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Strategywarm-up
Name a company you think is making a strategic mistake right now. What would you do differently?
How to approach it
Pick a company you know well, state the mistake in one sentence, and back it up with evidence rather than opinion.
How a strong answer opens
“I'd pick a company I follow closely, state the mistake in one sentence, and back it with evidence. Then I'll give the company's likely reasons a fair hearing.”
Outline of a strong answer
Try answering out loud for a few minutes before you open this.
- Name the company and the decision
- Explain why it is a mistake, with evidence
- Acknowledge the company's likely reasons
- Suggest an alternative
- Name the risks of your alternative
- Say how you would know who was right
Where this question usually goes wrong
Picking a fashionable target and criticizing it with opinion, never acknowledging why smart people there made the decision.
Learn the method
How to approach a strategy question in Module 5, Product strategy.
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