AI Prompts for Consultants & Strategists: 40+ Ready-to-Use Templates

TL;DR - Best AI Prompts for Consultants & Strategists

Looking for ready-to-use AI prompts for consulting? This guide contains 40+ copy-paste prompts that work with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Each prompt includes placeholders you can customize for your client engagements. For foundational prompting skills, see the Prompt Engineering Fundamentals guide.

What’s included:

• Strategy Frameworks — Porter’s Five Forces, SWOT, BCG Matrix, Value Chain, and more
• Problem Structuring — Issue trees, MECE breakdowns, hypothesis development
• Market Analysis — Market sizing, competitive analysis, industry trends
• Client Deliverables — Presentations, executive summaries, recommendations
• Research & Insights — Interview guides, synthesis, benchmarking
• Communication — Stakeholder management, C-suite messaging, change management

💡 Pro tip: Include client context, industry specifics, and the decision the analysis will inform. The more strategic context you provide, the more actionable the output. For a comparison of AI assistants, see the AI Assistant Comparison guide.

How to Use These Consulting Prompts

Each prompt below is ready to copy and paste. Here’s how they work:

1. Copy the entire prompt from the code block
2. Replace the placeholder comments (lines starting with # REPLACE:) with your actual content
3. Paste into ChatGPT, Claude, or your preferred AI
4. Get your result and iterate if needed

Adding Context for Better Results

Consulting prompts work best with strategic context:

=== CLIENT CONTEXT (include in any prompt) ===
Client: [Company name, industry, size]
Situation: [Current state, business challenge]
Objective: [What decision/action this will inform]
Audience: [Who will receive the output]
Constraints: [Timeline, resources, limitations]
Available Data: [What information you have access to]

Strategy Framework Prompts

Apply Porter’s Five Forces

Use this to analyze industry competitive dynamics. For building comprehensive AI assistants, see the Mega-Prompt Engineering guide.

Apply Porter's Five Forces framework to this industry/company.

=== CONTEXT ===
Industry: 
# REPLACE: What industry are you analyzing?

Company (if specific): 
# REPLACE: Which company's perspective?

Purpose: 
# REPLACE: What decision will this inform?

=== KNOWN INFORMATION ===
# REPLACE: Any data or context you already have
# - Key players
# - Recent trends
# - Market dynamics

=== GENERATE PORTER'S FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS ===

## Porter's Five Forces Analysis: [Industry]

### Executive Summary
(2-3 sentences: Overall industry attractiveness and key forces)

**Industry Attractiveness:** High / Medium / Low

### Force 1: Threat of New Entrants
**Rating:** High / Medium / Low

| Factor | Assessment | Evidence |
|--------|------------|----------|
| Capital requirements | High/Low barrier | |
| Economies of scale | Present/Absent | |
| Brand loyalty | Strong/Weak | |
| Regulatory barriers | High/Low | |
| Access to distribution | Easy/Difficult | |
| Switching costs | High/Low | |

**Analysis:**
(Synthesis of factors and implications)

**Strategic Implications:**
- (What this means for incumbents)
- (What this means for potential entrants)

---

### Force 2: Bargaining Power of Suppliers
**Rating:** High / Medium / Low

| Factor | Assessment | Evidence |
|--------|------------|----------|
| Supplier concentration | Concentrated/Fragmented | |
| Substitute inputs | Available/Limited | |
| Supplier switching costs | High/Low | |
| Importance of volume to supplier | Critical/Marginal | |
| Forward integration threat | High/Low | |

**Analysis:**
(Synthesis and implications)

---

### Force 3: Bargaining Power of Buyers
**Rating:** High / Medium / Low

| Factor | Assessment | Evidence |
|--------|------------|----------|
| Buyer concentration | Concentrated/Fragmented | |
| Buyer switching costs | High/Low | |
| Product differentiation | High/Low | |
| Price sensitivity | High/Low | |
| Backward integration threat | High/Low | |

**Analysis:**
(Synthesis and implications)

---

### Force 4: Threat of Substitutes
**Rating:** High / Medium / Low

| Substitute | Value Proposition | Adoption Trend |
|------------|-------------------|----------------|
| | | Growing/Stable/Declining |

**Analysis:**
(How substitutes affect industry dynamics)

---

### Force 5: Competitive Rivalry
**Rating:** High / Medium / Low

| Factor | Assessment | Evidence |
|--------|------------|----------|
| Number of competitors | Many/Few | |
| Industry growth rate | High/Low | |
| Fixed costs | High/Low | |
| Product differentiation | High/Low | |
| Exit barriers | High/Low | |

