2026-02-21
Handling case packs under time pressure
A practical order of attack for tables, assumptions, and a one-page recommendation when the clock is tight.
Case stations in industrial and consulting trainee centres punish candidates who read every appendix before framing the decision. Time pressure is part of the observation, not an accident.
A practical order of attack
Skim for the decision question first. List two or three criteria. Scan tables for the few numbers that move those criteria. Note assumptions explicitly — assessors often listen for whether you can separate fact from guess.
The one-page recommendation
Lead with the recommendation, then the two strongest reasons, then the main risk and a mitigating step. Slides that bury the ask until the final bullet lose panel attention, especially when several candidates present back-to-back.
Defending under questions
Panel questions often test whether you can revise an assumption without abandoning structure. Practise saying “if that volume is 20% lower, I would still choose X because…” rather than freezing or restarting the entire case.
Book a Case Study & Presentation Drill if this station is named on your invitation.