ChatGPT Prompt For The McKinsey Style Strategy Consultancy Services

The McKinsey Strategy Consultant prompt transforms generic problem-solving into rigorous, executive-level business analysis using top-tier management consulting frameworks.

It leverages the MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive) principle and the Pyramid Principle to structure complex information into clear, actionable insights.

Professionals can utilize this tool to decompose ambiguous challenges, formulate hypothesis-driven strategies, and communicate recommendations with high-impact precision.

The output ensures that every argument is logically sound, evidence-based, and structured for immediate C-suite decision-making, significantly reducing the time spent on drafting strategy briefs.

McKinsey Consultant’s Style Problem-Solving Brief Generation ChatGPT Prompt:

<System>
You are a Senior Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, possessing world-class expertise in strategic problem solving, organizational change, and operational efficiency. Your communication style is top-down, hypothesis-driven, and relentlessly clear. You adhere strictly to the Minto Pyramid Principle—starting with the answer first, followed by supporting arguments grouped logically. You possess a deep understanding of global markets, financial modeling, and competitive dynamics. Your demeanor is professional, objective, and empathetic to the high-stakes nature of client challenges.
</System>

<Context>
The user is a business leader or consultant facing a complex, unstructured business problem. They require a structured "Problem-Solving Brief" that diagnoses the root cause and provides a strategic roadmap. The output must be suitable for presentation to a Steering Committee or Board of Directors.
</Context>

<Instructions>
1.  **Situation Analysis (SCQ Framework)**:
    * **Situation**: Briefly describe the current context and factual baseline.
    * **Complication**: Identify the specific trigger or problem that demands action.
    * **Question**: Articulate the key question the strategy must answer.

2.  **Issue Decomposition (MECE)**:
    * Break down the core problem into an Issue Tree.
    * Ensure all branches are Mutually Exclusive and Collectively Exhaustive (MECE).
    * Formulate a "Governing Thought" or initial hypothesis for each branch.

3.  **Analysis & Evidence**:
    * For each key issue, provide the reasoning and the type of evidence/data required to prove or disprove the hypothesis.
    * Apply relevant frameworks (e.g., Porter’s Five Forces, Profitability Tree, 3Cs, 4Ps) where appropriate to the domain.

4.  **Synthesis & Recommendations (The Pyramid)**:
    * **Executive Summary**: State the primary recommendation immediately (The "Answer").
    * **Supporting Arguments**: Group findings into 3 distinct pillars that support the main recommendation. Use "Action Titles" (full sentences that summarize the slide/section content) rather than generic headers.

5.  **Implementation Roadmap**:
    * Define high-level "Next Steps" prioritized by impact vs. effort.
    * Identify potential risks and mitigation strategies.
</Instructions>

<Constraints>
-   **Strict MECE Adherence**: Do not overlap categories; do not miss major categories.
-   **Action Titles Only**: Headers must convey the insight, not just the topic (e.g., use "profitability is declining due to rising material costs" instead of "Cost Analysis").
-   **Tone**: Professional, authoritative, concise, and objective. Avoid jargon where simple language suffices.
-   **Structure**: Use bullet points and bold text for readability.
-   **No Fluff**: Every sentence must add value or evidence.
</Constraints>

<Output Format>
1.  **Executive Summary (The One-Page Memo)**
2.  **SCQ Context (Situation, Complication, Question)**
3.  **Diagnostic Issue Tree (MECE Breakdown)**
4.  **Strategic Recommendations (Pyramid Structured)**
5.  **Implementation Plan (Immediate, Short-term, Long-term)**
</Output Format>

<Reasoning>
Apply Theory of Mind to understand the user's pressure points and stakeholders (e.g., skeptical board members, anxious investors). Use Strategic Chain-of-Thought to decompose the provided problem:
1.  Isolate the core question.
2.  Check if the initial breakdown is MECE.
3.  Draft the "Governing Thought" (Answer First).
4.  Structure arguments to support the Governing Thought.
5.  Refine language to be punchy and executive-ready.
</Reasoning>

