Storymakers playbook
How real consulting decks align with the playbook.
Every analysed deck is matched against three layers of the Storymakers taxonomy: one of 20 narrative arcs at the deck level, multiple 53 loops as contiguous slide segments, and 226 tools at slide / loop / block layer. We also record any named consulting framework visible on each slide.
322
decks matched
2103
loops detected
25605
tool tags
1249
framework tags
739
unique frameworks
20 narrative arcs · ranked
primary arc per deck · click for decks using itStrategy & Business
The Consultant's Gambit
217
Analysis & Information
The Triple Take
66
Analysis & Information
The Onion
33
Analysis & Information
The Mountain
3
Narrative & Transformation
The Sparkline
2
Strategy & Business
AIDA
1
Strategy & Business
The Sequoia Pitch
0
Strategy & Business
Problem-Agitate-Solution
0
Strategy & Business
Monroe's Motivated Sequence
0
Narrative & Transformation
The Hero's Journey
0
Narrative & Transformation
The Golden Circle
0
Narrative & Transformation
The Transformation Tale
0
Narrative & Transformation
The Pixar Pitch
0
Booker's 7 Plots
Overcoming the Monster
0
Booker's 7 Plots
Rags to Riches
0
Booker's 7 Plots
The Quest
0
Booker's 7 Plots
Voyage and Return
0
Booker's 7 Plots
Comedy
0
Booker's 7 Plots
Tragedy
0
Booker's 7 Plots
Rebirth
0
218
in Strategy & Business
102
in Analysis & Information
2
in Narrative & Transformation
53 loops · how segments are built
each deck contains multiple loopsConsulting Framework
667
in 282 decks
Logical Reasoning
344
in 171 decks
Comparison
328
in 209 decks
Analysis
201
in 139 decks
Narrative
133
in 112 decks
Urgency
132
in 118 decks
Validation
106
in 79 decks
Vision
61
in 55 decks
Causation
46
in 43 decks
Persuasion
25
in 24 decks
Change Management
21
in 20 decks
Risk Management
14
in 14 decks
Explanation
10
in 8 decks
Competitive
9
in 9 decks
Decision Making
6
in 6 decks
#1
Logical Reasoning
02_pattern_hunter
Group multiple pieces of evidence that together point to a pattern or conclusion
325165 decks
Best examples ↓
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#2
Analysis
06_zoom_in
Start broad, then progressively focus on specific details that prove your point
164114 decks
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#3
Comparison
04_tale_two_worlds
Show the gap between two states to drive urgency or highlight opportunity
163132 decks
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#4
Consulting Framework
41_so_what_cascade
Chain insights together, each answering 'so what?' until you reach the actionable conclusion
144108 decks
Best examples ↓
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#5
Consulting Framework
40_mece_breakdown
Divide a complex topic into mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive categories
118109 decks
Best examples ↓
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#6
Narrative
03_aha_moment
Establish a tension, present data, then deliver the insight that changes everything
11098 decks
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#7
Consulting Framework
34_segmentation_split
Divide a whole into meaningful segments to reveal hidden patterns
10488 decks
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#8
Comparison
39_benchmark_gap
Compare performance against best-in-class to quantify the opportunity
8681 decks
Best examples ↓
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#9
Urgency
15_why_now
Create temporal urgency by proving that the window of opportunity is opening or closing
7977 decks
Best examples ↓
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#10
Comparison
21_before_after
Show the dramatic contrast between the old way and the new way through side-by-side comparison
7970 decks
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#11
Validation
09_precedent
Use historical or external examples to validate your approach
7050 decks
Best examples ↓
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#12
Urgency
27_cost_of_inaction
Quantify what happens if the audience does nothing
5349 decks
Best examples ↓
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#13
