Story Framework

Situation-Complication-Resolution

McKinsey-style structure that builds tension before delivering insights.

Beat Diagram

  1. 1Situationagenda / text
  2. 2Complicationmatrix-quadrant / text
  3. 3Questiontitle-left / text
  4. 4Answerroadmap / text

Use Situation-Complication-Reso… in your next deck — for free

STORYD writes a presentation around your topic and applies Situation-Complication-Reso… across every slide. No template hunting, no copy-paste.

OPF Config

narratives:situation-complication-resolution
Open Presentation Format
{
  "$schema": "https://pptx.dev/schema/opf/v1",
  "version": "1.0",
  "meta": {
    "title": "PPTX.gallery — narratives/situation-complication-resolution",
    "narrative": {
      "id": "situation-complication-resolution"
    }
  },
  "design": {},
  "slides": [
    {
      "id": "gallery-preview-1",
      "layout": "title-slide",
      "elements": []
    }
  ]
}
Open in OPF Playground

Preview this config live at pptx.dev/playground.

Pace

4-10 slides

5-20 minutes

4 baseline beat slides

Audience Fit

Senior leadershipConsultantsStrategy teams

Tone

Logical - builds a tight causal chain from context to recommendation.

Best For

Strategy presentations, consulting decks, analytical reports

Example Deck Types

Management consulting report, Strategic recommendation, Board update

Example

Establish the current context, introduce the challenge or change, pose the key question, then deliver your recommendation.

Beat-by-Beat Guide

1

Situation

Set the scene with relevant background and context everyone agrees on.

Instruction: State the shared context the audience already accepts.

2

Complication

Introduce what has changed or what challenge has emerged.

Instruction: Introduce the change, risk, or tension.

3

Question

Articulate the key question that the complication raises.

Instruction: Frame the decision question raised by the complication.

4

Answer

Deliver your recommendation or insight that resolves the question.

Instruction: Deliver the recommendation that resolves the question.

Recommended Pairings