[Your Project] | Memo/Recommendation

Situation

💡 Tip: This should answer the questions, “Where are we now? How did we get here?” State the points the audience may already know, but in a sequence that is organized and easy to digest. Typical situations are “we have a task to perform”, “we identified a problem”, “we pursued an opportunity” and “we took an action”.

Complication

💡 Tip: This should continue the story and answer the questions, “What happened next? Why are we facing a challenge / roadblock?” If the audience is not in the know, this could also include the discovery of the problem, the identification of the root causes, and the projected impact should the root causes not be addressed. Some complications include “we encountered a roadblock,” “we uncovered new information”, “a different path emerged” and “the action we took didn’t work”.

Question

💡 Tip: This should answer the question “What are you trying to solve?” Be as explicit as you can.

Recommendation

💡 Tip: This is your key point. Be sure to define the supporting arguments that, together, lead to your recommendation. Depending on the complexity of the topic, this may also include supporting data that back up your logic. Preparing your pitch for each option ahead of time proves that you have weighed reasonable alternatives prior to presenting them.

Next Steps

💡 Tip: This may include (a) what needs to be done (b) how it will be done (c) when it will be done, and (d) by whom it will be done. Moreover, this should include concrete milestones by which progress & success will be measured.