**Key Competitors:**
| Competitor | Strategy | Share | Threat Level |
|------------|----------|-------|--------------|
| | | | |

**Analysis:**
(Competitive dynamics and intensity)

---

### Summary & Implications

**Force Summary:**
| Force | Rating | Trend |
|-------|--------|-------|
| New Entrants | | ↑↓→ |
| Supplier Power | | ↑↓→ |
| Buyer Power | | ↑↓→ |
| Substitutes | | ↑↓→ |
| Rivalry | | ↑↓→ |

**Strategic Recommendations:**
1. (Recommendation based on analysis)
2. (Recommendation based on analysis)
3. (Recommendation based on analysis)

Conduct SWOT Analysis

Use this for comprehensive situational analysis.

Conduct a SWOT analysis for this company/situation.

=== COMPANY/SITUATION ===
# REPLACE: What are you analyzing?

=== CONTEXT ===
Industry: 
# REPLACE: Industry context

Strategic Question: 
# REPLACE: What decision is this informing?

=== KNOWN INFORMATION ===
# REPLACE: Data, recent developments, competitor info

=== GENERATE SWOT ANALYSIS ===

## SWOT Analysis: [Company/Situation]

### Executive Summary
(3-4 sentences: Key strategic position and priorities)

### Strengths (Internal, Positive)
| Strength | Evidence | Strategic Value |
|----------|----------|-----------------|
| | | High/Medium/Low |
| | | |
| | | |

**Key Insight:** (Most important strength to leverage)

### Weaknesses (Internal, Negative)
| Weakness | Evidence | Risk Level |
|----------|----------|------------|
| | | High/Medium/Low |
| | | |
| | | |

**Key Insight:** (Most critical weakness to address)

### Opportunities (External, Positive)
| Opportunity | Timeframe | Potential Impact |
|-------------|-----------|------------------|
| | Short/Medium/Long | High/Medium/Low |
| | | |
| | | |

**Key Insight:** (Most attractive opportunity to pursue)

### Threats (External, Negative)
| Threat | Timeframe | Severity |
|--------|-----------|----------|
| | Imminent/Medium/Long | High/Medium/Low |
| | | |
| | | |

**Key Insight:** (Most urgent threat to mitigate)

### SWOT Matrix: Strategic Options

|  | **Strengths** | **Weaknesses** |
|--|---------------|----------------|
| **Opportunities** | **SO Strategies** (Use strengths to capture opportunities): | **WO Strategies** (Overcome weaknesses to capture opportunities): |
| | 1. | 1. |
| | 2. | 2. |
| **Threats** | **ST Strategies** (Use strengths to counter threats): | **WT Strategies** (Minimize weaknesses, avoid threats): |
| | 1. | 1. |
| | 2. | 2. |

### Priority Actions
| Priority | Action | Rationale | Timeline |
|----------|--------|-----------|----------|
| 1 | | | |
| 2 | | | |
| 3 | | | |

Apply BCG Growth-Share Matrix

Use this for portfolio analysis.

Apply the BCG Growth-Share Matrix to this business portfolio.

=== COMPANY ===
# REPLACE: Company name

=== BUSINESS UNITS/PRODUCTS ===
# REPLACE: List business units or products to analyze
# Include for each: Revenue, Market Share, Market Growth Rate

=== GENERATE BCG MATRIX ANALYSIS ===

## BCG Matrix Analysis: [Company]

### Matrix Visualization

High Growth | | Question Marks | Stars | (Invest or | (Invest for | Divest) | Growth) || | | | Dogs | Cash Cows | (Divest or | (Harvest or | Harvest) | Maintain) | | Low ---------------------------------------- Low Share High Share

### Portfolio Classification

| Business Unit | Market Share | Market Growth | Classification | Revenue ($) | % of Portfolio |
|---------------|--------------|---------------|----------------|-------------|----------------|
| | High/Low | High/Low | Star/Cash Cow/Question Mark/Dog | | |

### Detailed Analysis

**Stars** ⭐
| Unit | Share | Growth | Strategy |
|------|-------|--------|----------|
| | | | Invest aggressively |

Analysis: (Why these are stars, investment priorities)

**Cash Cows** 🐄
| Unit | Share | Growth | Strategy |
|------|-------|--------|----------|
| | | | Maintain, harvest cash |

Analysis: (Cash generation potential, sustainability)

**Question Marks** ❓
| Unit | Share | Growth | Recommendation |
|------|-------|--------|----------------|
| | | | Invest / Divest |

Analysis: (Criteria for invest vs. divest decision)

