Canadian Timber

Case Prompt

A Canadian timber company has hired you. The company processes trees from the forest to make timber products (e.g., plywood, paper).  

They have been making more profits than their direct competitors and have hired you to better understand this phenomenon.  

Why have they been making extraordinary profits?

Case Overview

Your client is a Canadian timber company who is experiencing a spike in profits and would like to understand the cause better so they can keep the winning streak going. In this Parthenon Profitability Scenarios case study, it’s your responsibility to gather all the information needed to determine if it makes sense for the client to move forward with the expansion.

Looking for case interview practice cases to prepare for your Parthenon interview? We suggest using the Profitability Framework to solve this case study, but just remember that the top candidates know how to blend frameworks with their own experience to create a customized framework.

This case has no math exhibits. This is a beginner level case with a qualitative difficulty of 2 out of 4, meaning you would most likely see it in an Parthenon first round interview

Parthenon Interview Tips

What does Parthenon look for in its candidates? Well rounded, flexible employees who can adjust to new circumstances easily.

It’s important to show you are comfortable in a variety of situations and cases. Make sure you can verbalize your recommendation clearly.

To make the most out of this case study, pay attention to:

• Coming away with 1 key takeaway or area you can improve
• Timing yourself throughout the case (2min for structure, 2min for brainstorming, 2min for conclusion)

Book an hour of out-loud practice with an ex-MBB coach.