PPTX.gallery

Story Framework

Situation-Complication-Resolution

A McKinsey-style structure that builds tension before delivering the insight. Establish the context everyone already agrees on, introduce what has changed or what challenge has emerged, name the key question that change raises, then deliver the recommendation that resolves it. The tone is logical: a tight causal chain from context to recommendation. Best for strategy presentations, consulting decks, and analytical reports; typical decks run 4-10 slides (management consulting report, strategic recommendation, board update).

Beat Diagram

  1. 1Situationlist / list
  2. 2Complicationtwo-column / text
  3. 3Questionstatement / text
  4. 4Answertimeline / timeline

OPF Config

narratives:situation-complication-resolution
OPF JSON
{
  "$schema": "https://openpresentation.org/schema/opf/v1",
  "name": "PPTX.gallery — narratives/situation-complication-resolution",
  "narrative": "situation-complication-resolution",
  "tags": [
    "gallery:narratives/situation-complication-resolution"
  ],
  "slides": [
    {
      "id": "gallery-preview-1",
      "layout": "text",
      "title": "Narrative preview",
      "subtitle": "Storyline scaffolded by the \"situation-complication-resolution\" narrative."
    }
  ],
  "catalogs": {
    "default": {
      "source": "https://www.pptx.gallery",
      "narratives": {
        "situation-complication-resolution": {
          "name": "Situation-Complication-Resolution",
          "summary": "McKinsey-style structure that builds tension before delivering insights.",
          "description": "A McKinsey-style structure that builds tension before delivering the insight. Establish the context everyone already agrees on, introduce what has changed or what challenge has emerged, name the key question that change raises, then deliver the recommendation that resolves it. The tone is logical: a tight causal chain from context to recommendation. Best for strategy presentations, consulting decks, and analytical reports; typical decks run 4-10 slides (management consulting report, strategic recommendation, board update).",
          "audienceFit": [
            "senior-leadership",
            "consultants",
            "strategy-teams"
          ],
          "duration": {
            "min": 5,
            "max": 20
          },
          "tags": [
            "strategy",
            "consulting",
            "minto",
            "recommendation"
          ],
          "beats": [
            {
              "id": "situation",
              "name": "Situation",
              "description": "Set the scene with relevant background and context everyone agrees on.",
              "instructions": "State the shared context the audience already accepts.",
              "type": "list",
              "layout": "list"
            },
            {
              "id": "complication",
              "name": "Complication",
              "description": "Introduce what has changed or what challenge has emerged.",
              "instructions": "Introduce the change, risk, or tension.",
              "type": "text",
              "layout": "two-column"
            },
            {
              "id": "question",
              "name": "Question",
              "description": "Articulate the key question that the complication raises.",
              "instructions": "Frame the decision question raised by the complication.",
              "type": "text",
              "layout": "statement"
            },
            {
              "id": "answer",
              "name": "Answer",
              "description": "Deliver your recommendation or insight that resolves the question.",
              "instructions": "Deliver the recommendation that resolves the question.",
              "type": "timeline",
              "layout": "timeline"
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      "layouts": {
        "text": {
          "name": "Text",
          "summary": "Prose. Several blocks sit side by side when short and stack when long.",
          "tags": [
            "Text"
          ],
          "direction": "column",
          "regions": [
            {
              "name": "title"
            },
            {
              "name": "body",
              "accepts": [
                "text",
                "list",
                "quote",
                "code",
                "group"
              ],
              "role": "primary",
              "flow": "auto"
            }
          ],
          "description": "Explain one idea in continuous prose. Use paragraphs or flowing blocks for detail that needs to be read in sequence.",
          "preview": {
            "vectorSrc": "https://www.pptx.gallery/layout-previews/text.svg"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
Open in visual editorOpen in Inspector

Load this config in the gallery's visual editor, or in the Inspector at pptx.dev.

Pace

4-10 slides

5-20 minutes

4 beats, one slide each

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