As someone who did an MBA and was groomed to be a Consultant and then repented (now a software engineer) you have to understand that the customer of a consultancy project is an exec.

1. The exec has been charged with exploring a new product space, a potential M&A deal, more vertical integration etc etc

2. The exec needs a gauge on the "size of the prize", is this thing worth doing? roughly how will it be done? how long etc.

3. The exec probably already has a rough idea or gut feeling about one such option

4. The consultants produce something that usually supports the gut feeling, other times it will suggest alternatives and provide some facts and figures to support