Business School Journal

Case Study Prompt

Your client is a European academic institution that wants to increase the brand profile of their business school.  

The client is considering creating a business journal. The university has done its own research, but it has also asked you to do a pro bono assessment of this strategy. The University has a traditional image, but the business school is very new. It is already rated in the top 10, but they want it to be rated in the top 3.

Other strategies that they are currently employing include hosting conferences and symposiums and gaining corporate sponsorship for students.

Professors are very good, but the business school is not well known for any one thing – as Wharton is known for Finance, or Kellogg for Marketing. Alumni are well respected, but due to the novelty of the school, the alumni network is relatively small. 

The client want to know if the journal strategy will improve their brand image and be profitable.

Case Study Overview

This is one our management case studies that will hone your quant skills. Your client is an educational institute that is looking to expand the brand awareness of their business school. It is looking at the possibility of launching a new school journey and want you to weigh in on that strategy. It is up to you to analyze the market and determine if that is the best course of action for your client.

Want to prepare for a second round Kearney interview? Practice building your own custom framework to solve the specific problem at hand. – don’t get trapped into pre-existing frameworks.

There are two math questions in this case. The qualitative difficulty is 2 out of 4, which makes this a case you would likely see in a Kearney second round.

Kearney Interview Tips

What does Kearney look for in its case interview candidates? Candidates who are extremely comfortable making quantitative calculations.

Take time to hone your mental math game and your problem-solving abilities.

For this case, make a point to come away with one takeaway or area you can improve.

For out-loud practice with an expert, book an hour with an ex-MBB coach.

Find more management case studies by clicking back to the Case Library.