Consulting Cards 1 Flashcards
Company Overview
A brief description of the business, including its history, ownership, and the products or services it offers.
Mission Statement
A concise statement defining the company’s purpose and primary objectives, focusing on what it seeks to achieve in the present.
Vision Statement
A future-oriented statement that outlines the long-term goals and aspirations of the company.
Core Values
The fundamental beliefs and guiding principles that shape a company’s culture and decision-making process.
Product/Service Description
A detailed explanation of the features, functionality, and benefits of a company’s product or service.
Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
A distinct feature or benefit that sets a company’s product or service apart from competitors.
Features vs. Benefits
Features - Characteristics or functionalities of a product.
Market Positioning
The strategic process of determining how a brand or product is perceived by customers relative to competitors.
Competitive Advantage
The unique edge a company has over its competitors, allowing it to generate greater sales, margins, or customer loyalty.
Target Market
A specific group of consumers that a company aims to serve with its products or services.
Segmentation
The division of a broader market into distinct groups of consumers with common needs or characteristics.
Demographics
The statistical characteristics of a population (e.g., age, gender, income) used to segment and target markets.
Psychographics
The classification of consumers based on their psychological attributes, such as values, attitudes, and lifestyles.
Geographic Segmentation
The process of dividing a market based on location (e.g., region, city, country).
Behavioral Segmentation
Dividing the market based on consumer behaviors such as purchasing patterns, usage, and loyalty.
Brand Positioning
The strategy of defining how a brand is distinct from competitors in the minds of consumers.
Value Proposition
A statement that clearly defines the unique value or benefit a product or service delivers to the customer.
Differentiation
A strategy that aims to make a product or service stand out from competitors by offering something unique.
Key Success Factors
The critical areas or elements that must go well for a business to succeed in its industry.
Value Chain
A series of activities a company performs to create value for its customers, from production to delivery.
Value Chain Analysis
The process of identifying the activities that add value to a product and determining ways to improve efficiency or cost-effectiveness.
Primary Activities
The main activities involved in the creation of a product or service, including inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, marketing, and service.
Inbound Logistics
The processes involved in receiving, storing, and distributing raw materials and inputs for production.
Operations
The processes of transforming raw materials or inputs into finished goods or services.
Outbound Logistics
The activities associated with delivering the final product to customers, including distribution and transportation.
Marketing and Sales
The processes of promoting and selling a product, including market research, advertising, and sales strategies.
Service
The activities aimed at maintaining and enhancing a product’s value after it has been sold, such as customer support and maintenance.
Support Activities
Functions that support primary activities, including procurement, technology development, human resource management, and firm infrastructure.
Procurement
The process of sourcing and acquiring raw materials, components, or services necessary for production.
Technology Development
The activities involved in developing new technology or improving existing technology to enhance product value.
Human Resource Management
The process of recruiting, hiring, training, and managing employees to support business operations.
Firm Infrastructure
The organizational structure, management, and administrative functions that enable the company to operate efficiently.
Value Creation
The process through which a business produces products or services that provide value to customers, generating profit.
Business Model
A company’s plan for generating revenue and making a profit, including its value proposition, target market, and operational structure.
Business Model Canvas
A strategic management tool that provides a visual framework for describing, analyzing, and designing a company’s business model.
Key Partners
The external companies or organizations a business works with to create value and fulfill its operations.
Key Activities
The crucial tasks and actions a business must undertake to deliver its value proposition and operate effectively.
Key Resources
The assets required for a business to deliver its value proposition, including physical, intellectual, human, and financial resources.
Customer Segments
The different groups of people or organizations that a business targets with its products or services.
Customer Relationships
The ways a company interacts with and manages its relationships with customers.
Channels
The various methods a company uses to deliver its products or services to customers, including direct and indirect distribution channels.
Revenue Streams
The different sources of income a company generates from its business activities, such as product sales or subscriptions.
Cost Structure
The expenses a company incurs while operating, including both fixed and variable costs.
Fixed Costs
Business expenses that remain constant regardless of production levels (e.g., rent, salaries).
Variable Costs
Expenses that fluctuate with production or sales volumes, such as raw materials or shipping.
Economies of Scale
The cost advantages a business gains as production increases, resulting in a lower cost per unit.
Competitor Analysis
The process of identifying and assessing the strengths and weaknesses of current and potential competitors.
Competitive Intelligence
The collection and analysis of information about competitors to gain strategic advantages.
SWOT Analysis
A tool used to evaluate a company’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
Competitor Matrix
A chart or table that compares competitors across various factors, such as pricing, features, or market share.
Benchmarking
The process of comparing a company’s performance, processes, or products against industry standards or best practices.
Market Share
The percentage of total sales in a market captured by a particular company or product.
