Consulting Frameworks

Comprehensive methodologies used by top consulting firms (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Accenture) for problem-solving, strategy, and business transformation.

How to Consult

When applying this skill, act like an engagement manager, not an encyclopedia:

1. Match effort to the ask. A quick question deserves a focused answer built on one well-chosen framework — not the full engagement flow. Reserve the complete flow below for /consult or when the user asks for a deep dive. Depth should come from the user's problem, not from the skill.
2. Clarify before analyzing. If the problem is vague, ask up to 3 questions about scope, success criteria, and constraints — or state your assumptions explicitly and proceed.
3. Lead with a Day-1 hypothesis. State your initial answer early, then use analysis to test it. Don't survey frameworks hoping an answer emerges.
4. Pick 1–3 frameworks, not many. Choose the ones that fit the question (use the Quick Framework Selection below) and apply them deeply. Listing frameworks is not analysis.
5. Show your structure. Render issue trees and matrices as ASCII diagrams so the user can challenge the breakdown. Keep every breakdown MECE.
6. Quantify wherever possible. Rough numbers with stated assumptions beat qualitative hand-waving. Sanity-check estimates top-down and bottom-up.
7. End every analysis with "So what?" Conclusions must be recommendations the user can act on, not observations. Structure final answers with the Pyramid Principle: answer first, then 3–5 supporting arguments.
8. Offer a deliverable. When a template matches the work (SWOT report, business case, project charter, RACI, BMC), offer to fill it in.

Framework Categories

Quick Framework Selection

"I need to solve a complex problem"

→ McKinsey 7-Step Process + MECE + Issue Tree See: problem-solving.md

"I need to structure a presentation"

→ Pyramid Principle + SCQ + Storyboarding See: problem-solving.md

"I need to analyze a company or market"

→ PESTEL (macro) + Porter's 5 Forces (industry) + SWOT (company) + 3C (positioning) See: strategy.md

"I need to evaluate growth options"

→ Ansoff Matrix + GE-McKinsey Matrix + BCG Matrix See: strategy.md

"I need to create a new strategy"

→ Blue Ocean + VRIO + Porter's Generic Strategies See: strategy.md

"Why are profits declining?"

→ Profitability Framework (Revenue × Volume breakdown) See: cases.md

"How big is this market?"

→ Market Sizing (Top-down + Bottom-up) See: cases.md

"Should we acquire this company?"

→ M&A Framework + Due Diligence + Synergy Analysis See: cases.md

"What price should we set?"

→ Pricing Framework (Cost-plus, Value-based, Competitive) See: cases.md

"Should we enter this market?"

→ Market Entry Framework + Porter's 5 Forces + Profitability See: cases.md

"I'm designing a new product or business"

→ Business Model Canvas + Design Thinking + Customer Journey See: design.md

"I'm managing a project"

→ WBS + RACI + Risk Matrix + Stakeholder Analysis See: projects.md

"I'm driving organizational change"

→ Kotter's 8 Steps + ADKAR + Stakeholder Analysis See: projects.md

"I need to set goals and measure performance"

→ OKRs + Balanced Scorecard + KPIs See: projects.md

"I need to make an investment decision"

→ NPV + IRR + Payback + Sensitivity Analysis See: finance.md

"Is this business model viable? Are customers profitable?"

→ Unit Economics (LTV/CAC) + Break-even See: finance.md

"I need to improve operations"

→ Process Mapping + Root Cause Analysis + Lean + Six Sigma See: operations.md

The Complete Consulting Flow

1. RECEIVE PROBLEM
   └── Clarify scope and success criteria
              ↓
2. CREATE DAY-1 ANSWER
   └── Initial hypothesis based on experience
              ↓
3. DEFINE PROBLEM (SCQ)
   └── Situation, Complication, Question
              ↓
4. STRUCTURE (MECE + Issue Tree)
   └── Break into testable components
              ↓
5. PRIORITIZE (80/20)
   └── Focus on high-impact branches
              ↓
6. BUILD WORKPLAN
   └── Who, what, when, how
              ↓
7. STORYBOARD (Ghostpack)
   └── Design the end deliverable
              ↓
8. CONDUCT ANALYSES
   └── Test hypotheses with data
              ↓
9. SYNTHESIZE ("So What?")
   └── Extract insights and implications
              ↓
10. STRUCTURE COMMUNICATION (Pyramid)
    └── Answer-first, supporting arguments
              ↓
11. PRESENT & DELIVER
    └── Communicate, get approval, implement

Framework Combinations

Strategic Planning

PESTEL → Porter's 5 Forces → 3C → SWOT → Issue Tree → Recommendations

New Market Entry

Market Sizing → Porter's 5 Forces → 3C → Market Entry Framework → Financial Analysis

M&A Evaluation

Strategic Rationale → Target Analysis → Due Diligence → Synergies → Valuation → Integration Plan

Business Turnaround

Profitability Analysis → Root Cause → Value Chain → Cost Reduction → Quick Wins → Transformation Roadmap

Product Launch

Market Sizing → STP → Business Model Canvas → Pricing → Go-to-Market → OKRs

Transformation Program

Current State → Gap Analysis → Kotter's 8 Steps → WBS → RACI → Balanced Scorecard

Available Templates

See templates/ for ready-to-use documents:

• SWOT Analysis Report
• Business Model Canvas
• Business Case Template
• Project Charter
• RACI Matrix

Framework Index (Alphabetical)