Consulting Methodologies Flashcards
7 cards from real CMC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Consulting Methodologies flashcards as text
When using the McKinsey 7-S Framework for organizational assessment, which two elements are considered the 'hard' elements?
Answer: Strategy and Structure
In the 7-S Framework, Strategy and Structure (along with Systems) are 'hard' elements that are tangible and easier to define, while Style, Staff, Skills, and Shared Values are 'soft' elements.
A consultant is applying the Ansoff Matrix to advise a client on growth strategy. Which quadrant represents the highest risk?
Answer: Diversification (new product, new market)
Diversification carries the highest risk because the company is entering unfamiliar territory on both the product and market dimensions simultaneously.
In agile consulting engagements, what is the primary purpose of a 'retrospective' meeting?
Answer: To reflect on what worked and what did not in the previous sprint to improve future performance
Retrospectives are structured team reviews held after each sprint to capture lessons learned and identify process improvements for subsequent iterations.
Which cost analysis method allocates overhead expenses to specific services or products based on the actual activities that consume resources?
Answer: Activity-based costing (ABC)
Activity-based costing traces overhead to products/services by identifying cost drivers for each activity, providing more accurate cost data than traditional volume-based methods.
A client engagement requires defining the future operating model. Which element is NOT typically part of an operating model design?
Answer: Historical stock performance of the client's competitors
An operating model describes how an organization delivers value through processes, structure, governance, technology, and people — competitor stock history is not a design input.
During an engagement, a consultant discovers that a client's leadership team has conflicting views on the problem definition. What should the consultant do first?
Answer: Facilitate a structured alignment session to establish a shared problem statement
Misaligned problem definitions derail engagements; facilitating an early alignment session ensures all stakeholders share a common understanding before analysis begins.
What is the primary difference between a 'recommendation' and an 'option' in a consulting deliverable?
Answer: A recommendation advises a specific course of action while options present alternatives without prescribing a choice
Consultants provide recommendations when they have sufficient evidence to advise a specific path, while presenting options is appropriate when the client must weigh trade-offs based on their own strategic priorities.