**Dogs** 🐕
| Unit | Share | Growth | Recommendation |
|------|-------|--------|----------------|
| | | | Divest / Harvest |

Analysis: (Exit strategy, timing)

### Portfolio Health Assessment
| Metric | Current | Target | Gap |
|--------|---------|--------|-----|
| % Revenue from Stars | % | % | |
| % Revenue from Cash Cows | % | % | |
| Cash Flow Balance | | | |

### Strategic Recommendations
1. **Invest:** (Where to allocate capital)
2. **Maintain:** (What to protect)
3. **Harvest:** (What to milk for cash)
4. **Divest:** (What to exit)

### Resource Allocation
| Unit | Current Investment | Recommended | Change |
|------|-------------------|-------------|--------|
| | | | +/-% |

Conduct Value Chain Analysis

Use this to identify competitive advantage.

Conduct a Value Chain Analysis for this company.

=== COMPANY ===
# REPLACE: Company name and industry

=== COMPETITIVE FOCUS ===
# REPLACE: What competitive advantage are you exploring?
# - Cost leadership
# - Differentiation
# - Focus

=== GENERATE VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS ===

## Value Chain Analysis: [Company]

### Value Chain Overview

SUPPORT ACTIVITIES (cross-cutting) ├── Firm Infrastructure (management, finance, planning) ├── Human Resource Management ├── Technology Development └── Procurement

PRIMARY ACTIVITIES (sequential) Inbound → Operations → Outbound → Marketing → Service Logistics Logistics & Sales

### Primary Activities Analysis

**1. Inbound Logistics**
| Activity | Description | Cost/Value Contribution | Competitive Position |
|----------|-------------|-------------------------|---------------------|
| | | % of cost base | Strength/Weakness |

Opportunities for improvement:
- 

**2. Operations**
| Activity | Description | Cost/Value Contribution | Competitive Position |
|----------|-------------|-------------------------|---------------------|
| | | | |

Opportunities for improvement:
-

**3. Outbound Logistics**
| Activity | Description | Cost/Value Contribution | Competitive Position |
|----------|-------------|-------------------------|---------------------|
| | | | |

Opportunities for improvement:
-

**4. Marketing & Sales**
| Activity | Description | Cost/Value Contribution | Competitive Position |
|----------|-------------|-------------------------|---------------------|
| | | | |

Opportunities for improvement:
-

**5. Service**
| Activity | Description | Cost/Value Contribution | Competitive Position |
|----------|-------------|-------------------------|---------------------|
| | | | |

Opportunities for improvement:
-

### Support Activities Analysis

**Firm Infrastructure**
- Assessment:
- Competitive impact:

**HR Management**
- Assessment:
- Competitive impact:

**Technology Development**
- Assessment:
- Competitive impact:

**Procurement**
- Assessment:
- Competitive impact:

### Margin Analysis
| Cost Element | % of Revenue | Industry Avg | Gap |
|--------------|--------------|--------------|-----|
| | | | |
| **Margin** | % | % | |

### Value Creation Opportunities
| Activity | Opportunity | Value Created | Feasibility |
|----------|-------------|---------------|-------------|
| | | $ / strategic | High/Med/Low |

### Recommendations
1. **Quick wins:** (improvements with immediate impact)
2. **Strategic investments:** (longer-term capability building)
3. **Outsource candidates:** (activities to consider externalizing)

Problem Structuring Prompts

Build Issue Tree

Use this to break down complex problems. For more on AI agents and automation, see the AI Agents guide.

Build an issue tree to structure this problem.

=== PROBLEM STATEMENT ===
# REPLACE: The key question or problem to solve
# Example: "How can Company X increase profitability by 20% over 3 years?"

=== CONTEXT ===
# REPLACE: Relevant background

=== GENERATE ISSUE TREE ===

## Issue Tree: [Problem Statement]

### Framing the Question
**Key Question:** [Restate problem as clear question]
**Scope:** [What's in/out of scope]
**Success Criteria:** [How we'll know we've solved it]

### Issue Tree Structure

[Key Question] │ ├── Branch 1: [First major driver] │ ├── 1.1 [Sub-issue] │ │ ├── 1.1.1 [Specific question] │ │ └── 1.1.2 [Specific question] │ ├── 1.2 [Sub-issue] │ └── 1.3 [Sub-issue] │ ├── Branch 2: [Second major driver] │ ├── 2.1 [Sub-issue] │ ├── 2.2 [Sub-issue] │ └── 2.3 [Sub-issue] │ └── Branch 3: [Third major driver] ├── 3.1 [Sub-issue] ├── 3.2 [Sub-issue] └── 3.3 [Sub-issue]

