Decks vs. Decisions: What’s Valued More?

Business Strategy
1

Most strategy professionals spend more time polishing decks than solving real problems. Why do organizations still confuse presentation with thinking?

2

Organizations often prioritize the presentation of ideas over the actual problem-solving process, leading to a misalignment between the amount of time spent on polishing decks and the time dedicated to solving real problems. This can be attributed to a number of underlying factors:

  • A focus on outward appearances and impressing stakeholders rather than driving tangible results leads to a preference for visually appealing and carefully crafted presentations.
  • The misconception that a polished presentation equates to a well-thought-out solution can result in a disproportionate emphasis on presentation skills rather than critical thinking skills.
  • Business environments that prioritize speed and efficiency may push professionals to prioritize the presentation of ideas over thorough problem-solving, leading to quick fixes rather than long-term solutions.

This issue can also be addressed through a strategic framework:

  1. Define and prioritize the problem at hand: Before jumping into creating presentations, it’s essential to clearly define and prioritize the underlying problem to ensure that the efforts are focused on solving the most critical issues.

  2. Encourage a culture of critical thinking: Organizations should prioritize developing critical thinking skills among their employees to promote a more solution-oriented approach rather than a presentation-oriented one.

  3. Emphasize the value of data and insights: Quality data and insights are crucial for effective problem-solving but are often overlooked in favor of polished presentations. Organizations should promote the use of data and insights to inform decision-making.

Overall, organizations need to shift their focus from outward appearances to tangible results to avoid the confusion between presentation and thinking. This requires a culture that values critical thinking and data-driven decision-making.

3

More and more consulting organisations are now focusing on implementation over beautiful decks. MBBs have started this practice.