Diagram of Arguments

Hopefully, when you approach a strategic challenge, you’ll start this problem solving exercise by developing an issue tree, defining the various options, identifying the analyses necessary to support potential solutions, and then come up with a story line that reflects your issue tree and your findings. Standard problem solving approach that all consulting firms will teach you.

Sometimes you just have to present part of your issue tree in a presentation. It may not be the final presentation, but it may be a good way to get feedback from people on whether you have covered the critical areas. One way to do this is with a chart such as this “Diagram of Arguments” below.

You’ll take your key strategic challenge, list two or three potential solutions, a number of the critical arguments (both pro and con), as well as the supporting facts you have gathered so far. If you are 25% into your project, you should have gathered the relevant information to pull this together, and use it in additional interviews to test your hypotheses and make sure you didn’t miss anything.