Story Framework

SCQA (Situation–Complication–Question–Answer)

Barbara Minto's pyramid-principle arc: surface the recommendation up front, then layer key arguments and supporting evidence beneath it. The default for executive memos, strategic recommendations, and consulting decks where the audience needs the answer fast.

Beat Diagram

1Situation
2Complication
3Key Question
4Answertitle
5Key Arguments
6Supporting Evidence

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OPF Config

narratives:scqa

Open Presentation Format

{
  "$schema": "https://openpresentation.org/schema/opf/v1",
  "name": "PPTX.gallery — narratives/scqa",
  "narrative": "scqa",
  "tags": [
    "gallery:narratives/scqa"
  ],
  "slides": [
    {
      "id": "gallery-preview-1",
      "layout": "title-slide",
      "title": "Narrative preview",
      "subtitle": "Storyline scaffolded by the \"scqa\" narrative.",
      "design": {
        "contentBox": false,
        "contentAlignment": "center",
        "titleAlignment": "center"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Open in OPF Playground Open in visual editor

Preview this config live at pptx.dev/playground, or load it in the gallery visual editor.

View registry.json

Pace

5-20 minutes

6 beats

Audience Fit

executivesboardsleadership-teams

Beat-by-Beat Guide

Situation

Establish the shared context: what is true today that the audience already agrees on. State only facts the audience accepts without argument. The goal is alignment, not persuasion — you are setting the stage.

Complication

Introduce the disturbance to the situation: what changed, what is at risk, what is no longer working. This is the tension that makes the audience lean in. Be specific and quantify the change where possible.

Key Question

Surface the question the complication forces the audience to answer. Frame it explicitly — 'Should we…?', 'How do we…?', 'What changes if…?'. The question should feel inevitable given the complication.

Answer

Deliver the recommendation in a single sentence, up front. No arguments yet, no caveats — just the conclusion the rest of the deck will defend. This is the apex of the Minto pyramid; everything that follows supports it.

Key Arguments

Lay out the two or three top-level reasons the answer is correct. One slide per argument, or one summary slide naming all of them. Each argument should stand alone as a compelling reason; together they should be exhaustive of the case.

Supporting Evidence

Present the data, examples, and case studies that ground each argument. Pyramid-principle style: every claim above is backed by something verifiable here. Cite sources; show the numbers; let the evidence carry the weight.