Competitive Strategy
The long-term plan a company implements to gain a competitive edge in the market.
Competitor Strengths
The attributes or capabilities of a competitor that give them an advantage in the market.
Competitor Weaknesses
The disadvantages or limitations a competitor faces that can be exploited.
Strategic Group
A set of companies within an industry that follow a similar business model or strategy.
Competitive Landscape
The overall market environment, including competitors, customer preferences, and industry trends.
Market Penetration
The strategy of increasing a company’s sales within its existing market.
Blue Ocean Strategy
A business approach that focuses on creating new market space or “blue oceans,” making competition irrelevant.
Red Ocean Strategy
A strategy where businesses compete in existing markets with established boundaries and intense competition.
Four Actions Framework
A tool used in Blue Ocean Strategy to create value innovation by eliminating, reducing, raising, and creating factors in the market.
Eliminate
Identifying which factors in a market can be eliminated to reduce costs and streamline value delivery.
Reduce
Identifying which factors can be reduced well below industry standards to decrease costs without affecting customer value.
Raise
Determining which factors should be raised above industry standards to create additional value for customers.
Create
Developing new factors that have never been offered in the industry to generate new demand.
Value Innovation
The simultaneous pursuit of differentiation and low cost to create a leap in value for both the company and its customers.
Strategy Canvas
A visual tool used to plot current and potential competitive factors, identifying gaps and opportunities for differentiation.
As-Is Strategy Canvas
A current state analysis of the industry’s competitive factors and where the business stands.
To-Be Strategy Canvas
A future state vision that outlines how a business plans to differentiate itself and create new market space.
Non-Customers
Individuals or organizations that are not currently buying or using a company’s products or services.
First-Tier Non-Customers
Non-customers who are on the edge of the market and could soon become customers.
Second-Tier Non-Customers
Individuals who have consciously chosen to avoid the market or reject the product or service.
Third-Tier Non-Customers
People or organizations farthest from the market who have never considered the product or service.
Buyer Utility Map
A tool used to determine how a product or service can deliver utility to customers across different stages of use.
Buyer Experience Cycle
The various stages a customer goes through when interacting with a product or service, from purchase to disposal.
Price Corridor of the Masses
A pricing strategy in Blue Ocean Strategy aimed at targeting the largest possible customer base.
Primary Industry Analysis
A detailed examination of an industry’s structure, dynamics, and key players to identify trends and opportunities.
Secondary Industry Analysis
The use of existing research, reports, or studies to analyze industry trends and competition.
Market Opportunity
A favorable condition or situation in which a business can meet customer needs and achieve growth.
Market Sizing
The process of estimating the potential revenue or market share available to a product or service.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The total market demand for a product or service, assuming no competition or barriers to entry.
Serviceable Available Market (SAM)
The portion of the TAM that a business can target based on its products, resources, and reach.
Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM)
The subset of the SAM that a company can realistically capture given its resources and competitive positioning.
Porter’s Five Forces
A model for analyzing the competitive forces within an industry
Threat of New Entrants
The risk that new competitors will enter the market and disrupt existing businesses.
Bargaining Power of Suppliers
The ability of suppliers to influence the price and terms of supply in a market.
Bargaining Power of Buyers
The power customers have to influence pricing and terms based on their ability to switch between competitors.
Threat of Substitutes
The likelihood that alternative products or services can replace those of a company.
Industry Rivalry
The intensity of competition within an industry, often influenced by market growth, differentiation, and number of competitors.
Barriers to Entry
Factors that make it difficult for new companies to enter an industry and compete with established firms.
Switching Costs
The costs, both financial and psychological, that customers incur when changing from one product or service to another.
Competitive Rivalry
The extent to which businesses within the same industry vie for market share and profitability.
Cost Leadership
A strategy where a company seeks to become the lowest-cost producer in its industry.
Differentiation Strategy
A strategy aimed at offering unique products or services that provide superior value to customers.
Focus Strategy
A strategy in which a company concentrates on a specific market niche, offering tailored products or services.
Hybrid Strategy
A combination of cost leadership and differentiation strategies aimed at offering a unique product while maintaining a low-cost structure.
Low-Cost Provider
A company that competes on the basis of providing products or services at the lowest price in the market.
Premium Pricing
A pricing strategy where a company charges a higher price for a product to reflect its superior quality or exclusivity.
Sustainability
The practice of operating a business in a way that considers environmental, social, and economic impacts for long-term success.
Buyer Selection
The process of identifying and targeting the most appropriate and profitable customers for a business.
Customer Journey
The complete experience a customer goes through when interacting with a company, from first awareness to post-purchase support.
Experience Mapping
A visual representation of the customer’s journey across various touchpoints and interactions with the brand.
Customer Lifecycle
The stages a customer goes through in their relationship with a company, from acquisition to retention and beyond.