### MECE Check
| Branch | Mutually Exclusive? | Collectively Exhaustive? |
|--------|---------------------|--------------------------|
| 1 vs 2 | ✅ / ❌ | |
| 1 vs 3 | ✅ / ❌ | |
| 2 vs 3 | ✅ / ❌ | |
| **Overall** | | ✅ / ❌ |

### Detailed Branch Analysis

**Branch 1: [Name]**
| Issue | Hypothesis | Data Needed | Priority |
|-------|------------|-------------|----------|
| 1.1 | | | H/M/L |
| 1.2 | | | H/M/L |

**Branch 2: [Name]**
| Issue | Hypothesis | Data Needed | Priority |
|-------|------------|-------------|----------|
| 2.1 | | | H/M/L |
| 2.2 | | | H/M/L |

**Branch 3: [Name]**
| Issue | Hypothesis | Data Needed | Priority |
|-------|------------|-------------|----------|
| 3.1 | | | H/M/L |
| 3.2 | | | H/M/L |

### Prioritized Investigation Plan
| Priority | Issue | Why Priority | Next Step |
|----------|-------|--------------|-----------|
| 1 | | | |
| 2 | | | |
| 3 | | | |

### Key Hypotheses to Test
1. **Hypothesis:** [Statement]
   - **If true:** [Implication]
   - **Test:** [How to validate]

2. **Hypothesis:** [Statement]
   - **If true:** [Implication]
   - **Test:** [How to validate]

Develop Hypotheses

Use this for hypothesis-driven problem solving.

Develop hypotheses for this consulting engagement.

=== CLIENT SITUATION ===
# REPLACE: Describe the client's challenge

=== PRELIMINARY FINDINGS ===
# REPLACE: What do you already know or suspect?

=== DECISION TO BE MADE ===
# REPLACE: What will the client decide based on this work?

=== GENERATE HYPOTHESES ===

## Hypothesis Development: [Engagement]

### Central Hypothesis
**Statement:** [One sentence answer to the client's key question]

**If true, client should:** [Action implication]
**If false, client should:** [Alternative action]

### Supporting Hypotheses

**Hypothesis 1:**
- **Statement:** [Clear, testable statement]
- **Rationale:** [Why we believe this might be true]
- **Evidence needed to prove/disprove:**
  - Prove: [What would confirm]
  - Disprove: [What would refute]
- **Data sources:** [Where to find evidence]
- **Workstream:** [Who will investigate]

**Hypothesis 2:**
- **Statement:**
- **Rationale:**
- **Evidence needed:**
- **Data sources:**
- **Workstream:**

**Hypothesis 3:**
- **Statement:**
- **Rationale:**
- **Evidence needed:**
- **Data sources:**
- **Workstream:**

### Hypothesis Pyramid

[Central Hypothesis: Answer to key question] │ ┌─────┴─────┐ │ │ [H1] [H2] [H3] │ │ │ [Evidence] [Evidence] [Evidence]

### Testing Plan
| Hypothesis | Test Method | Timeline | Owner | Status |
|------------|-------------|----------|-------|--------|
| H1 | | Week 1-2 | | Not started |
| H2 | | Week 2-3 | | Not started |
| H3 | | Week 3-4 | | Not started |

### Hypothesis Tracking
| Hypothesis | Initial Confidence | Evidence Collected | Updated View |
|------------|-------------------|-------------------|--------------|
| H1 | High/Med/Low | | Confirmed/Refuted/Inconclusive |
| H2 | | | |
| H3 | | | |

### Pivot Scenarios
- **If H1 is refuted:** [Alternative hypothesis to explore]
- **If H2 is refuted:** [Alternative hypothesis to explore]

Market Analysis Prompts

Conduct Market Sizing

Use this to estimate market size (TAM/SAM/SOM).

Conduct a market sizing analysis.

