Executive communication
Issue, impact, recommendation, decision
Structure communication around the decision that is actually needed.
The shape
- Issue
- Impact
- Recommendation
- Decision
Why that order
It ends on a clearly defined decision need, which is the part people leave off. A briefing with no ask leaves the senior person to invent one.
A worked example
- Issue
- The vendor contract expires next month.
- Impact
- Switching now creates transition risk.
- Recommendation
- Extend for six months.
- Decision
- I need approval to proceed with the extension.
Used in
Where this shape does its work in a real situation.
- 104Raising an issue
- 130Escalation
- 171Issue escalation
- 178Escalation email
Mostly serves Message, and reaches into Intent.
A framework tells you what shape the answer takes. It cannot tell you whether shape is what you are short of, and for most people it is not. Which one is yours, and whether a framework is the right instrument at all, is what a Discovery Call is for.
Take the AssessmentOr read the whole glossary first.