will not consider layoffs as a possible solution. What to do?

What can we do more to improve relations with our customers?

Give a specific example of a time when you had to address an angry customer. What was the problem and what was the outcome? How would you asses your role in diffusing the situation?

Describe a situation that required you to do a number of things at the same time. How did you handle it? What was the result?

When was the last time you were in a crisis? What was the situation? How did you react?

Tell us about a time that you had to work on a team that did not get along. What happened? What role did you take? What was the result?

Have you ever dealt with a situation where communications were poor? Where there was a lack of cooperation? Lack of trust? How did you handle these situations?

A medical equipment manufacturer in the southeastern US has called you in because it feels its working capital requirements are much higher than those of its competitors. How will you help it solve its problem?

An overseas construction firm wants to establish its presence in a growing regional US market. What advice would you give them?

A channel partner in the trucking industry is facing declining porfits, and they have already determined that their cost structure is comparable to competitors. What is the problem?

You are a new consultant and your managing partner has just given you the following task: The CEO of a hospital is concerned about: 1. declining profits, 2. falling revenues, and 3. rising costs at her hospital.

Suppose you are working for a leading manufacturer of electronic equipment for industrial customers. The R&D department has developed a new product — a device that could replace all energy costs (electric, gas, etc.) using solar technology. The estimated price to the customer would be 15 lac/house, with a pay back in 3 to 5 years. The R & D department says the estimated investment is 600 Cr. What is your opinion?

Your company installed an ERP system 3 years ago, spending a cumulative $100M to do so. The CEO asks you, was this a financially sound investment?

How do you handle non-productive team members?

A luxury car manufacturer is debating offering a financing option to customers in order to stimulate sales. What is your take?

What factors influence the revenue potential of a new pharmaceutical product?

A car company is interested in developing a new car. What marketing related issues should it consider before doing so?

Should a drug company build a remote call center?

Should a car auction company in US hold a special, one-day antique car auction event?