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Attached is an overview of structuring analysis and a presentation. How to structure the analysis and how to create the story line. It is a brief excerpt from an Analytics Training provided by the SBA. Provided courtesy of the SBA.

Structure the Presentation

Communicate the analysis

Synthesize and Develop

Recommendations

Lessons Two step process – “Structure the Presentation”:

• Structure the management question (using an Issue True)

• Organize the issues into buckets

• Anticipate the data and analyses that will answer the questions

• Build a story line (using a “Ghost Deck”)

• Plan the work to be done

• Align with managers on direction before investing the time

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Structure the Presentation

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While developing the ‘Issue Tree’ to structure issues, we might consider two principles to answer ALL and the most RELEVANT

questions

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…and keep digging deeper (ask “So-What?” or “Why?”) to ensure

the issues are relevant

Example: Why is my credit card bill increasing?

Be “Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive” (MECE)

to identify all issues…

Example: How can I save money for a vacation?

Structure the Presentation

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How can I save money for a vacation?

Spend less money

Earn more money

Questions and analyses to consider

Can I earn more interest on existing income?(can I invest in stocks/funds instead of checking account)

Can I earn new income?(can I sell garage items by having a yard sale)

Can I buy cheaper items (substitute to cheaper items or existing items cheaply)?(coffee machine, not Starbucks; shop at discount stores)

Can I buy fewer items? (spend less on gas by driving at 55 mph on the highway?)

Be “Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive” (MECE) to identify all issues

1 Structure the Presentation: Organize the Issues

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Example:

Why is my credit card bill increasing?

• Because my food and drink expenses are increasing….why?

• Because I’m eating out more at restaurants….why?

• Because I don’t have time to go grocery shopping….so?

• I might order Safeway delivery to reduce food expenses.

Apply this questioning process to break down issue tree

How do you know if you are MECE?Keep digging deeper (ask “So-What?” or “Why?”) to ensure all the relevant issues are surfaced.

1 Structure the Presentation: Anticipate the Analyses

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Situation ComplicationsOptions to Consider

Depending on the purpose, a senior management presentation might include the following components

Inform a Decision

Problem(s) to address

Recommendations & Rationale

Implementation Plan

Build a proposal

Purpose Potential Considerations

Reason for Action (or context)

Actions Taken Results AchievedShowcase a

Success

2 Build the Story-line

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Slide 1: Summary

• Situation

• Analyses of recent trends

• Options to Consider

Slide 2: Situation

• History of Issue

• Background/Context of Problem

• Key Questions to be answered:

A, B, and C

Slide 3: Trends on Question A

Slide 4: Trends on Question B Slide 5: Trends on Question C Slide 6: Options to Consider & Recommendations

Data and so what?

Data and so what?

Data and so what?

• Management should consider X, Y, and Z, and why?

• Actions steps to be taken: 1, 2, and 3

Presentation Tip:Outline the component pieces, and test with colleagues before going through the actual

work

2 Example Story-line

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