How to Use This Manual

Business case-solving competitions are not won by knowing the most frameworks. They are won by knowing: which questions to ask, which problems to solve, which tools to use, which ideas to pursue, and how to turn that thinking into a clear recommendation that a judge can believe.

This first Discover Your MAD Skills Masterclass Manual introduces the complete case-solving process from deciphering the case and conducting analysis to developing alternatives, making a recommendation, building an implementation plan, managing risk, and communicating the solution. Think of it as your case-solving roadmap.

Throughout the manual, you will work through a repeatable process: Decipher → Analyse → Develop → Decide → Recommend → Implement → Communicate. This process provides structure without taking away the judgment, creativity, and critical thinking that make case competitions valuable. It is not a rigid formula, and you should not expect every case to require the same analysis, frameworks, or presentation structure.

Instead, start by deciphering the case's characteristics. Ask what decision needs to be made, what problems actually matter, what questions need to be answered, and what evidence you need before choosing your tools. As you work through each chapter, continually ask:

What question are we trying to answer?
What insight do we need?
How will this influence our decision?
How does it strengthen our recommendation?

Use this manual first to understand the overall architecture of case solving, and then use it as a reference during practice. After each case, return to the relevant chapters to identify where your team's thinking was strong and where the process broke down.

The later Discover Your MAD Skills manuals build on this foundation with deeper dives into analytical frameworks, financial analysis, presentation skills, and special topics.

The goal is not to memorize the process. The goal is to practise it until you know when to follow it, when to adapt it, and how to use it to make better decisions under pressure.

This manual is designed to work alongside the instructional Masterclass videos available on the MAD Skills Masterclass YouTube channel. For those in regions where YouTube is unavailable, the videos are also available through Innovatank TV. This first Masterclass Manual also references selected videos from Masterclass 2 to reinforce key concepts and provide additional instruction. The complete series of Deciphering Cases posts is available through Discover Your MAD Skills on Patreon, providing additional examples, insights, and perspectives to support your development as a case solver.