Consulting Framework
33_build_up
Start from zero and add components to arrive at a total
5042 decks
Best examples ↓
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#14
Consulting Framework
47_quick_win_big_bet
Separate initiatives into immediate wins and longer-term strategic bets
4948 decks
Best examples ↓
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#15
Consulting Framework
36_maturity_curve
Show where you are on a progression and what it takes to reach the next level
4646 decks
Best examples ↓
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#16
Vision
11_golden_circle
Invert the typical pitch by starting with why you exist, rather than what you do
3837 decks
Best examples ↓
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#17
Analysis
10_iceberg
Reveal that the visible problem is merely a symptom of a deeper root cause
3735 decks
Best examples ↓
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#18
Consulting Framework
35_scenario_fork
Present multiple futures based on different assumptions or decisions
3129 decks
Best examples ↓
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#19
Consulting Framework
30_2x2_matrix
Plot options on two critical dimensions to reveal the optimal quadrant
2828 decks
Best examples ↓
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#20
Causation
13_domino_effect
Demonstrate how a single small strategic move triggers a cascade of positive outcomes
2625 decks
Best examples ↓
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#21
Persuasion
12_myth_buster
Address a common misconception head-on to clear the room for a new truth
2524 decks
Best examples ↓
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#22
Vision
24_time_machine
Transport the audience to a future state where your solution has already succeeded
2323 decks
Best examples ↓
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#23
Causation
26_ripple_effect
Show how impact spreads from individual to team to organization to market
2020 decks
Best examples ↓
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#24
Validation
51_voice_of_customer
Let customer quotes and feedback drive the narrative and validate the insight
1919 decks
Best examples ↓
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#25
Validation
23_expert_witness
Borrow credibility from a recognized authority to validate your position
1716 decks
Best examples ↓
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#26
Consulting Framework
31_waterfall_value
Break down a big number into its component drivers to show where value is created or lost
1717 decks
Best examples ↓
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#27
Narrative
05_the_reveal
Build mystery and anticipation, then deliver a surprising or powerful conclusion
1616 decks
Best examples ↓
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#28
Logical Reasoning
20_paradox_resolver
Introduce a seeming contradiction that captures attention, then resolve it with a deeper truth
1614 decks
Best examples ↓
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#29
Change Management
17_pivot
Validate a change in direction by showing it is a reaction to new intelligence, not failure
1413 decks
Best examples ↓
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#30
Consulting Framework
37_root_cause_tree
Branch out from a problem to its multiple contributing causes
1312 decks
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226 tools · 3 levels of abstraction
20795 Slide tags (100 unique) · 2746 Loop tags (86 unique) · 2064 Block tags (54 unique)Loop tools
45 in taxonomyContrast Pairs
core
527 · 261d
Chunking
434 · 226d
Parallel Structure
201 · 111d
Inductive Reasoning
core
170 · 126d
Data Story Arc
core
166 · 132d
Tricolon
107 · 73d
Callback
103 · 78d
Causal Chain
86 · 68d
Information Gap Theory
71 · 65d
Aha! Moment
51 · 50d
Antithesis
49 · 38d
Build-Up (Gradatio)
41 · 37d
The Turn
40 · 33d
Argument from Analogy
38 · 19d
Anaphora
37 · 21d
Foreshadowing
36 · 28d
Payoff
35 · 29d
Progressive Disclosure
32 · 28d
Goal Gradient Effect
24 · 21d
Tension Management
23 · 22d
Block tools
