Power Point Story Telling - Competitive Intelligence2024-03-28T22:30:56Zhttp://competitiveintelligence.ning.com/forum/topics/power-point-story-telling?commentId=2036441%3AComment%3A28081&feed=yes&xn_auth=noBook tip: "The Storyboard App…tag:competitiveintelligence.ning.com,2009-11-13:2036441:Comment:282732009-11-13T11:54:17.919ZHenrique Sanahttp://competitiveintelligence.ning.com/profile/HenriqueSana
Book tip: "The Storyboard Approach" - deMarcel Dunand Kerry Choun
Book tip: "The Storyboard Approach" - deMarcel Dunand Kerry Choun This is an excellent book by…tag:competitiveintelligence.ning.com,2009-11-09:2036441:Comment:282192009-11-09T20:08:18.859ZGraeme Dixonhttp://competitiveintelligence.ning.com/profile/GraemeDixon
This is an excellent book by a friend of mine. He is an excellent presenter <a href="http://www.dan-terry.co.uk">www.dan-terry.co.uk</a><br />
I have learned so much from him in terms of engaging with the audience.
This is an excellent book by a friend of mine. He is an excellent presenter <a href="http://www.dan-terry.co.uk">www.dan-terry.co.uk</a><br />
I have learned so much from him in terms of engaging with the audience. Interesting. I have always us…tag:competitiveintelligence.ning.com,2009-11-03:2036441:Comment:280942009-11-03T17:03:47.391ZRobert J Steelehttp://competitiveintelligence.ning.com/profile/RobertJSteele
Interesting. I have always used Power Point and more recently tried using Keynote. I like the idea of using these tools to tell the story, but I can't tell you how many times I have seen a bullet based presentation, that is revealed line by line and which the presenter then reads. Arghhhh...infuriating!<br />
<br />
I tend to create a timed presentation blending images, charts and text and then talk over the presentation as it rolls in the background. My speech rarely, if ever, uses any of the key terms in…
Interesting. I have always used Power Point and more recently tried using Keynote. I like the idea of using these tools to tell the story, but I can't tell you how many times I have seen a bullet based presentation, that is revealed line by line and which the presenter then reads. Arghhhh...infuriating!<br />
<br />
I tend to create a timed presentation blending images, charts and text and then talk over the presentation as it rolls in the background. My speech rarely, if ever, uses any of the key terms in the presentation, and I deliver the whole thing a an unfolding storyboard.<br />
<br />
I was recently introduced to a company in the UK called Article10, and they do interesting things with Power Point, although I am yet to meet them face to face! Besides competitive intellige…tag:competitiveintelligence.ning.com,2009-11-03:2036441:Comment:280812009-11-03T14:18:48.072ZAndrei Iordachehttp://competitiveintelligence.ning.com/profile/AndreiIordache
Besides competitive intelligence, I am also interested in information design and visualization. Hence, this topic is quite a treat for my eyes.<br />
<br />
We are using both PowerPoint and Word for our deliverables and I have to say that PP is meant for presentations not documents / reports.<br />
<br />
However, there are a few tricks we're using in PP.<br />
1.) Minimalistic template<br />
--> suitable for slide decks<br />
--> printer friendly<br />
2.) Clear Document Structure and Transition Slides<br />
--> time saving<br />
--> user…
Besides competitive intelligence, I am also interested in information design and visualization. Hence, this topic is quite a treat for my eyes.<br />
<br />
We are using both PowerPoint and Word for our deliverables and I have to say that PP is meant for presentations not documents / reports.<br />
<br />
However, there are a few tricks we're using in PP.<br />
1.) Minimalistic template<br />
--> suitable for slide decks<br />
--> printer friendly<br />
2.) Clear Document Structure and Transition Slides<br />
--> time saving<br />
--> user friendly navigating<br />
3.) No animation<br />
--> No really. No animation in decks. Only for presentations<br />
4.) Links within same document<br />
--> time saving<br />
--> user friendly navigating<br />
<br />
In my opinion, there's a bigger issue than PP slide decks and PP story telling. It's the story and it's structure. For this we're using mind maps and business frameworks such as 4Ps or 5 forces model.<br />
<br />
Hope this helps. Thanks everyone for the insig…tag:competitiveintelligence.ning.com,2009-11-02:2036441:Comment:280512009-11-02T04:06:10.739ZJosianne Gros-Louishttp://competitiveintelligence.ning.com/profile/JosianneGrosLouis
Thanks everyone for the insightful discussion!<br />
<br />
As Ken did when he was at Deloitte, our company, Capitalis, uses PowerPoint as an end deliverable to present complex information in a "consummable manner". We understand that most of our clients are busy executives who don't have time to sit down and read through a wordy and conventional word document. We find that PowerPoint can be a very effective tool to deliver key insights in a graphical and interesting way. Our slides are usually a…
Thanks everyone for the insightful discussion!<br />
<br />
As Ken did when he was at Deloitte, our company, Capitalis, uses PowerPoint as an end deliverable to present complex information in a "consummable manner". We understand that most of our clients are busy executives who don't have time to sit down and read through a wordy and conventional word document. We find that PowerPoint can be a very effective tool to deliver key insights in a graphical and interesting way. Our slides are usually a combination of text, graphics, images and powerful chart. Our reports - which we also call "deck" - are meant to be "standalone" report meaning that a client should be able to read it and understand the key insights from research without having us in the room to brief them.<br />
