PCC Consulting Frameworks and Methodologies Flashcards

Which consulting framework divides a client organization's capabilities into primary and support activities to identify sources of competitive advantage?

Answer: Porter's Value Chain

Porter's Value Chain breaks down organizational activities into primary and support functions to reveal where value is created and competitive advantage can be gained.

A consultant conducting a root cause analysis uses the '5 Whys' technique. What is the primary purpose of this method?

Answer: To drill down iteratively to the underlying cause of a problem

The 5 Whys technique iteratively asks 'why' to move past symptoms and identify the fundamental root cause of a problem.

In the McKinsey 7S Framework, which of the following is classified as a 'hard' element?

Answer: Strategy

Strategy, Structure, and Systems are the three 'hard' elements in the 7S Framework because they are tangible and easily defined.

A professional consultant uses benchmarking as an analytical tool. What does benchmarking primarily involve?

Answer: Comparing a client's performance metrics against industry leaders or best practices

Benchmarking compares a client's processes, performance, or results against recognized standards or top-performing peers to identify improvement gaps.

Which problem-structuring tool visually organizes potential causes of a problem into categories such as people, process, equipment, and environment?

Answer: Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram

A Fishbone or Ishikawa Diagram uses a fish-skeleton shape to categorize and display the potential causes contributing to a specific problem or effect.

When applying the MECE principle in consulting, what does MECE stand for?

Answer: Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive

MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive) ensures that analysis categories do not overlap and together cover all possible scenarios.