Clarifying Questions

Ask questions that make the case easier to solve.

Clarifying questions should reduce ambiguity before the framework. They are not a checklist; they are a way to confirm the client objective and constraints.

Good clarifying question topics

  • Client objective and success metric.
  • Geography, product, customer, and timeframe.
  • Business model and revenue source.
  • Constraints such as budget, capacity, regulation, or timeline.

What to avoid

Avoid asking questions just to stall. If the answer would not change your framework or first analysis, it probably is not worth asking at the start.

Clarifying question FAQs

How many should I ask?

Usually two or three focused questions are enough before you take a moment to structure.

Should I ask about profit every time?

Only if the objective is unclear. If the prompt already defines the goal, ask about context that affects the analysis.