Acquisition
The process of attracting and bringing new customers into a business.
Retention
The strategies and efforts focused on keeping existing customers and encouraging repeat purchases.
Customer Pain Points
Specific problems or challenges that customers encounter while interacting with a product or service.
Customer Touchpoints
The points of interaction between a customer and a company, such as websites, customer service, or physical stores.
Decision Moments
Critical points in the customer journey when a customer makes a key decision, such as purchasing or switching brands.
Moments of Truth
Key interactions where customers form lasting impressions of a brand, such as initial product use or customer service encounters.
Key Opportunities
Strategic areas or moments where a business can improve its products, services, or customer engagement to achieve growth.
Sales Funnel
A visual representation of the customer journey, showing how leads move from awareness to purchase.
Lead Generation
The process of attracting potential customers and capturing their interest in your product or service.
Lead Nurturing
The process of building relationships with prospects through targeted content and interactions to move them closer to purchase.
Lead Scoring
A system for ranking leads based on their likelihood of becoming a customer, often by assigning scores to certain behaviors or attributes.
Conversion Rate
The percentage of leads or prospects who take a desired action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a service.
Sales Channels
The methods or pathways through which a company sells its products, such as online, retail stores, or direct sales.
Direct Sales
Sales made directly from the company to the customer without intermediaries, often through in-house sales teams.
Indirect Sales
Sales made through intermediaries such as distributors, retailers, or third-party agents.
Channel Partner
A company or entity that sells or distributes a company’s products or services on its behalf.
Sales Pipeline
A visual representation of where prospects are in the sales process, from initial contact to closing a deal.
Go-to-Market Strategy
A company’s plan for delivering its product or service to the market, including target audience, pricing, and sales tactics.
Market Entry Strategy
A strategic approach for entering a new market, detailing how a company will establish its presence and compete.
Sales KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)
Metrics used to measure the effectiveness of a company’s sales activities, such as revenue growth or conversion rates.
Marketing Mix (4Ps)
The combination of Product, Price, Place, and Promotion used to market a product effectively.
Product
The item or service that a business offers to meet customer needs.
Price
The amount of money customers must pay to purchase a product or service.
Place
The locations or channels through which a product is distributed and sold.
Promotion
The marketing and advertising efforts used to communicate a product’s value and encourage purchases.
Branding Strategy
The long-term plan for creating and managing a company’s brand image and reputation in the market.
Brand Identity
The visual, verbal, and emotional attributes that define a brand and distinguish it from competitors.
Brand Equity
The value a brand gains from customer perceptions and loyalty, often reflected in higher sales and profitability.
Digital Marketing Strategy
The use of online platforms and digital tools to promote products or services, such as social media, email, and SEO.
Content Marketing
A strategy that focuses on creating and distributing valuable content to attract and engage a target audience.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
The process of optimizing online content to improve a website’s ranking in search engine results.
Pay-Per-Click (PPC)
A form of online advertising where businesses pay a fee each time their ad is clicked.
Social Media Marketing
The use of social media platforms to promote products, engage with customers, and build brand awareness.
Sales & Marketing Alignment
The process of coordinating sales and marketing efforts to achieve shared business goals and improve overall performance.
Lead-to-Revenue Management (L2RM)
A system for managing and optimizing the entire process of generating, nurturing, and converting leads into revenue.
Financial Statements
Formal records of a company’s financial activities, including the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.
Income Statement
A financial report that shows a company’s revenues, expenses, and profit over a specific period of time.
Balance Sheet
A financial statement that provides a snapshot of a company’s assets, liabilities, and equity at a given point in time.
Cash Flow Statement
A financial statement that reports the cash generated and used during a specific period, often divided into operating, investing, and financing activities.
Profit Margin
A measure of profitability, calculated as net income divided by revenue, often expressed as a percentage.
Return on Investment (ROI)
A metric used to evaluate the efficiency or profitability of an investment, calculated as net profit divided by the cost of investment.
Competitor Financial Insights
Analysis of a competitor’s financial data to assess its strengths, weaknesses, and market position.
Financial Ratios
Ratios used to evaluate a company’s financial health and performance, such as liquidity, profitability, and solvency ratios.
Cost Advantage
A business’s ability to produce goods or services at a lower cost than competitors, often leading to higher profitability.
Economies of Scope
Cost advantages that result from offering a wider variety of products or services through shared operations or resources.
Pricing Optimization
The process of finding the optimal price for a product that maximizes profitability while remaining competitive.
Dynamic Pricing
A pricing strategy where prices are adjusted in real time based on market demand, competition, or other factors.
Value-Based Pricing
A pricing strategy where prices are set based on the perceived value of the product to the customer rather than production costs.
Competitive Pricing
Setting prices based on the prices charged by competitors for similar products or services.
