A Primer on Consulting Frameworks & Techniques

Posted by Consultize

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This is an introductory article in a series of articles covering commonly-used consulting frameworks and techniques. Follow the links by functional area below to review the different frameworks.

Overview

The use of frameworks follows the data gathering stage of the consulting process. Its effective use is a cornerstone of dissecting a problem (as presented in a hypothetical case or identified by the client) into manageable components that can be synthesized into actionable “What Needs to Be Addressed” (WNTBA) statements.

The use of frameworks offer at least two significant advantages to consultants:

Well-recognized, ready-made structures: Be it a case interview or analysis of a client issue, the use of ready-made structures is a great way to start to sort the myriad data that has been gathered by or made available for the consultant. A ready-made framework allows for the quick assembling of data into a structure that can then be further analyzed in a purposeful and coordinated manner. Furthermore, employing a commonly-understood technique ensures you get some immediate client buy-in into the approach you have taken to analyze the data and develop action plans.
Ensure your thinking is mutually-exclusive and completely-exhaustive (MECE): Frameworks help ensure that our thought process is complete and focused i.e. there are no gaps or overlap in the data being collected (prevents double-counting and the risk of overlooking critical data).

Frameworks by Functional Area:

In this series I will cover some commonly-used frameworks with which every consultant should be familiar. The frameworks have been organized by functional area, and while certainly not an exhaustive list, these will provide you with a starting point for additional research.