32-min video → 3-min note
#framework#thinking#consulting#problemsolving
MECE Framework, Unstacked
Core idea: Break complex problems into buckets with no overlaps and no gaps — McKinsey's baseline thinking tool.
Why this matters
The most common mistake in business decisions is slicing a problem by instinct. MECE is the classification principle McKinsey systematized — and it's still the baseline tool of strategy consulting.
Core concepts
| Principle | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Mutually Exclusive | No overlap between buckets | Male/Female (✓), Student/20s (✗) |
| Collectively Exhaustive | Every case is covered | Domestic/International (✓), Seoul/Busan (✗) |
Pick your classification axis first, then verify that the buckets don't overlap.
Applying it in practice
- State the problem in one sentence
- Draft 2–3 candidate classification axes
- Sketch the tree for each axis and verify ME/CE
- Form hypotheses and rank them
MECE can constrain creative thinking. Keep diverge → converge as separate phases.
Related concepts
Logic tree, issue tree, hypothesis-driven thinking, pyramid principle