=== MARKET TO SIZE ===
# REPLACE: What market are you sizing?
# Example: "Electric vehicle charging stations in North America"

=== APPROACH ===
# REPLACE: Top-down / Bottom-up / Both

=== DATA POINTS AVAILABLE ===
# REPLACE: Any data you already have
# - Population: X
# - Adoption rate: X%
# - Price point: $X

=== GENERATE MARKET SIZING ===

## Market Sizing: [Market]

### Executive Summary
**Total Addressable Market (TAM):** $X
**Serviceable Addressable Market (SAM):** $X
**Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM):** $X

### TAM/SAM/SOM Definition
| Level | Definition | Value |
|-------|------------|-------|
| TAM | Total global market for [product/service] | $X |
| SAM | Portion we can reach (geographic, segment focus) | $X |
| SOM | Realistic capture (competition, capacity) | $X |

### Top-Down Approach

**Starting Point:** [Largest relevant number]

Calculation:

[Starting figure] × [Factor 1] × [Factor 2] × … = Market Size

$X × X% × X% × X% = $X

| Step | Metric | Value | Source/Assumption |
|------|--------|-------|-------------------|
| 1 | Total population/units/etc. | | |
| 2 | × Relevant segment | % | |
| 3 | × Adoption rate | % | |
| 4 | × Price per unit | $ | |
| = | **Market Size** | **$X** | |

### Bottom-Up Approach

**Starting Point:** [Individual customer/transaction]

Calculation:

[# of customers] × [usage] × [price] = Market Size

| Segment | # Customers | Avg Usage | Avg Price | Segment Size |
|---------|-------------|-----------|-----------|--------------|
| Segment 1 | | | | $ |
| Segment 2 | | | | $ |
| **Total** | | | | **$X** |

### Cross-Check
| Method | Result | Difference |
|--------|--------|------------|
| Top-down | $X | |
| Bottom-up | $X | X% |
| **Triangulated** | **$X** | |

### Market Growth Projection
| Year | Market Size | Growth Rate |
|------|-------------|-------------|
| 2024 | $X | |
| 2025 | $X | X% |
| 2026 | $X | X% |
| 2027 | $X | X% |
| 2028 | $X | X% |

CAGR: X%

### Key Assumptions & Sensitivities
| Assumption | Base Case | Bull Case | Bear Case | Impact |
|------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|--------|
| | | | | +/-$X on market |

### Implications
- **Market attractiveness:** High/Medium/Low
- **Timing:** Now/Wait/Too late
- **Required market share for $X revenue:** X%

Analyze Competitive Landscape

Use this for competitive analysis.

Analyze the competitive landscape for this market.

=== MARKET/INDUSTRY ===
# REPLACE: What market are you analyzing?

=== FOCAL COMPANY ===
# REPLACE: Whose perspective are you taking?

=== KNOWN COMPETITORS ===
# REPLACE: List competitors you're aware of

=== GENERATE COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS ===

## Competitive Landscape Analysis: [Market]

### Market Overview
| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Total Market Size | $X |
| Growth Rate | X% |
| # of Competitors | X |
| Market Concentration | High/Medium/Low |

### Competitive Map

**By Strategy:**

Price Premium │ │ Quality Leaders │ Premium Niche │ │ ││ │ │ │ Price Leaders │ Value Players │ │ └────────────────────┴───────────────────→ Market Share

### Competitor Profiles

**Competitor 1: [Name]**
| Attribute | Assessment |
|-----------|------------|
| Market Share | X% |
| Strategy | [Cost/Differentiation/Focus] |
| Key Strengths | |
| Key Weaknesses | |
| Recent Moves | |
| Likely Next Moves | |
| Threat Level | High/Medium/Low |

**Competitor 2: [Name]**
(Repeat structure)

**Competitor 3: [Name]**
(Repeat structure)

### Competitive Comparison Matrix
| Factor | Weight | [Focal Company] | Competitor 1 | Competitor 2 | Competitor 3 |
|--------|--------|-----------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
| Price | X% | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | |
| Quality | X% | | | | |
| Brand | X% | | | | |
| Distribution | X% | | | | |
| Innovation | X% | | | | |
| **Weighted Score** | 100% | X | X | X | X |

### Competitive Dynamics
**Industry Lifecycle Stage:** Emerging / Growth / Mature / Decline

**Key Competitive Dimensions:**
1. [Dimension 1]: Who's winning and why
2. [Dimension 2]: Who's winning and why

**Emerging Threats:**
- [New entrant or disruptor]
- [Technology shift]

### Strategic Group Analysis
| Group | Characteristics | Players |
|-------|-----------------|---------|
| Group 1 | | |
| Group 2 | | |
| Group 3 | | |

**Mobility Barriers:** [What prevents movement between groups]

### Implications for [Focal Company]
1. **Compete head-on with:** [Competitor] on [dimension]
2. **Differentiate from:** [Competitor] by [how]
3. **Watch carefully:** [Competitor/Threat] because [why]
4. **Exploit weakness in:** [Competitor]'s [weakness]

### Recommended Competitive Strategy
[Summary of recommended approach]

Client Deliverable Prompts

Structure Consulting Presentation

Use this to build client-ready presentations.