<br />
Therefore I would agree with Ken that PowerPoint can effectively be used as a tool for a written report but that if it is, then it should be written in a very different manner than what would be used to present/brief clients. The two are indeed completely different. Hi, MelanieW. Great question!…tag:competitiveintelligence.ning.com,2009-10-30:2036441:Comment:279402009-10-30T00:28:15.166ZMelaniehttp://competitiveintelligence.ning.com/profile/Melanie
Hi, MelanieW. Great question!. I spend a lot of time in PowerPoint and sometimes wonder why.<br />
<br />
Across the market research and competitive intelligence teams at my company, we worked hard at communications in general. But specifically on the slide decks that report the findings of any project. Each project has its own deck with key takeaways or learnings, supported by primary and/or secondary evidence. Then a separate, brief (less than 10 page) companion deck called the Executive Summary. Every…
Hi, MelanieW. Great question!. I spend a lot of time in PowerPoint and sometimes wonder why.<br />
<br />
Across the market research and competitive intelligence teams at my company, we worked hard at communications in general. But specifically on the slide decks that report the findings of any project. Each project has its own deck with key takeaways or learnings, supported by primary and/or secondary evidence. Then a separate, brief (less than 10 page) companion deck called the Executive Summary. Every Executive Summary has a Purpose, Scope/Methodology followed by Key Findings and is required to have specific Implications and Recommendations. That's what adds value and makes the project actionable. Implications and Recommendations tell the reader why its important and what to do. Also make it more meaningful.<br />
<br />
We tend to assume that many people are too busy to read all the detail. Perhaps these people miss the richness, to your point. However, if we get them to read the Executive Summary, they'll take action and know why they should do so.<br />
<br />
Lots of practitioners bundle the decks togther. Sometimes the few findings that you want anyone to remember (the trees) or the recommendations get lost in the supporting details (the forest).<br />
<br />
Richness also comes from using multiple methdologies that either converge or contrast with one another. I'd say different end-product…tag:competitiveintelligence.ning.com,2009-10-28:2036441:Comment:278372009-10-28T08:06:29.336ZMoe Malumohttp://competitiveintelligence.ning.com/profile/MoeMalumo
I'd say different end-product settings would call for different types of story-telling. The old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words still stands and I'm a great believer in propagating the use of graphical and other other visual representations in PowerPoint slide packs. So I tend to use pictures quite a lot and usually spend a fair bit of time doing the oral story-telling if I'm presenting in person. If not in person I include the famous disclaimer "this presentation is incomplete…
I'd say different end-product settings would call for different types of story-telling. The old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words still stands and I'm a great believer in propagating the use of graphical and other other visual representations in PowerPoint slide packs. So I tend to use pictures quite a lot and usually spend a fair bit of time doing the oral story-telling if I'm presenting in person. If not in person I include the famous disclaimer "this presentation is incomplete without the accompanying oral commentary" and invite my audience to get in touch with me to clarify any uncertainties in the presentation. The issue is less about wheth…tag:competitiveintelligence.ning.com,2009-10-19:2036441:Comment:275152009-10-19T13:37:11.696ZKen Sawkahttp://competitiveintelligence.ning.com/profile/KenSawka
The issue is less about whether PowerPoint is an adequate tool for written end deliverables, but the differences between structuring a briefing/presentation vs a written report. When I was at Deloitte, all our written deliverables were in PowerPoint, but for the deliverables that we were not also presenting, I essentially used PowerPoint more like it was Word. That is, my slides (pages) were text heavy, and I leveraged PowerPoint's graphics capabilities to create a visually appealing report…
The issue is less about whether PowerPoint is an adequate tool for written end deliverables, but the differences between structuring a briefing/presentation vs a written report. When I was at Deloitte, all our written deliverables were in PowerPoint, but for the deliverables that we were not also presenting, I essentially used PowerPoint more like it was Word. That is, my slides (pages) were text heavy, and I leveraged PowerPoint's graphics capabilities to create a visually appealing report that was a combination of text, text boxes, graphs, images, and other eye candy. So PowerPoint (or today, for me, Keynote - thanks for the plug Tim) can be a perfectly adequate tool for a written report - you just need to not create PowerPoint documents for written end deliverables that resemble a PowerPoint deliverable that would accompany a briefing or presentation. The two are completely different. Good points, Melanie.
