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
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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
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%
Barclays · 2024
barclays americas select franchise conference final 5 8 24
Citizens Financial Group's IR deck loosely follows a Consultant's Gambit shape (situation → industry pressures → outperformance → segment proof → investment thesis), with strong action-titling and disciplined peer-benchmark visuals, but the 'problem' beat is soft (typical of investor pitches) and the deck does not deploy named consulting frameworks like SCQA, MECE or Pyramid explicitly.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 24p
78%
Barclays · 2018
barclays ceo energy power conference 2018
Standard investor-conference narrative that hits the Consultant's Gambit beats cleanly (situation, market opportunity, solutions, proof, takeaways) and uses several Storymakers techniques (action titles, concrete numerals, small multiples, callback synthesis), but rarely sharpens slides into bold insight headlines and leans on dashboard density rather than guided story.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 32p
80%
Barclays · 2023
The J M Smucker Co 2023 Barclays Presentation
Corporate investor-day deck (JM Smucker at Barclays), not a true consulting deck — loosely traces a Consultant's Gambit (context → growth levers → financial proof) but skips real complication, leans declarative, and uses build-up + before/after as its strongest analytical loops with a peer-benchmark TSR table as payoff.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 45p
70%
Barclays · 2019
SUBC Barclays 2019 F.pdf.downloadasset
Subsea 7 IR deck follows a textbook Consultant's Gambit minus the explicit problem beat: capabilities and segments establish context, alliance case studies provide proof, and macro charts argue the cyclical window is opening. Strong on action titles for outlook slides (p15) and segmentation discipline (p5-8); weaker on narrative tension since the downturn is acknowledged only obliquely.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 20p
65%
Barclays · 2024
Retail resilience report
Moderate Storymakers alignment: a strong custom framework (RRF) and disciplined small-multiples evidence carry most of the load, but the deck reverses problem/solution sequencing (framework appears before risk diagnosis), action titles are mostly topic labels rather than insights, and the close substitutes a synthesis snapshot for a sharp call-to-action.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 18p
70%
Barclays · 2022
PR Barclays Presentation 9.06.22 FINAL Update
Solid investor-conference deck that loosely tracks the Consultant's Gambit (track record -> rationale -> plan -> proof -> thesis) but skips an explicit problem framing and leans on standard IR conventions (peer-bar charts, KPI grids, waterfall, maturity stack) rather than named consulting frameworks. Storymakers alignment is moderate: clear action titles and Von-Restorff highlighting on benchmarks, but no SCQA setup, no narrative arc, and the closing summary substitutes for a true call to action.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 22p
72%
Barclays · 2017
Investment Community Presentation Barclays Energy Conference
Classic investor pitch with strong Pyramid/Action-Title discipline and a clean MECE walk through asset platforms, but the Storymakers complication beat is weak (no real tension, only stacked positives), so the arc reads as AIDA wrapped in consultant aesthetics rather than a true Consultant's Gambit.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 24p
72%
Barclays · 2017
Essity Barclays Consumer Staples Conference 2017 tcm339 48081
Standard equity-IR deck for Essity at Barclays - follows the Consultant's Gambit shell loosely (context -> trends -> strategy -> KPI proof -> takeaways) but uses topic titles rather than insight titles and has no real complication, so Storymakers alignment is moderate. Strong execution on visual chunking, small multiples and credibility-transfer through brand logos.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 23p
60%
Barclays · 2023
EFX+ +Barclays+Credit+Bureau+Day+Presentation+2023
Equifax Investor Day update at Barclays — loosely follows the Consultant's Gambit (context+complication on p2, solution arc on p3-8, financial proof on p9, resilience evidence in the appendix), but the macro complication is back-loaded into p13 rather than threaded up front, weakening the SCQA tension. Strong execution at the slide layer: every page uses an action title and a red so-what callout bar with consistent colour coding and small-multiples across financial charts.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 13p
70%
Barclays · 2023
Barclays+Investor+Presentation+vFINAL
A reasonably Storymakers-aligned investor deck: it nails the Consultant's Gambit shape (situation -> disconnect -> proof -> unlock plan) and uses action titles plus consistent color-coded segmentation, but the appendix-heavy second half reverts to topical titles and dense tables that drop most narrative tools.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 20p
78%
Barclays · 2023
Barclays Q32023 FI Presentation
Classic bank fixed-income IR deck: thematically segmented MECE walk through performance, asset quality, capital, funding and ratings. Action titles, benchmark-gap framing and authority-bias from rating agencies align loosely with Storymakers, but it's primarily an evidence-stacking document rather than a narratively arced consulting story.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 45p
60%
Barclays · 2023
Barclays H12023 Results Presentation
A polished investor-relations earnings deck that maps loosely onto The Consultant's Gambit (CEO context, CFO evidence, Outlook close), with strong adherence to action-titles and so-what callouts on nearly every analytical slide, but limited narrative tension or SCQA structuring — it is a results review rather than a problem-solution argument.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 52p
70%
Barclays · 2018
Barclays Investor Presentation 2018
A polished investor deck that loosely mirrors the Consultant's Gambit (context -> strategy -> proof -> impact) but skips a true 'complication'; it leans on a textbook 2x2 portfolio matrix, brand-by-brand segmentation, and a clean financial cascade - strong on action titles and visual hierarchy, light on Storymakers-style narrative tension.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 60p
70%
Barclays · 2023
Barclays Global Financial Services Conference 2023
Truist's Barclays IR deck broadly tracks the Consultant's Gambit (purpose -> 5-pillar plan -> proof -> TSR impact) and uses cleanly Storymakers-aligned tools (action titles, MECE 5-pillar chunking, before/after donuts, callback closer), though the 'complication' beat is implicit and most slides stop short of true insight headlines.
The Consultant's Gambit
· 14p
75%