Structure a consulting presentation for this engagement.

=== ENGAGEMENT ===
# REPLACE: Project description

=== KEY FINDINGS ===
# REPLACE: Main conclusions from your work
# 1. Finding 1
# 2. Finding 2
# 3. Finding 3

=== RECOMMENDATIONS ===
# REPLACE: What you're proposing

=== AUDIENCE ===
# REPLACE: Who will be in the room? (CEO, Board, Department heads)

=== GENERATE PRESENTATION STRUCTURE ===

## Presentation Structure: [Engagement]

### Pyramid Principle Structure

[Main Message: One sentence answer] │ ┌────┴────┬────┴────┐ │ │ │ [Key Point 1] [Key Point 2] [Key Point 3] │ │ │ [Evidence] [Evidence] [Evidence]

### Slide-by-Slide Outline

**Slide 1: Title**
- Engagement name
- Date
- Classification

**Slide 2: Executive Summary**
- Situation (1 sentence)
- Complication (1 sentence)
- Resolution (1-2 sentences with key recommendation)
- Key supporting points (3 bullets)

**Slide 3: Agenda**
1. Situation & Objectives
2. Key Findings
3. Recommendations
4. Implementation Roadmap
5. Next Steps

**Slide 4: Situation Overview**
- Key title: [Action-oriented headline]
- Content: [Context setting]
- Source: [Data attribution]

**Slides 5-7: Key Findings**

*Slide 5: Finding 1*
- Title: [Insight, not topic]
- Key visual: [Chart/matrix type]
- Takeaway box: [So what]

*Slide 6: Finding 2*
...

*Slide 7: Finding 3*
...

**Slide 8: Synthesis**
- Title: [Overall insight from findings]
- Content: [How findings connect]

**Slides 9-11: Recommendations**

*Slide 9: Strategic Options*
- Title: [We recommend Option X]
- Content: Options compared

*Slide 10: Recommendation Detail*
- Title: [What specifically to do]
- Content: [Specifics]

*Slide 11: Expected Impact*
- Title: [Quantified benefit]
- Content: [Financial/operational impact]

**Slide 12: Implementation Roadmap**
- Title: [Implementation requires X phases]
- Content: [Timeline with milestones]

**Slide 13: Risks & Mitigation**
- Title: [Key risks are manageable]
- Content: [Risk matrix]

**Slide 14: Next Steps**
- Immediate actions (this week)
- Short-term actions (next 30 days)
- Decision points

**Slide 15: Appendix starts here**
- Supporting data
- Methodology
- Detailed analyses

### Slide Title Best Practices
❌ "Market Analysis"
✅ "Market is growing at 15% with significant white space in mid-segment"

### Q&A Preparation
| Likely Question | Prepared Answer |
|-----------------|-----------------|
| What if [scenario]? | |
| How confident are you in [finding]? | |
| Why not [alternative]? | |

Write Executive Summary

Use this for executive-level summaries.

Write an executive summary for this deliverable.

=== DOCUMENT TYPE ===
# REPLACE: What are you summarizing?
# - Strategy report
# - Due diligence findings
# - Market assessment

=== KEY MESSAGES ===
# REPLACE: 3-5 main points

=== AUDIENCE ===
# REPLACE: C-suite, Board, etc.

=== GENERATE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ===

## Executive Summary

### Situation
[2-3 sentences: Context and why this work was undertaken]

### Key Findings

**Finding 1: [Headline statement]**
[1-2 sentences with evidence/data point]

**Finding 2: [Headline statement]**
[1-2 sentences with evidence/data point]

**Finding 3: [Headline statement]**
[1-2 sentences with evidence/data point]

### Implications
What this means for [Client/Situation]:
- [Implication 1]
- [Implication 2]
- [Implication 3]

### Recommendations

| Priority | Recommendation | Expected Impact | Timing |
|----------|----------------|-----------------|--------|
| 1 | [Action] | [$ or strategic value] | [When] |
| 2 | [Action] | [$ or strategic value] | [When] |
| 3 | [Action] | [$ or strategic value] | [When] |

### Required Decisions
To proceed, [audience] needs to decide:
1. [Decision 1]
2. [Decision 2]

### Investment & Returns
| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Required Investment | $X |
| Expected Return | $X / X% |
| Payback Period | X years |

### Risks
| Risk | Probability | Mitigation |
|------|-------------|------------|
| | H/M/L | |

### Next Steps
| Action | Owner | Timeline |
|--------|-------|----------|
| | | This week |
| | | Next 30 days |
| | | Next 90 days |

Create Strategic Recommendations

Use this to structure recommendations.