72 in taxonomyThe Rule of Three
281 · 176d
MECE Principle
core
263 · 155d
Three Pillars
core
240 · 155d
Curiosity Gap
197 · 95d
Pyramid Principle
core
151 · 138d
SCQA Framework
core
137 · 134d
Before-After-Bridge
93 · 68d
Loss Aversion
91 · 76d
Big Idea Formula
core
85 · 71d
Governing Thought
77 · 66d
Storytelling Effect
58 · 33d
Social Proof
45 · 33d
Negativity Bias
42 · 38d
Issue Tree
33 · 27d
Anchoring Bias
32 · 28d
Problem-Agitate-Solve (PAS)
28 · 26d
Stakeholder Mapping
24 · 17d
Scarcity
21 · 16d
Pareto Principle (80/20)
20 · 18d
Audience Definition
core
17 · 17d
Frameworks in the wild
open vocabulary · top 40 of 739 unique
752x2 Matrix
· 65 decks
49Maturity Model
· 37 decks
43Value Chain
· 24 decks
18Waterfall Chart
· 15 decks
12B2C Elements of Value
· 1 decks
11The A List Framework
· 1 decks
11HFS Horizons
· 2 decks
10Three Pillars
· 9 decks
10Three Horizons
· 7 decks
9PMDR Alignment Scale
· 1 decks
9BCG 5 Success Dimensions for Climate Tech
· 1 decks
7Total Enterprise Reinvention
· 7 decks
7Simpler, Better, More Balanced
· 1 decks
7Customer Journey Map
· 7 decks
7Accenture Resilience Index
· 2 decks
6Flatten-Fight-Future (BCG)
· 1 decks
6Five Imperatives for Gen AI Reinvention
· 1 decks
5Everest Group PEAK Matrix
· 1 decks
4Wise Pivot
· 3 decks
4Sustainability DNA
· 1 decks
4Six Sigma
· 1 decks
4Scenario Planning Matrix
· 1 decks
4Scenario Planning
· 4 decks
4Scenario Matrix
· 2 decks
4S-Curve
· 1 decks
4Jobs to Be Done
· 2 decks
4Flywheel
· 3 decks
4Flatten-Fight-Future
· 2 decks
4Compute Index
· 1 decks
4Capability Impact Heatmap
· 1 decks
4BCG Procurement House
· 2 decks
4BCG Deploy-Reshape-Invent
· 3 decks
4BCG Cascading Value Model
· 1 decks
48 Levers of Efficiency
· 1 decks
42x2 Matrix (Bubble)
· 2 decks
3Waterfall Bridge
· 2 decks
3Waterfall / Value Bridge
· 2 decks
3Waterfall (Value Bridge)
· 3 decks
3Venn Diagram
· 3 decks
3Timeline
· 1 decks
Deep dives · pick a deck
BenedictEvans
2018 Benedict Evans 2018 The End of the Beginning
Quintessential Benedict Evans data essay: action-titled charts, sparkline-style oscillation between 'small share today' and 'massive opportunity ahead', tied together by build-ups, US-vs-global benchmarks, and a 1993-internet-as-precedent payoff. Aligns strongly with Storymakers in micro craft (action titles, color discipline, contrast pairs, callbacks) but is more pattern-essay than recommendation deck — no explicit 'Now What' or ask.
The Sparkline
· 106p
78%
Bessemer
2025 Bessemer Venture Partners State of AI 2025
Concise BVP thought-leadership deck that aligns well with Storymakers: insight-led action titles, a clean Triple Take arc (data -> predictions -> founder actions), and parallel structure across the prediction sequence -- though it leans on header-only slides rather than evidence-rich storyboards.
The Triple Take
· 13p
85%
Bessemer
2021 Bessemer Venture Partners State of Cloud 2021
Bessemer's State of Cloud 2021 is a thought-leadership report that aligns moderately with Storymakers: clear action titles throughout, a Triple Take (facts then implications then action) macro arc, and several proprietary frameworks (Good/Better/Best, Flywheel) that double as Storymakers loops. It leans heavier on data-density evidence stacking than on tight narrative tension or contrast pairs.
The Triple Take
· 71p
80%
BenedictEvans
2025 Benedict Evans 2025 Spring AI eats the world
Benedict Evans's exploratory analyst deck loosely follows a Triple Take (What -> So What -> Now What) signposted by three section dividers, but is built around posing questions rather than recommending action - alignment with Storymakers is moderate: strong action titles and rule-of-three circles, weak on classical consulting frameworks and explicit calls to action.
The Triple Take
· 59p
78%
BenedictEvans
2025 Benedict Evans 2025 Autum AI eats the world
Benedict Evans' analyst deck loosely follows a Mountain arc with strong precedent-and-pattern reasoning, but it deliberately skips Storymakers staples like SCQA, recommendation pyramids, and explicit calls to action - it is a question-posing thought-leadership piece more than a consulting argument.
