Recommendation Decks and Deliverable Formatting

The Deck as a Structured Argument

A consulting recommendation deck is not a report — it is a structured argument designed to lead an audience from shared understanding to a specific decision. Every slide has a role. Every title advances the narrative. The audience should reach the recommendation feeling it is the logical, inevitable conclusion of the evidence presented.

The Storyline Framework

PROMPT TEMPLATE: Recommendation Deck Storyline

I am building a recommendation deck for [client/audience].

PROJECT SUMMARY:
- Key question: [what was the client trying to answer?]
- Recommendation: [what we recommend]
- Supporting arguments: [3-4 key reasons]
- Key evidence: [most compelling data points]
- Expected impact: [quantified benefits]
- Investment required: [cost, effort, timeline]
- Key risks: [top 2-3 risks and mitigants]

Generate a deck storyline with the following structure:

SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (1-2 slides)
- Slide 1: Recommendation with headline and 3-4 supporting
  bullet points
- Slide 2 (optional): Impact summary — what success looks like

SECTION 2: SITUATION (2-3 slides)
- Establish shared understanding of the current state
- Key metrics that define today's reality
- What prompted this project / what has changed

SECTION 3: ANALYSIS (4-6 slides)
- Each slide presents one argument supporting the recommendation
- Each follows: Action Title → Evidence → Implication
- Build the case step by step, each slide adding a layer

SECTION 4: RECOMMENDATION (2-3 slides)
- Full recommendation with specifics (what, who, when, how much)
- Implementation roadmap with phases and milestones
- Expected outcomes with metrics and timeline