4.96 rating (54 reviews)

Strategy, Structured Thinking, and Problem Solving Course

In this course, you will work through a real-world strategy consulting case project end-to-end. Not only will you learn closely-guarded strategy skills and frameworks, but you’ll also learn how to apply them in the real world.

Invoices can be provided for company reimbursement

Trusted by thousands of executives, consultants and freelancers

Learn a strategy consulting toolkit that is guaranteed to accelerate your career

Strategy consulting has been called “the most effective generator of top-tier corporate talent in the world.”

Throughout their careers, consultants are taught a super effective skillset that covers strategy, structured thinking, and problem solving.

It’s this skillset that differentiates strategy consultants, defines them as high performers, and gives them access to the best corporate roles.

And now you can learn this skillset too.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:

Tackle any business problem or task with complete confidence

You'll learn a simple, repeatable methodology that you can use to break down and solve any problem

Impress senior leaders with your strategy and structured thinking skills

You'll have a unique skillset that enables you to think through complex problems like an executive

Separate yourself from colleagues and earn fast-tracked promotions

You'll build a reputation as a clear thinker who can deliver even the most complex projects

Sarah Hambleton

This course is truly outstanding! I was skeptical at first... but the strategic problem solving methodology I learnt in this course is SO useful. I literally think that I could tackle any business problem with complete confidence now. Thank you so much Dan!

Feb 14, 2024

You will learn the simple, repeatable science behind building the perfect slide deck every time

Strategy consultants have turned presentation-building into a science. 

They have created a methodology and refined it through thousands of real client cases.

We teach you the theory

We give you a repeatable methodology

We give you templates

We give you shortcuts and cheatsheets

You'll be able to:

Confidently build slide decks that always hit the mark

Build close relationships with senior executives

Deliver high quality work and get on the career fast track

Learn strategy and structured thinking skills, just like at McKinsey, BCG and Bain

Never again will you look at a problem and think “where do I even start!?”

In this course, you’ll learn the same strategic thinking and problem solving techniques used top-tier strategy consulting firms, such as McKinsey, BCG, and Bain.

You’ll learn a powerful and repeatable methodology that you can use to break down and solve any business problem.

This includes how to:

  1. Turn an ambiguous request from your manager into a clearly defined problem statement.
  2. Use issue trees and hypothesis trees to break down any business problem into a comprehensive list of hypotheses.
  3. Validate your problem breakdown using the MECE Principle.
  4. Prioritize and test each hypothesis to identify the root cause and/or optimal solution.
  5. Use the Pyramid Principle to synthesize the output of your analysis and uncover insights.
  6. Create an SCR/SCQA storyline to communicate your insights to executives in a clear and persuasive manner.

By the end of the course, you will have a repeatable methodology that you can use to break down and solve business and strategy problems. You'll feel confident solving any problem, no matter how complex or ambiguous.

What's covered in the course?

In the course, you’ll get:

  • An end-to-end strategy methodology that’s used by top-tier strategy consulting firms, such as McKinsey, BCG, and Bain.
  • 30 comprehensive lessons with over 2 hours of content, with lifetime access so you can revisit at any time.
  • 4 framework deep-dives, including the issue trees, the MECE Principle, the Pyramid Principle, the SCQA/SCR structure, and more.
  • 5 practical assignments with worked solutions to learn how to apply course concepts in the real-world
  • 4 additional worked examples of important skills, such as how to deconstruct problem statements with the MECE principle and issue trees

Module 1. Rigorous problem definition and scoping

4 lessons, 10 minutes

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • Translate a vague request from a client or manager into a well-defined problem statement
  • Scope up a strategy project and align with key stakeholders
  • Use a Problem Statement Worksheet as your ‘source of truth’ for your project

Module 2. Structure concepts using the MECE Principle

5 lessons, 27 minutes

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • Use the MECE Principle to synthesize complex data into a simple set of concepts
  • Use the MECE Principle to break down complex concepts into constituent parts
  • Master the 5 ways to guarantee MECE-ness

Module 3. Break down the problem using Issue Trees

4 lessons, 26 minutes

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • Break down any problem statement into a list of comprehensive hypotheses
  • Ensure that you capture all potential root causes and/or solutions to the problem statement

Module 4. Prioritize hypotheses and run analysis

4 lessons, 19 minutes

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • Prioritize a list of hypothesis to identify which are most likely to solve the business problem
  • Workplan the analysis to ensure that you can confidently prove or disprove each hypothesis

Module 5. Synthesize insights using the Pyramid Principle

5 lessons, 27 minutes

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • Understand to apply the Pyramid Principle in your projects
  • Use the LGIA method to turn raw analysis into actionable insights

Module 6. Storylining and communciation

6 lessons, 22 minutes

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • Craft an SCR / SCQA storyline using the dot-dash structure
  • Position your storyline based on the business context
  • Reconstruct your storyline in PowerPoint

Look over my shoulder as I explain and solve real examples live on video...

Follow along as I break down and solve each example question live on video. You’ll hear my thought processes, see the mistakes I make, and learn how I overcome those mistakes to arrive at the solution

...and work through an end-to-end case study with real data, assignments and solutions

Not just boring lectures. Yes, we do cover theory. But the course is focused on working through a highly instructive case study that teaches you how to apply the concepts in the real world.

The case study:

We’ll work through a real-world consulting case study end-to-end...

This is the case study that you’ll work through and solve:

“GroceryMart is a regional supermarket chain that has experienced a sudden 6.5% decline in profitability and 3.5% drop in market share.

They have hired you to determine the cause of the profitability decline.”

