In technology consulting, value is created when we help clients move from ambiguity to confidence—not just in the long-term goal, but in what to do next. That next step must be actionable, testable, and high-leverage.
To get there, we use three core frameworks that I covered in a prior post Three Foundational Frameworks for Technology Consulting: A Pragmatic Guide
- MECE – to break down the problem space clearly and completely
- Pareto – to prioritize what matters most
- HBPS – to move forward by testing our smartest guesses
But here’s the truth: one pass through this process is never enough.
Real-world problems are complex, assumptions get proven wrong, and new variables emerge.
That’s why we treat these frameworks as part of an iterative loop—a recursive consulting cycle that lets us progressively refine focus and validate solutions until we reach the MVP of the MVP: the smallest, most valuable deliverable we can build or test to generate impact and insight.
🌀 The Iterative Consulting Loop
Phase 1: Frame the Landscape (MECE)
“What’s the full shape of the problem?”
- Start with a top-down breakdown: Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive.
- Identify all plausible root causes, levers, stakeholders, workflows, or failure modes.
- The goal is clarity and completeness—no blind spots, no overlap.
Phase 2: Focus on Leverage (Pareto)
“Where is the biggest bang for our buck?”
- Use the 80/20 rule to identify the vital few areas likely driving the majority of the pain or opportunity.
- Combine data and domain expertise to find your first, best bet.
- Disregard the noise. The Pareto filter reduces scope without reducing value.
Phase 3: Move with Hypotheses (HBPS)
“What smart bet can we test quickly?”
- Form a hypothesis about what will improve the prioritized area.
- Predict what you expect to observe if the hypothesis is true.
- Design a low-cost, fast test to validate or falsify it.
This is where action begins.
🔁 Then You Validate, Refine, and Repeat
No test ends the conversation. Every outcome is a feedback signal:
- If confirmed: you double down, go deeper, or expand scope incrementally.
- If falsified: return to the HBPS step and try a new hypothesis within your focused slice.
- If the problem was mis-framed: return to MECE and restructure your thinking.
Each iteration narrows the scope, increases precision, and brings you closer to delivery.
The Key Insight:
After each pass, apply the same logic at a smaller level of granularity.
- MECE → now re-frame just the onboarding flow.
- Pareto → identify the 20% of onboarding that causes 80% of drop-off.
- HBPS → form a testable guess about improving that specific moment.
Repeat until you land on a Minimum Viable Hypothesis—the MVP of the MVP.
🎯 The MVP of the MVP
This is your first most valuable slice of the solution. It’s not a full system, full fix, or perfect experience—it’s the simplest implementation that can teach you something important and deliver value fast.
It could be:
- One redesigned screen.
- One updated query.
- One automated email.
- One adjusted workflow.
Delivering this fast lets you:
- Prove credibility early.
- Build trust with stakeholders.
- Gather real feedback from real users.
- Create momentum and iterate intelligently.
🧠 Frameworks Are Fractal
At every level—project, epic, feature, even individual bug—you can apply the loop:
- Frame the scope clearly. (MECE)
- Prioritize what matters. (Pareto)
- Act on smart guesses. (HBPS)
- Validate and repeat.
It’s not about running in circles—it’s about spiraling inward toward clarity and impact.
⚖️ Balance and Pacing
| Phase | Framework | Purpose | Sign of Overuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frame | MECE | Clarify the full space | Endless analysis |
| Focus | Pareto | Zero in on the vital few | Intuition without structure |
| Move/Test | HBPS | Take fast, smart action | Solving the wrong problem fast |
| Validate | All 3 | Confirm or adjust your approach | Avoiding the feedback loop |
A great consultant doesn’t just know these tools—they know how to pace them. Fast MECE. Fast Pareto. Fast HBPS. Then back around again, tighter and sharper.
🧭 Final Thought: Deliver Clarity First. Then Deliver Value Fast.
Frameworks are thinking tools, not rituals. When used well, they unlock velocity without chaos. They let us:
- Clarify where we are.
- Decide where to focus.
- Move forward with confidence.
- Adapt as we learn.
This is how we go from ambiguity to clarity.
From strategy to action.
From roadmap to results.
One loop at a time.