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Logic Tree

💼 Business By CampusDown Wiki Editorial Team Last updated
Quick answer: a logic tree splits a big problem into smaller branches, without overlaps or gaps, to find causes or solutions systematically. It is a staple of consulting and planning.
Contents
  1. 1. The MECE principle
  2. 2. Types
  3. 3. Building one
  4. 4. Cautions
  5. 5. References

The MECE principle

Branches should be Mutually Exclusive and Collectively Exhaustive. The principle was popularized by Barbara Minto's pyramid principle and McKinsey's methods.

Types

  • Why tree: repeatedly asks why to reach root causes.
  • How tree: repeatedly asks how to reach actionable solutions.
  • What tree: decomposes a metric, e.g. revenue = customers x spend per customer.

Building one

  1. Define the problem as one clear question.
  2. Split the first level in a MECE way.
  3. Go three or four levels down to testable items.
  4. Check branches with data and prioritize.

Cautions

Over-splitting obscures the key issue; a hypothesis-driven approach is more efficient. It is often paired with SWOT analysis.

References

  1. Minto, B. (2009). The Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing and Thinking (3rd ed.). Pearson.
  2. Rasiel, E. M. (1999). The McKinsey Way. McGraw-Hill.
  3. Conn, C., & McLean, R. (2018). Bulletproof Problem Solving. Wiley.

Reports and materials that use this theory (Korean)

There are no materials dedicated to this theory yet, but you can search related reports in the CampusDown library (Korean).

Find more reports · Search '로직트리' on CampusDown →
SWOT AnalysisSWOT analysis explained: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, the TOWS matrix, links with Porter's Five Forces and PEST, origins, criticisms, and how to write a SWOT report.💼 Business3C Analysis3C analysis explained: a strategy tool that examines Customer, Competitor and Company to find key success factors. Covers Kenichi Ohmae's strategic triangle, questions for each C, links to SWOT and STP, and a worked example.💼 BusinessAdams' Equity TheoryAdams' equity theory explained: comparing one's ratio of outcomes to inputs with others, reactions to under- and over-reward, six ways people restore equity, and its link to organisational justice.💼 BusinessBehavioral Theories of LeadershipBehavioral theories of leadership explained: research on what effective leaders do rather than who they are. Covers Lewin's styles, Ohio State's initiating structure and consideration, Michigan's task and relationship orientations and the Managerial Grid.💼 Business

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This article was last updated on October 15, 2026. It is based on widely recognized original works and textbooks; when citing it in a paper, please check the original sources listed in the references.