Typically, as part of our consulting process, we conduct interviews with our clients to comprehensively ascertain their requirements. In some cases, the client’s needs may be explicit and straightforward, but frequently, due to limitations of their dataset, they may have an incomplete understanding of the problem. To gain a broader perspective on the challenges and potential solutions, it may be advisable to undertake further research beyond the client’s purview.

Formulating hypotheses is an essential aspect of our problem-solving approach. Our hypotheses are meticulously crafted to be specific, tangible, and verifiable, thereby facilitating a rigorous evaluation of their validity. It is imperative that the hypotheses suggested to our clients are capable of being proven or disproven, as we believe that it is not beneficial to propose conjectures that cannot be verified through empirical evidence.

Prior to data collection, consulting firms typically undertake a structured process to comprehend the client’s predicament and brainstorm viable solutions. However, during the data collection phase, firms tend to diverge into two categories: those that extensively explore external viewpoints and those that rely primarily on client-provided data. External data comprises insights gathered through interviews with customers, suppliers, competitors, partners, and other stakeholders beyond the client’s business. On the other hand, client data refers to information gathered from interviews with internal personnel and access to data such as sales reports and internal documents.

It is important to note that data collection methodologies vary considerably depending on the specific problem(s) under consideration.