...and complete assignments with real data and worked solutions

  • 5 practical assignments with worked solutions to learn how to apply course concepts in the real-world
  • 6 additional worked examples of important skills, such as how to deconstruct problem statements using the MECE principle and issue trees

PART 1: VIDEO COURSE

The 1.5 hour video course that teaches slide theory (with practical examples)

Yes, this is our online PowerPoint course. But, unlike other courses, we don't focused on the boring theory of slide-building.

Instead, you’ll learn something much more important...

You'll learn the simple, repeatable science behind building the perfect corporate or consulting slide deck. Ready for senior executives.

Not only that -- you'll be taught using examples of real-world consulting presentations and by working through real examples live in video.

By the end of the course, you'll have the complete slide-building toolkit, just like strategy consultants at McKinsey, BCG, and Bain.

And, no matter what problem or topic you're given, you'll be able to confidently build killer slide decks that are guaranteed to hit the mark. You'll never look at a blank slide and think "where do I even start!?"

You will be able to:

  • Structure slide decks like a top-tier consultant. Master the universal structure of any slide deck using Minto's "Pyramid Principle".
  • Craft a bulletproof storyline and argument. Write a persuasive storyline using inductive logic, deductive logic, and the SCR structure.
  • Use blueprints to build slides better and faster. Build slide decks using the "table principle".
  • Always choose the best chart or visualization. Effortlessly choose the most compelling chart for your data and present it persuasively.
  • Write compelling slide text is sharp and punchy. Avoid common slide text mistakes to ensure that your text supports your visualizations.
  • Ensure that your slides have consultant-level flow. Improve flow across slides, so your reader effortlessly follows your thinking.

Course Syllabus

Module 1: Structuring the Slide Deck

1.1.
Understanding the three main sections of a slide deck
01:58
1.2.
Applying the Pyramid Principle
McKinsey example
03:46
1.3.
Crafting inductive and deductive arguments
03:35
1.4.
Applying the MECE Principle
Worked example
11:44
1.5.
Mastering the universal slide deck structure
02:33

Module 2: Crafting the Storyline

2.1.
Setting the objective of your slide deck
01:57
2.2.
Writing and positioning an SCR storyline
NASA example
07:03

Module 3: Building Individual Slides

3.1.
Understanding the Golden Rule of slide building
BCG example
04:33
3.2.
Writing compelling action titles
McKinsey example
04:11
3.3.
Mastering the 6 most common slide layouts
Bain example
07:28

Module 4: Visualization & Charting

4.1.
Choosing the most appropriate chart for your data
Decision tree
04:29
4.2.
Applying best practices for charting
Checklist
07:09
4.3.
Understanding how to use chart decorations effectively
03:19

Module 5: Using Text on Slides

5.1.
Sharpening slide text using the DDR Method
Worked example
04:13
5.2.
Avoiding common writing mistakes
05:01

Module 6: Slide Deck Flow & Consistency

6.1.
Maintaining consistency across slides
BCG example
04:39
6.2.
Linking and grouping slides
Oliver Wyman example
03:05

Module 7: Executive Summaries

7.1.
Mastering the 3 principles of executive summaries
BCG example
04:49

The course is unlike anything you've ever studied – see what previous students say...

Isabella Rogers

Absolutely transformative! It's like I worked at McKinsey and learned the problem solving skills without the long hours and hard work!

Apr 28, 2024

Anna Palaszchuk

Honestly this course is so good that I don't want to tell my colleagues about it. Never seen anything like it...

Apr 2, 2024

Ahmed Khan

This course FINALLY gave me a roadmap and methodology for solving business problems. Absolute game changer!

Mar 29, 2024

Sofia Ferrigano

I highly recommend this course to anyone seeking to improve their problem-solving skills. The step-by-step approach is a career cheat code.

Mar 29, 2024

Juan Ramirez

As a business professional, I've taken numerous courses, but the Strategy, Structured Thinking & Problem Solving course stands out as one of the best.

Mar 19, 2024

Freya O'Hearn

This course exceeded my expectations! The curriculum covers a wide range of strategic frameworks and approaches that I can use in my daily work.

Mar 5, 2024

Niel Whittaker

I bought the Strategy, Structured Thinking & Problem Solving course to advance my career, and it certainly paid off!

Mar 2, 2024

Sakai Yuko

Many thanks for unearthing hard-to-come-by secrets to solving problems like a consultant. God bless.

Feb 22, 2024

Roger Northcote

I highly recommend the course if you, like me, are interested in strategy and strategic problem solving at an executive level.

Feb 16, 2024

Sarah Kerlow-Jones

As a Director, this course offered invaluable strategic frameworks that have revolutionized how I approach business challenges. Highly recommended!

Feb 1, 2024

Mo Ali

This course is impressive! Now that I've seen how McKinsey solves problems, I am super confident to tackle any problem.

Jan 28, 2024

Fraser Stewart

The frameworks are gold. Learning these alone was worth the price of the course!

Jan 27, 2024

Our 100% money-back guarantee

We're confident that you'll get lots of value from the course. However, if you're not happy with your purchase, just email us within the first 7 days and we'll give you a full refund.

4.96 rating (54 reviews)

The Strategy, Structured Thinking, and Problem Solving Course

2 hours of course content spread over 30 action-packed modules
9 practical assignments and worked examples to apply concepts in the real-world
4 framework deep dives, such as issue trees, the MECE Principle, the Pyramid Principle, and the SCQA/SCR structure
Unlimited lifetime access to all content and any updates
Online Q&A community to support you through the content
Payments are secure and encrypted

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