As a consulting firm leader, you’re well aware that within every client presentation longer than 30 minutes, every white paper, and every compendium of content beefier than 20 pages, you’re required to present at least one 2×2 matrix. Failure to do so could cost you your consulting license.
This was brought to my attention by readers who were concerned that yours truly had not presented enough 2×2 matrix diagrams recently, and that I could be in danger of losing my membership in the SSCCC.*
Your consulting firm probably relies on a couple of tried-and-true 2x2s; however, are you using the best 2×2 matrix?
The most famous 2×2 among consultants may be BCG’s Growth Share Matrix. While it’s not a particularly useful 2×2 for building a consulting firm, it’s arguably the genesis of the 2×2 matrix requirement in consulting and, therefore, can be blamed for all manner of evil.
The most widely referenced 2×2 matrix these days may be Gartner’s Magic Quadrant, so-named because it magically helped Gartner become a large consulting firm.
What’s the best 2×2 matrix? That’s open for debate, of course.
A handful of my favorite 2x2s related to running a successful consulting firm are shown below.
Great 2x2s for Consulting Firm Leaders
Please share your favorite 2×2 matrix in the comments section below.
(If you send an email to “support at davidafields.com” with a good image of your 2×2, we’ll add it to your comment, as long as it’s not promotional.)
Text and images are © 2025 David A. Fields, all rights reserved.
I do love a good self-referential chart, so I will go with that!
Yes, those charts are right up there with self-referential comments. (Like this one.) I appreciate you kicking off the comments today, John!
Brilliant! Love it!
Why, thank you, Mr. Prus! It amused my sons, and isn’t the goal of most consulting firm leaders to entertain their offspring? (Or maybe I’m confusing consulting with another profession.) Thanks for posting your reaction, Mark.
To illustrate the power of control charts, Pareto charts and histograms, I made the horizontal axis: Dumb->Smart and the vertical axis Information->Action.
In the bottom left quartile, I put images of line, bar and pie charts–the three stooges of charts–charts that struggled with math. In the top right quadrant I put images of control charts, Pareto charts and histograms–charts that went to college and took statistics so that you don’t have to.
Well, usher me to the corner and hand me my pointy hat, because I use bar charts and pie charts frequently. (I also eat bars and pies frequently, so maybe it has less to do with intelligence and more to do with how appetizing the chart types are.)
Thanks for posting your 2×2, Jay!
Jay — 10 thumbs up !!! The practical side of conceptual.
This is right on target for helping many of my clients’ managers and executives but I’ll need to modify the labels …
Yes, a few language modifications will make this a helpful 2×2. I’m glad you can make use of Jay’s contribution!
Thanks for being so funny and making me laugh, every time!
Hooray for some levity, joy and smiles during our day! You improved my day by posting your reaction, Catherine. 😃
Amusing and insightful, as your pieces always are. Thanks David.
When we can learn, we grow. When we can learn and have fun simultaneously, we grow happily. I’m glad the combo worked for you today, Andy.