The Mountain
· 90p
70%
BenedictEvans
2024 Benedict Evans 2024 AI eats the world
A discursive Benedict Evans 'state of AI' essay that loosely follows The Onion arc (hype → platform shift? → more than that? → AGI? → everything else). It uses recurring callbacks, two-option contrast pairs, and analogies (S-curves, infinite interns, cars) more than disciplined consulting frameworks — high alignment with Storymakers narrative tools, low alignment with consulting-framework tools.
The Onion
· 87p
82%
BenedictEvans
2022 Benedict Evans 2022 The New Gatekeepers
A trend-analyst keynote that aligns strongly with Storymakers at the macro (clear three-act Triple Take, three-pillar agenda, anaphora-driven loops) and at the slide level (action titles, Tufte data-ink discipline, Von Restorff colour highlights) — but it deliberately avoids consultant rhetorical scaffolding like SCQA, recommendations, or named frameworks beyond passing JTBD/Christensen citations.
The Triple Take
· 103p
82%
BenedictEvans
2023 Benedict Evans 2023 AI and Everything Else
A classic Benedict Evans question-led essay-deck: layered exploration that aligns loosely with The Onion arc but resists a clean Storymakers fit - heavy on action titles, analogies and authority quotes, light on explicit frameworks (only one named: Gartner Hype Cycle).
The Onion
· 92p
70%
BenedictEvans
2021 Benedict Evans 2021 Three Steps to the Future
Benedict Evans's 'Three Steps to the Future' is thought leadership, not consulting — but it leans hard on Storymakers staples (action titles, three-pillar roadmap, contrast pairs, metaphor, concrete numbers, callbacks) while skipping client-deck staples like SCQA, MECE issue trees, or formal recommendations.
The Onion
· 94p
70%
BenedictEvans
2020 Benedict Evans 2020 December The Great Unbundling
An analyst's annual macro briefing rather than a consulting deliverable: it lacks the explicit problem->solution->ask of the Consultant's Gambit, but is tightly built — reframing data via Pattern-Hunter and Myth-Buster loops, with strong action titles and Tufte-clean charts. The deck aligns most with the Onion arc (one thesis, the 'great unbundling', revealed across successive industry layers) rather than a hero/transformation arc.
The Onion
· 134p
60%
BenedictEvans
2016 Benedict Evans 2016 Mobile is Eating the World
Strong slide-level Storymakers alignment - every page uses action titles, recurring metaphors (S-curve, cars-as-phones, retailers-as-newspapers), and concrete numerals - but the macro shape is exploratory analyst narrative (Onion / Sparkline) rather than a recommendation arc; there is no client, no ask, and no Now-What.
The Onion
· 78p
78%
BenedictEvans
2017 Benedict Evans 2017 Ten Year Futures
Strong Storymakers alignment: nearly every slide uses an action title plus a single dominant metaphor or analogy, with disciplined chunking and white space; the deck oscillates current/future via past-as-prologue parallels (Sparkline arc) and pays off with a clean four-item callback. Loops are clean but lightly evidenced - Evans relies on framing and analogy rather than data-rich proof.
The Sparkline
· 76p
78%
BenedictEvans
2015 Benedict Evans 2015 Mobile is Eating the World
Classic Benedict Evans thesis deck — disciplined Onion arc that peels four layers ('mobile is universal/remakes industry/remakes internet/dominates attention') before landing the broader 'tech outgrows tech' implication. Aligns strongly with Storymakers on action titles, contrast pairs, tricolon/causal-chain frameworks and analogy-based closure, but skips the explicit SCQA setup, recommendation, and call-to-action of a consulting deck.
The Onion
· 54p
78%
BenedictEvans
2013 Benedict Evans 2013 Mobile is Eating the World
Strong analyst-style deck with Triple-Take alignment: every slide carries an action title and the structure moves from data to implications to a 'next platform' call. Loop-level it leans heavily on Pattern Hunter (stacking evidence) plus a memorable Tale-of-Two-Worlds contrast — but it lacks classic consulting frameworks and an explicit recommendation/decision moment, so Storymakers fit is partial.
