analysis fundamentals

--- title: "Analysis fundamentals for case competitions" slug: "analysis-fundamentals" type: "guide" excerpt: "The core analysis moves every case team should master: market sizing, segmentation, and assumption hygiene." difficulty: "intro" readingTime: 7 topics: ["analysis", "market-sizing", "assumptions"] categories: ["guides"] publishedAt: "2025-12-06" updatedAt: "2025-12-06" ---

Strong analysis is simple, structured, and honest about assumptions. Start with the big drivers, then validate with quick math.

Market sizing in three steps

1. Define the unit (customers, transactions, revenue) 2. Build a top-down or bottom-up estimate 3. Sanity check with comparable data

Segment before you solve

Split the market by customer type, channel, or geography so you can focus on the biggest opportunities.

Assumption hygiene

• Say your assumptions out loud
• Use ranges, not single numbers
• Show how sensitive the result is to changes

What good analysis looks like

Good analysis is fast, clear, and directly tied to the recommendation. If it does not change the decision, drop it.