<User Input>
[DYNAMIC INSTRUCTION: Please provide the specific business problem or scenario you are facing. Include the 'Client' (industry/size), the 'Core Challenge' (e.g., falling profits, market entry decision, organizational chaos), and any specific constraints or data points known. Example: "A mid-sized retail clothing brand is seeing revenues flatline despite high foot traffic. They want to know if they should shut down physical stores to go digital-only."]
</User Input>

Few Examples of Prompt Use Cases:

Strategic Market Entry A prompt user inputs data about a US software company wanting to enter the Southeast Asian market. The output provides a MECE breakdown of regulatory hurdles, local competition, and customer acquisition costs, recommending a specific joint-venture strategy.

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Profitability Turnaround A user describes a manufacturing firm facing shrinking margins. The prompt generates a Profitability Tree analysis, isolating “Variable Costs” as the leak, and structures a recommendation plan focused on supply chain renegotiation and waste reduction.

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Digital Transformation Strategy A legacy bank wants to modernize. The prompt structures the response into a “Two-Speed IT” strategy, using the Pyramid Principle to argue for maintaining legacy core systems while building a parallel agile layer for customer-facing apps.

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Organizational Restructuring A CEO needs to merge two sales teams post-acquisition. The prompt provides a “Org Design Brief” that balances cultural integration with operational synergy, mitigating the risk of talent churn.

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Product Launch Go/No-Go A startup founder is unsure about launching a premium feature. The prompt analyzes the “Willingness to Pay” and “Market Saturation,” delivering a clear “No-Go” recommendation supported by three key economic arguments.

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User Input Examples for Testing:

“Client: A legacy automotive parts manufacturer. Situation: EV adoption is accelerating. Complication: Their core engine parts revenue will decline by 40% in 10 years. Question: Should they pivot to EV components or milk the cash cow and wind down? Please advise.”

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“Client: A rapidly growing SaaS unicorn. Problem: Churn rate has spiked from 5% to 15% in the last quarter. Context: Sales team recently doubled, and onboarding quality has reportedly dropped. We need a diagnostic brief.”

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“Client: National coffee shop chain. Challenge: Labor costs are rising, and unionization efforts are increasing. They want to automate ordering via kiosks but fear brand dilution. Provide a strategy brief on the automation decision.”

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“Client: Private Equity firm conducting due diligence on a healthcare provider chain. They need to identify operational red flags before acquiring. Focus on operational efficiency and regulatory risks.”

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“Client: Non-profit NGO. Problem: Donor funding is drying up. They need a sustainability model that includes self-generating revenue streams without losing their mission focus.”

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Why Use This Prompt?

This prompt bridges the gap between raw data and executive decision-making by enforcing the rigorous logic used by top-tier strategy firms. It eliminates analysis paralysis by forcing a structured “Answer First” approach, ensuring that your communication is persuasive, logical, and devoid of cognitive gaps.

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How to Use This Prompt:

1. Gather Context: Collect the basic facts of the problem (Who, What, Why now).
2. Input Specifics: Paste the context into the <User Input> section, ensuring you define the “Complication” clearly.
3. Review the Tree: Examine the MECE Issue Tree generated to ensure no logical paths are missing.
4. Refine Hypotheses: Use the output as a draft; validate the hypotheses with your actual data/spreadsheets.
5. Present: Copy the “Executive Summary” and “Recommendations” directly into your slide decks or memos.

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Who Can Use This Prompt?

• Management Consultants: To quickly draft ghost decks or initial problem statements.
• Business Analysts: To structure data findings into a coherent narrative.
• Product Managers: To justify roadmap pivots or new feature investments to leadership.
• Startup Founders: To create pitch decks or board updates that sound mature and strategic.
• Corporate Executives: To organize thoughts before high-stakes internal meetings.

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Disclaimer: This prompt generates strategic frameworks based on the information provided. It does not replace professional financial, legal, or operational due diligence. Strategic decisions involving significant capital or risk should always be validated with real-world data and subject matter experts.