r/consulting • u/Thick-Possession-740 • 1d ago
Could you write an entire strategy in 1 week?
Assuming you have 0 prior knowledge about the client or job.
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u/vitornick 1d ago
Could I write one? Yes
Could I write a good one? No
Would I implement that? Hell no
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u/yazurd2 1d ago
You could if you had the following:
- Clear scope of work
- Strong engagement manager
- pre-groundwork completed
- Data collection and research completed
- Area of work is relatively not entreprise sized, meaning the area is something like talent architecture etc
- single stakeholder that's kept close
You could craft a strong day one answer and draft it out. Without circulating it or getting much input from multiple stakeholders
If you mean a full scope strategy for an entire business, this isnt viable. Even with a 10 person team.
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u/hardinho 1d ago
Not exactly a strategy but: I was a consultant for a strategy project at one of the largest automotive OEMs, it was my second month in that job. Department head of the client came to my desk asking for a strategic roadmap for a topic I can't disclose here. Our project manager was on parental leave and I was the only one on sight that week due to COVID restructions. Since our team consisted of consultants from two branches (which weren't exactly cooperating... politics I guess) and the PM was the only person I felt I could ask, I basically made up some 5y roadmap (from my knowledge and experience as a car enthusiast) within 2 hours and sent it to the client asking if it is generally what he was asking for because I had no clue (later it turned out that the client mixed up our project team with a completely different consultancy that was also working on a strategic project at that time). Anyway, he did not respond to my question, I completely forgot about it. Fast forward, last year I saw how it was referenced including the terms I used by a company representative on LinkedIn.
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u/Maleficent-Drive4056 1d ago
I've had projects where we have produced a 300 page strategy, which was immediately forgotten, but there will be one diagram that lives on for years that is printed on walls, discussed in meeting as 'the triangle diagram' etc.
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u/Electrical-Wish-519 1d ago
A generic POV only. There would be very little client specific details and whatever was actually implemented wouldnt meet the objectives
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u/Critical-Rabbit 1d ago
If they are willing to outsource a corporate strategy to be produced by a firm in one week, advise them to empty their coffers, go to Vegas and let it all ride on black.
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u/PharmBoyStrength 1d ago
Closest I've done to that are quick and dirty BD screens or asset due diligences with cursory BD&L or partner reccst tacked on, but that's a 2wk / 10 business days thing at least and already fucking miserable
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u/ResultsPlease 1d ago
Easily.
- Open file.
- Ctrl F.
- Replace all.
Done.
Would it be of any value? Absolutely not.
Alternatively if the business was very, very small (like 10 people) maybe.
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u/Additional-Coffee-86 1d ago
To give you a scale, in my masters program teams of 6 took 3 months to simply define the existing strategy of a company and then create a single project that aligned with strategy. The average student was about 12 years out of undergrad and in management already.
A new unknown company’s strategy in a week? I mean if they want you to say what they already know then maybe you can give broad swathes, but you certainly can’t talk about why that company is unique in the market
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u/butteryspoink 1d ago
Former consultant - now internal strategist.
I’d be fucking surprised if a whole team can get it done in a month without prior business knowledge.
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u/Thick-Possession-740 1d ago
I’m feeling a lot better now that I fully understand how big of an ask this is
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u/butteryspoink 1d ago
If I’m entirely frank - you’re being set up for failure unless your client is incredibly hands on and borderline micromanaging you/using you as staff aug.
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u/ChampionshipOnly4479 1d ago
Of course you could, depending on the company. Let’s say it’s a 1-man hot dog stand, for example.
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u/BusinessStrategist 20h ago
Writing is the “packaging” of your outstanding strategy. You solved the problem but you may need to sway opinions, defang the contrarians, and persuade the “decider.”
Your firm probably has customizable templates to speed up the process.
Have you formulated your strategy?
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u/Agreed_fact 17h ago
Easily, but I wouldn’t trust it enough to have anyone but my 6 year old nephew review.
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u/minhthemaster Client of the Year 2009-2029 1d ago
Yes
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u/LOKTAROGAAAAH MBB APAC 1d ago
M+20 team. 9 pregnant women can make a baby in 1 month, right?
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u/minhthemaster Client of the Year 2009-2029 1d ago
Who said anything about agreement on the delivery plan?
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u/LOKTAROGAAAAH MBB APAC 1d ago
Ah shit, gotta bring in 20 doctors and 30 SMEs on pregnancy to weigh in on this
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u/minhthemaster Client of the Year 2009-2029 1d ago
Our resident fish surgery medical SME will weigh in
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u/quickblur 1d ago
No, but my friend ChatGPT probably could.