Industry Best Practices Flashcards

Which situation represents a conflict of interest a consultant must disclose?

Answer: Recommending a software product in which the consultant holds a financial stake

A financial interest in a recommended product could compromise objectivity and must be disclosed.

What is benchmarking primarily used for in consulting?

Answer: Comparing a client's performance and practices against peers or best-in-class organizations

Benchmarking identifies performance gaps by comparing against relevant peers or leaders.

A client sponsor leaves the company midway through a project. What should the consultant do?

Answer: Work with the client to confirm a new sponsor and revalidate objectives

Securing a new sponsor and reconfirming objectives preserves authority and alignment for the project.

Which method is best for prioritizing a long list of possible improvement initiatives?

Answer: An impact-versus-effort matrix

An impact-versus-effort matrix highlights quick wins and high-value initiatives to pursue first.

How should a consultant handle client data at the end of an engagement?

Answer: Return or securely destroy it per the contract and data protection requirements

Contracts and privacy rules typically require client data to be returned or securely destroyed at close.

What is the main purpose of root cause analysis tools such as the 5 Whys or fishbone diagram?

Answer: To identify underlying causes rather than treating symptoms

Root cause tools dig beneath symptoms so solutions address the real source of a problem.

Which statement best describes the consultant's role in a client's decision-making?

Answer: The consultant provides objective analysis and recommendations while the client retains decision authority

Consultants advise and recommend, but accountability for decisions remains with the client.