Develop strategic recommendations for this client.

=== CLIENT SITUATION ===
# REPLACE: Current state and challenge

=== ANALYSIS COMPLETED ===
# REPLACE: What work has been done?

=== OPTIONS CONSIDERED ===
# REPLACE: What options have you evaluated?

=== GENERATE RECOMMENDATIONS ===

## Strategic Recommendations: [Client]

### Recommendation Summary
**We recommend [Client] pursue [Strategy/Option X] because [one sentence rationale].**

Expected impact: [Quantified benefit]
Required investment: [Cost/resources]
Timeline: [Implementation period]

### Options Evaluated
| Option | Description | Pros | Cons | Fit |
|--------|-------------|------|------|-----|
| Option 1 | | + | - | ★★★☆☆ |
| Option 2 | | + | - | ★★★★☆ |
| Option 3 | | + | - | ★★☆☆☆ |

### Recommended Option: [Name]

**What:** [Specific description of recommendation]

**Why this option:**
1. [Reason 1 with evidence]
2. [Reason 2 with evidence]
3. [Reason 3 with evidence]

**Why not alternatives:**
- Option 1: [Why not chosen - specific weakness]
- Option 3: [Why not chosen - specific weakness]

### Detailed Recommendations

**Recommendation 1: [Action]**
- **What to do:** [Specific action]
- **Why:** [Rationale]
- **How:** [Key steps]
- **When:** [Timeline]
- **Who:** [Owner]
- **Investment:** [$X]
- **Expected outcome:** [Measurable result]

**Recommendation 2: [Action]**
(Repeat structure)

**Recommendation 3: [Action]**
(Repeat structure)

### Implementation Sequence

Phase 1 (Months 1-3): Foundation ├── Recommendation 1a └── Recommendation 1b

Phase 2 (Months 4-6): Build ├── Recommendation 2a └── Recommendation 2b

Phase 3 (Months 7-12): Scale ├── Recommendation 3a └── Recommendation 3b

### Expected Impact
| Metric | Current | Target | Improvement |
|--------|---------|--------|-------------|
| Revenue | $X | $X | +X% |
| Margin | X% | X% | +X pp |
| Market Share | X% | X% | +X pp |

### Investment Required
| Category | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total |
|----------|--------|--------|--------|-------|
| CapEx | | | | |
| OpEx | | | | |
| People | | | | |
| **Total** | | | | |

### ROI Analysis
- NPV: $X
- IRR: X%
- Payback: X years

### Key Success Factors
1. [CSF 1]
2. [CSF 2]
3. [CSF 3]

### Risks & Mitigation
| Risk | Impact | Probability | Mitigation |
|------|--------|-------------|------------|
| | H/M/L | H/M/L | |

### Go/No-Go Decision Criteria
Before proceeding, validate:
- [ ] [Criterion 1]
- [ ] [Criterion 2]
- [ ] [Criterion 3]

Research Prompts

Create Interview Guide

Use this for stakeholder interviews.

Create an interview guide for stakeholder research.

=== INTERVIEW OBJECTIVE ===
# REPLACE: What do you want to learn?

=== INTERVIEWEE PROFILE ===
# REPLACE: Who are you interviewing?
# - Role: CMO
# - Company type: Enterprise retail
# - Relevant experience: Digital transformation

=== TIME AVAILABLE ===
# REPLACE: How long is the interview?

=== GENERATE INTERVIEW GUIDE ===

## Interview Guide: [Topic]

### Pre-Interview Checklist
- [ ] Research interviewee background
- [ ] Review relevant company info
- [ ] Prepare note-taking template
- [ ] Test recording device (if applicable)
- [ ] Prepare leave-behind materials

### Interview Objectives
1. [Primary objective]
2. [Secondary objective]
3. [Tertiary objective]

### Opening (5 min)
**Rapport building:**
"Thank you for taking the time. I'm [name] from [firm], working on [project]. Your perspective on [topic] is valuable because [specific reason]."

**Set expectations:**
"We have [X] minutes. I'll ask about [topics]. Feel free to share examples. There are no right answers. [Recording disclaimer if applicable]."

### Warm-Up Questions (5 min)
1. "Tell me about your role and responsibilities at [Company]."
   - Listen for: [key points]

2. "How long have you been in this role/industry?"

### Core Topic 1: [Topic Name] (10 min)

**Opening question:**
"I'd like to understand [topic]. Can you walk me through [specific aspect]?"

**Probing questions:**
- "You mentioned [X], can you elaborate?"
- "What drove that decision?"
- "Can you give me a specific example?"
- "What were the alternatives you considered?"

