---
name: consulting-framework
description: "Builds consulting engagement frameworks with diagnostic questions, analysis templates, and recommendation structures."
allowed-tools: Read Write Glob
metadata:
  author: matthewhitcham
  version: "1.0"
---

# Consulting Framework

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:
- Design a repeatable consulting engagement framework for your practice
- Build diagnostic question sets that uncover client problems systematically
- Create analysis templates that organize findings into actionable insights
- Structure recommendations in a format clients can implement

**DO NOT** use this skill for one-off advice, coaching session plans, or training curriculum design. This is for building structured consulting methodologies.

---

## Core Principle

A CONSULTING FRAMEWORK IS YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY — IT TURNS YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A REPEATABLE PROCESS THAT DELIVERS CONSISTENT RESULTS REGARDLESS OF THE CLIENT.

---

## Phase 1: Framework Definition

### Required Inputs

| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|-------|------------|---------|
| **Consulting domain** | "What area do you consult in — marketing, operations, finance, other?" | No default — must be provided |
| **Client type** | "Who are your typical clients — industry, size, stage?" | Small businesses, 5-50 employees |
| **Core problem you solve** | "What is the #1 problem clients hire you to fix?" | No default — must be provided |
| **Engagement length** | "How long is a typical engagement?" | 4-8 weeks |
| **Deliverables** | "What do clients receive — reports, strategies, implementations?" | Strategic recommendations with implementation plan |

**GATE: Confirm domain and problem statement before building the framework.**

---

## Phase 2: Diagnostic System

### Discovery Question Categories

Build questions across four diagnostic layers:

**Layer 1: Situation (Where are they now?)**
- Current state of the area you consult on
- Metrics they track and recent performance
- Team structure and capabilities
- Tools and systems currently in use

**Layer 2: Problem (What hurts?)**
- Specific symptoms they are experiencing
- When the problem started and what has changed
- Financial or operational impact of the problem
- Previous attempts to solve it and why they failed

**Layer 3: Implication (What happens if they do nothing?)**
- Cost of inaction over 6-12 months
- Competitive risks
- Team or customer impact
- Opportunity cost

**Layer 4: Desired Outcome (What does success look like?)**
- Specific, measurable goals
- Timeline expectations
- Budget and resource constraints
- How they will measure your impact

### Diagnostic Template

```
## Client Diagnostic — [Client Name]

**Date:** [Date]
**Consultant:** [Your name]

### Current State
- [Finding 1]
- [Finding 2]

### Core Problems Identified
1. [Problem] — Impact: [$$$ or operational metric]
2. [Problem] — Impact: [$$$ or operational metric]

### Root Cause Analysis
- [Why the problems exist — not just symptoms]

### Opportunity Assessment
- [What is possible if problems are solved]
- [Estimated ROI of engagement]
```

---

## Phase 3: Analysis & Recommendations

### Analysis Framework

Structure your analysis using a consistent model:

```
## Analysis Framework: [Framework Name]

### Assessment Areas
| Area | Current Score (1-10) | Target Score | Gap | Priority |
|------|---------------------|-------------|-----|----------|
| [Area 1] | X | X | X | High/Med/Low |
| [Area 2] | X | X | X | High/Med/Low |

### Key Findings
1. **[Finding]** — Evidence: [data/observation]. Impact: [quantified].
2. **[Finding]** — Evidence: [data/observation]. Impact: [quantified].

### Recommendations
1. **[Recommendation]**
   - What: [Specific action]
   - Why: [Connects to finding]
   - How: [Implementation steps]
   - Expected result: [Measurable outcome]
   - Timeline: [When]
```

### Recommendation Prioritization

Rank all recommendations using an Impact/Effort matrix:

| Priority | Impact | Effort | Action |
|----------|--------|--------|--------|
| Quick Wins | High | Low | Do first |
| Strategic Bets | High | High | Plan and resource |
| Fill-ins | Low | Low | Do when convenient |
| Avoid | Low | High | Do not recommend |

---

## Phase 4: Framework Documentation

### Deliverable Package

Document your framework so it is repeatable:

1. **Framework overview** — one-page summary of your methodology
2. **Diagnostic questionnaire** — standardized questions for every engagement
3. **Analysis templates** — scoring sheets, assessment matrices, benchmarking tools
4. **Recommendation format** — standard structure for presenting findings
5. **Implementation roadmap template** — phased action plan for clients
6. **Progress tracking** — KPIs and check-in cadence

### Naming Your Framework

Give your framework a proprietary name:
- Use a memorable acronym or metaphor
- Reference the outcome, not the process
- Examples: "The Growth Diagnostic," "The Operations Blueprint," "The Revenue Acceleration Framework"

### Framework One-Pager

```
## [Framework Name]

**What it is:** [One sentence]
**Who it's for:** [Client type]
**How it works:** [3-4 steps]
**What you get:** [Deliverables]
**Typical results:** [Quantified outcomes from past engagements]
**Timeline:** [Duration]
```

---

## Anti-Patterns

- **No repeatable process** — reinventing your approach for every client is inefficient and inconsistent. Standardize the framework.
- **All diagnosis, no prescription** — clients pay for solutions, not just problem identification. Every finding must have a recommendation.
- **Generic recommendations** — "improve your marketing" is not a recommendation. Specific actions with expected outcomes are.
- **Skipping the diagnostic** — jumping to recommendations without thorough discovery leads to wrong solutions.
- **Framework too rigid** — build in flexibility for different client sizes, industries, and complexity levels.

---

## Recovery

- **Client does not fit your framework:** Acknowledge the mismatch. Either adapt the framework or refer them to a better-fit consultant.
- **Discovery reveals a different problem:** Pause and re-scope. Present the actual findings and propose a revised engagement.
- **Client pushes back on recommendations:** Tie every recommendation to their stated goals and diagnostic data. Remove opinion, show evidence.
- **Framework feels too generic:** Add industry-specific benchmarks, examples, and case studies to make it concrete.
- **Multiple competing problems:** Use the prioritization matrix to focus on high-impact, low-effort wins first. Build momentum before tackling strategic bets.
