MECE Tree Diagram

Today’s blog post will inform you of a clear-thinking method utilized by the major consulting firms such as McKinsey, Bain and Co, and BCG: The MECE Tree Diagram.

MECE

It stands for “mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive”. Its a method of organizing information that incites people to solve the present problem by considering all alternatives (collectively exhaustive), and arranging them in groups that do not overlap with each other (mutually exclusive).

According to Victor Cheng, “the reason MECE is popular is it allows consultants to communicate complex information to clients in a way that eliminates confusion and ensures thoroughness.”

Tree Diagram:

A tree diagram serves a similar purpose: it facilitates clear thinking and the communication of complex ideas. In Consulting, a tree diagram is often used to find the root cause of a pressing issue. The problem is placed as the trunk of the diagram, from which MECE branches stem.

A tree diagram portrays the relationship between the factors that determine the success of a business or projects and facilitates hypotheses development.

Following is an example of a tree diagram by syque.com

Works Cited:

Victor Cheng. MECE. CaseIntervew.com http://www.caseinterview.com/mece

The Tree Diagram. Syque. http://www.syque.com/quality_tools/tools/TOOLS06.htm