Process Flowcharts
Visual diagrams that map out the steps and stages of a process, used for analysis and optimization.
Process Mapping
The practice of creating visual representations of processes to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement.
Process Optimization
The practice of improving processes to increase efficiency, reduce costs, or enhance quality.
Technology Integration
The process of incorporating new technologies into existing systems and operations to improve efficiency or performance.
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)
Software systems that integrate and manage a company’s core business processes, such as finance, supply chain, and human resources.
CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
Software systems used to manage customer interactions, relationships, and data throughout the customer lifecycle.
Automation
The use of technology and software to perform tasks with minimal human intervention, often improving efficiency and accuracy.
Scaling Plan
A strategy for expanding a business’s operations, products, or services to handle increased demand or market growth.
Growth Strategy
A plan to increase a company’s size and market share, either through product development, market expansion, or acquisitions.
Organizational Chart
A diagram that shows the structure of a company, including roles, responsibilities, and reporting relationships.
Organizational Development
The practice of improving an organization’s effectiveness through planned changes in processes, structures, or culture.
Change Management
The process of guiding and managing the people, processes, and systems involved in organizational change.
Risk Identification
The process of recognizing and documenting potential risks that could impact a project or organization.
Risk Analysis
The process of evaluating the likelihood and potential impact of identified risks.
Likelihood Assessment
The evaluation of how likely it is that a particular risk will occur.
Impact Assessment
The evaluation of the potential consequences or severity of a risk event on a project or organization.
Risk Mitigation
The strategies and actions taken to reduce the likelihood or impact of risks.
Risk Contingency Plan
A predefined plan of action to be implemented if a risk materializes, aimed at minimizing its impact.
SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)
A strategic analysis tool used to assess a company’s internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats.
Strategic Plan
A long-term plan outlining an organization’s goals, strategies, and actions for achieving its mission and vision.
Action Plan
A detailed outline of specific steps and tasks required to achieve strategic goals and objectives.
Exit Strategy
A plan for how a business owner or investor will exit or sell their interest in a company, such as through an IPO or acquisition.
Exit Timing
The strategic decision regarding when to execute an exit strategy to maximize value.
Target Valuation
The estimated value of a company, typically used in acquisition or investment decisions.
Business Valuation Methods
The techniques used to determine the value of a business, such as discounted cash flow analysis or market comparables.
Exit Methods (IPO, Acquisition, etc.)
The various ways in which a business owner or investor can exit a business, such as an initial public offering (IPO), merger, or sale.
Horizon Framework
A strategic planning model that organizes growth initiatives into three categories—Horizon 1 (core focus), Horizon 2 (emerging opportunities), and Horizon 3 (future growth).
Horizon 1 (Core Focus)
The current, core business activities that generate the majority of revenue and are the primary focus.
Horizon 2 (Emerging Opportunities)
Medium-term initiatives that are not yet core but have the potential for growth and expansion.
Horizon 3 (Future Growth)
Long-term, innovative opportunities that could drive future growth and market leadership.
Balanced Scorecard
A strategic performance management tool that measures organizational success using financial and non-financial metrics across four perspectives
Strategic Objectives
The specific, measurable goals that an organization sets to achieve its long-term vision and strategic plan.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Quantifiable metrics used to evaluate the success of an organization, project, or specific business activity.
Performance Metrics
The specific measurements used to track progress toward achieving goals or objectives.
Market Segmentation
The division of a broad market into smaller, distinct groups of customers with similar needs, preferences, or characteristics.
Product Differentiation
The process of distinguishing a product or service from others in the market by emphasizing unique features, quality, or design.
Brand Loyalty
The tendency of customers to continue buying from a specific brand due to a positive experience or strong emotional connection.
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
The total cost associated with acquiring a new customer, including marketing, sales, and onboarding expenses.
Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)
The estimated total revenue that a business can expect from a customer throughout their relationship with the company.
Churn Rate
The percentage of customers who stop doing business with a company over a specific period, often used to measure retention success.
Net Promoter Score (NPS)
A customer satisfaction metric that measures how likely customers are to recommend a company’s product or service to others.
Market Penetration Strategy
A strategy aimed at increasing market share within existing markets through tactics like advertising or pricing adjustments.
Product Development
The process of creating and improving products to meet changing customer needs and preferences.
Market Development
The process of entering new markets with existing products to increase sales and revenue.
Diversification
A growth strategy in which a business enters new markets or creates new products to reduce risk and increase opportunities.
Strategic Alliance
A formal partnership between two or more companies to collaborate and achieve mutual goals without merging.
Joint Venture
A business arrangement where two or more companies create a new entity to work together on a specific project or business activity.
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)
The process of combining or acquiring companies to achieve strategic growth, improve market position, or create value.