The Triple Take
· 74p
75%
Barclays · 2017
TSN Barclays Consumer Staples FINAL
Tyson's 2017 Barclays IR deck loosely follows Consultant's Gambit (context, modest-market problem, unique-model solution, outperformance proof, FY17/18 + sustainability ask), with strong action titles, tricolons ('Grow. Deliver. Sustain.'), and quantified contrast charts; but it is a corporate IR pitch, so emotional/narrative arcs are weaker than methodology calls for.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 33p
78%
Barclays · 2024
20240618 Barclays UK Corporate Bank Deep Dive
Strong Storymakers alignment: textbook Consultant's Gambit with disciplined action titles, MECE three-pillar plan, peer benchmark gap, and consistent Today-vs-2026 before-after framing. Light on emotional storytelling beyond the Bluestone customer cameo.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 22p
88%
Barclays · 2024
20240220 Barclays FY2023 Results and Investor Update Presentation
A textbook Consultant's Gambit IR deck: FY23 results situate, 'we need to do better' complicates, the 'Simpler/Better/More balanced' triad and >12% RoTE waterfall are the solution and proof, with division-level mini-arcs reinforcing the same pattern - strong action-title discipline, heavy use of waterfalls and benchmark gaps, light on emotive narrative tools.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 145p
88%
Bain · 2024
SOUTHEAST ASIA’S GREEN ECONOMY 2024
Strong Consultant's Gambit: a textbook situation->problem->solution->evidence->action arc executed with action titles, MECE 5x5 accelerator matrix, 2x2 idea prioritization, stacked benchmarks, six blended-finance case studies, and stakeholder-segmented CTAs. Alignment with Storymakers methodology is high on structure and pyramid principle, lighter on emotional hooks and narrative tension.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 171p
92%
Barclays · 2023
unlocking growth creating tech ecosystems
Barclays/Beauhurst report follows a clean Consultant's Gambit shape (forewords -> frame -> ecosystem framework -> twin city case studies + impact data -> Eagle Labs ask), executed with MECE component breakdown, parallel zoom-in case studies and a clear correlation 'aha'. Storymakers alignment is solid on structure and evidence sequencing, lighter on punchy action-titles - most slide titles still describe the topic rather than state the insight.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 48p
78%
Barclays · 2024
unlocking the uk s tech talent potential
A Barclays Eagle Labs research/content-marketing report that loosely follows the Consultant's Gambit (situation -> problem -> approach -> evidence -> CTA) but functions primarily as a data-rich industry scan; alignment with Storymakers is moderate - strong on concrete data, segmentation and case-study proof, weaker on action-titled slides and an explicit recommendation.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 32p
70%
Barclays · 2021
barclays global credit bureau forum v30
Investor-day deck where each business unit (Health, Auto, NA CI, NA CS, Brazil) repeats a mini Consultant's Gambit (context->opportunity->strategy->evidence->takeaways) — partial Storymakers alignment via clear action titles and benchmark/before-after loops, but the macro arc is sectional rather than a single sustained narrative.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 66p
65%
Barclays · 2023
mercury rising
A research-led Barclays industry report that cleanly hits the Consultant's Gambit beats (situation, complication, solution, proof, strategies) but with weak loop discipline — most pages are standalone trend essays plus a chart, and the closing 'Strategies for success' pillars do the recommendation work that a tighter Storymakers deck would build into the body.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 23p
78%
Barclays · 2024
barclays disruptive technologies conference bayer crop science handout 2024.06.11
A polished IR/conference handout that broadly tracks the Consultant's Gambit (challenge → leadership context → pipeline solution → quantified evidence → regen-ag impact) and is rich on action-titled slides, MECE pipeline breakdowns and side-by-side contrast pairs — but skips a sharp single Complication moment and leans on proprietary R&D frameworks rather than canonical consulting ones.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 20p
78%
Barclays · 2024
barclays global credit 2024
Strong Consultant's Gambit alignment at the macro level with crisp action titles and recurrent voice-of-customer, benchmark-gap, three-pillar and before-after loops; weakened by a long Ascend platform stretch (p.8-16) of mostly chrome slides and sections where evidence/proof is interleaved rather than concentrated.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 65p
78%