00 / Cost reduction Framework
Cost reduction framework template.
Where can the client cut costs? COGS, opex, process efficiency, and trade-offs. A complete, genuinely MECE issue tree (29 nodes, three levels deep), ready to open and adapt.
Free to start. No sign-up required.
01 / The Complete Structure
Every branch, already built.
This is the exact tree that opens in the builder -- root question, every first-level branch, and every split beneath it. Nothing here is a placeholder; adapt it to the specific business in front of you once you're editing it live.
How can the company reduce costs?
- Cost of goods sold
- Direct materials
- Procurement costs
- Input volume / waste
- Direct labor
- Labor productivity
- Labor rate
- Direct materials
- Operating expenses
- Overhead & admin
- Headcount & org structure
- Facilities & G&A
- Sales & marketing
- Customer acquisition cost
- Channel efficiency
- Overhead & admin
- Process efficiency
- Process design
- Automation opportunities
- Process simplification
- Supply chain
- Supplier consolidation
- Logistics & inventory
- Process design
- Strategic trade-offs
- Make vs. buy
- Outsourcing opportunities
- Vertical integration
- Risk of cuts
- Impact on quality / service
- Impact on growth
- Make vs. buy
02 / Go Deeper
Read the guide, or browse every case type.
For the reasoning behind this structure -- and how to adapt it to an unfamiliar business under time pressure -- read the full cost reduction framework guide →. Preparing for a different case type? See every case interview template →
03 / FAQ
FAQ
Is this template free to use?
Yes. Open it and start editing immediately, no account needed. Sign in (free) only if you want to save it and come back to it later.
Can I edit the template?
Yes -- it's a normal, fully editable tree the moment it opens. Rename branches, add or remove nodes, drag to reorganize, and adapt it to the actual case in front of you.