The first two minutes of a case set up everything else. Do three things:
- Restate the prompt in your own words: the client, the problem, the goal and the timeframe. It proves you listened and catches misunderstandings early.
- Ask two or three clarifying questions that could change your approach: what exactly is the goal (and how is it measured), by when, and what is in scope (which products, regions, customers)?
- Ask for a moment to structure.
A good clarifying question has an answer that would change what you do. "Is the goal revenue or profit?" passes that test. "How old is the company?" usually does not.
Watch the metric. If the prompt says profit and you restate it as revenue, you'll solve the wrong problem for 30 minutes.
Prompt: Our client, a bakery chain, wants to grow.
Restate: So Loafwell, 30 bakeries in the Midwest, wants to grow.
Ask: Grow revenue or profit, and by how much?
By when?
Only in the Midwest, or anywhere?
Each question has an answer that would change the structure.