It my…tag:competitiveintelligence.ning.com,2009-10-18:2036441:Comment:275012009-10-18T16:52:39.992ZTim Powellhttp://competitiveintelligence.ning.com/profile/TimPowell
Good points, Melanie.<br />
<br />
It my experience decision makers might be asking for INFORMATION, but what they really want is INSIGHT into their strategic or tactical business problem. Failing to understand (and act on) this distinction is one of the top mistakes I see intelligence people making.<br />
<br />
How do I know? -- I've been guilty it myself!<br />
<br />
I have a client that, like your client, tried making their internal intelligence reports look like investment reports, and found it vey successful. Why did that…
Good points, Melanie.<br />
<br />
It my experience decision makers might be asking for INFORMATION, but what they really want is INSIGHT into their strategic or tactical business problem. Failing to understand (and act on) this distinction is one of the top mistakes I see intelligence people making.<br />
<br />
How do I know? -- I've been guilty it myself!<br />
<br />
I have a client that, like your client, tried making their internal intelligence reports look like investment reports, and found it vey successful. Why did that work? It's a Wall Street-driven company, their top people pay very close attention to what the Street is saying about them and their peers. As a result, securities analyst reports are familiar to them, they understand how they work and what is where.<br />
<br />
Wall Street research as a discipline is nearly a century old -- pioneered by the original Merrill Lynch as a way to differentiate themselves from other brokerage firms, then widely imitated -- so they've had plenty of time to work out the kinks. It's a good model for intelligence people to study, learn from -- and IMPROVE upon.<br />
<br />
Bear in mind, though that this research -- as good as some of it is -- is only ONE way that Wall Street communicates with their clients. It's kind of their "mass communication" vehicle, but they also use more targeted communications that are deal- and client-specific, especially with their largest and most important clients. They're on the phone, pitching ideas, talking to people.<br />
<br />
And, yes, many of their "deal books" are in PowerPoint. Very good thoughts, Tim.
The…tag:competitiveintelligence.ning.com,2009-10-06:2036441:Comment:272842009-10-06T19:35:33.308ZMelanie Winghttp://competitiveintelligence.ning.com/profile/MelanieWing
Very good thoughts, Tim.<br />
<br />
The ongoing challenge is that the reality of most corporate practitioner roles is that the communication is a static Powerpoint presentation that needs to convey both the big picture and the details-- That can be for specific project related deliverables or awareness creation (i.e. intelligence briefings). Different companies have different communication protocols and in my experience much of it comes down to PowerPoint. We try to actually present our findings, but…
Very good thoughts, Tim.<br />
<br />
The ongoing challenge is that the reality of most corporate practitioner roles is that the communication is a static Powerpoint presentation that needs to convey both the big picture and the details-- That can be for specific project related deliverables or awareness creation (i.e. intelligence briefings). Different companies have different communication protocols and in my experience much of it comes down to PowerPoint. We try to actually present our findings, but they often only reach a small audience in that form. I personally believe discussion is the most actionable intelligence deliverable--where users are most likely to integrate the intelligence into their decision-making, often times not even realizing that they are doing it. But (at least in my world) this is the exception, not the rule, for delivering insights.<br />
<br />
I have read lots of books about PowerPoint presentations and presenting data etc. etc. and have seen my fair share of BCG, McKinsey, Deloitte, Accenture etc. etc. etc. consulting presentations. I think there are some common practices that help tell a more impactful story, even if its a static PowerPoint presentation.<br />
<br />
For example. story-boarding and planning is an important part of thinking through what you want to say and the messages you want to get across. I have seen (read been guilty of) writing CI briefings using PowerPoint, not having thought through what I want the reader to walk away with or what action I want them to take and then remarkably being frustrated by the fact that no action came from the intelligence.<br />
<br />
We have also decided to take a break from PowerPoint and actually write some of our reports. We are using a format that is similar to an investment analyst report and our readers seem to like it.<br />
<br />
I love the thoughts being share here. Let's keep it up!