**Key questions:**
3. "[Specific question related to objectives]"
   - Listen for: [key points]
   
4. "[Specific question]"
   - Listen for: [key points]

### Core Topic 2: [Topic Name] (10 min)

5. "[Specific question]"
   - Listen for: [key points]

6. "[Specific question]"
   - Listen for: [key points]

### Core Topic 3: [Topic Name] (10 min)

7. "[Specific question]"

8. "[Specific question]"

### Wrap-Up (5 min)

9. "If you could change one thing about [topic], what would it be?"

10. "Is there anything else I should know that I haven't asked about?"

11. "Who else should I speak with to understand this better?"

### Closing
"Thank you for your time and insights. [Next steps]. Feel free to reach out if anything else comes to mind."

### Post-Interview
- [ ] Write up notes within 24 hours
- [ ] Identify key insights
- [ ] Flag follow-up questions
- [ ] Send thank you note

Synthesize Research Findings

Use this to synthesize multiple interviews or data sources.

Synthesize research findings into actionable insights.

=== RESEARCH CONDUCTED ===
# REPLACE: What research did you do?
# - X executive interviews
# - Survey of Y respondents
# - Analysis of Z data sources

=== RAW FINDINGS ===
# REPLACE: Paste key quotes, data points, observations

=== GENERATE SYNTHESIS ===

## Research Synthesis: [Topic]

### Research Overview
| Method | Sample | Key Focus |
|--------|--------|-----------|
| Interviews | X executives | |
| Survey | Y respondents | |
| Data analysis | Z sources | |

### Key Themes

**Theme 1: [Name]**
- **Insight:** [One sentence summary]
- **Evidence:**
  - "[Quote from Interview 1]" - [Role]
  - "[Quote from Interview 2]" - [Role]
  - [Data point from survey/analysis]
- **Frequency:** Mentioned by X of Y sources
- **Implications:** [What this means for the client]

**Theme 2: [Name]**
- **Insight:**
- **Evidence:**
- **Frequency:**
- **Implications:**

**Theme 3: [Name]**
- **Insight:**
- **Evidence:**
- **Frequency:**
- **Implications:**

### Convergence & Divergence

**Strong agreement on:**
1. [Point with universal agreement]
2. [Point with universal agreement]

**Mixed views on:**
1. [Point with varied perspectives]
   - Perspective A: "[quote]"
   - Perspective B: "[quote]"

**Surprising findings:**
1. [Unexpected insight]

### Quantitative Summary
| Finding | Percentage | Sample |
|---------|------------|--------|
| | X% | n=Y |

### Implications Matrix
| Theme | Current State | Desired State | Gap | Priority |
|-------|---------------|---------------|-----|----------|
| Theme 1 | | | | H/M/L |
| Theme 2 | | | | H/M/L |

### Recommended Actions
Based on research findings:
1. [Action justified by Theme 1]
2. [Action justified by Theme 2]
3. [Action justified by Theme 3]

### Knowledge Gaps
Areas requiring additional research:
- [Gap 1]
- [Gap 2]

### Appendix: Quote Bank
| Source | Quote | Topic |
|--------|-------|-------|
| Exec 1 | "" | |
| Exec 2 | "" | |

Quick Reference

Tips for Better Consulting Prompts

1. Include Client Context

❌ "Do a SWOT analysis"
✅ "Do a SWOT analysis for a mid-market B2B SaaS company considering 
    international expansion. They have 500 employees and $50M ARR."

2. Specify the Decision

"This analysis will inform whether to acquire Company X or build organically"
"Client needs to decide on pricing strategy by end of quarter"

3. State Your Hypothesis

"We believe the market is underserved in segment X because..."
"Initial hypothesis is that costs are too high due to..."

4. Use Framework Language

"Structure this MECE"
"Apply pyramid principle"
"Use 80/20 to prioritize"

5. Specify Output Level

"CEO-level summary (1 page)"
"Working team detail (full analysis)"
"Board presentation format"

6. Include Constraints

"Client has $10M budget and 18-month timeline"
"Cannot require organizational restructuring"

7. Ask for Alternatives

"What are we missing in this analysis?"
"What would disprove this hypothesis?"
"What's the counterargument?"

What’s Next

• 📚 AI Prompts for Business Analysts — Work with your BA team
• 📚 AI Prompts for Finance — Partner on financial analysis
• 📚 Prompt Engineering Fundamentals — Master prompt techniques
• 🛠️ Business Case Generator — Generate business cases with AI

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