Story Framework
What-So What-Now What
A concise framework that connects information to meaning to action. Present the facts or findings objectively, explain why they matter to this audience, then state the decisions or next steps they require. The tone is analytical: data-forward and respectful of executive time, with no scene-setting beyond what the facts need. Best for executive briefings, status updates, and research findings; typical decks run 3-6 slides (analytics report, team performance review, strategy update).
Beat Diagram
- 1Whatchart / chart
- 2So Whatmetrics / metric
- 3Now Whatlist / text
OPF Config
narratives:what-so-what-now-what{
"$schema": "https://openpresentation.org/schema/opf/v1",
"name": "PPTX.gallery — narratives/what-so-what-now-what",
"narrative": "what-so-what-now-what",
"tags": [
"gallery:narratives/what-so-what-now-what"
],
"slides": [
{
"id": "gallery-preview-1",
"layout": "text",
"title": "Narrative preview",
"subtitle": "Storyline scaffolded by the \"what-so-what-now-what\" narrative."
}
],
"catalogs": {
"default": {
"source": "https://www.pptx.gallery",
"narratives": {
"what-so-what-now-what": {
"name": "What-So What-Now What",
"summary": "Concise framework that connects information to meaning to action. Perfect for executive audiences.",
"description": "A concise framework that connects information to meaning to action. Present the facts or findings objectively, explain why they matter to this audience, then state the decisions or next steps they require. The tone is analytical: data-forward and respectful of executive time, with no scene-setting beyond what the facts need. Best for executive briefings, status updates, and research findings; typical decks run 3-6 slides (analytics report, team performance review, strategy update).",
"audienceFit": [
"executive",
"senior-managers",
"board"
],
"duration": {
"min": 5,
"max": 15
},
"tags": [
"executive",
"briefing",
"analytical",
"action"
],
"beats": [
{
"id": "what",
"name": "What",
"description": "Present the facts, data, or findings objectively and clearly.",
"instructions": "Present the facts, data, or findings objectively and clearly.",
"type": "chart",
"layout": "chart"
},
{
"id": "so-what",
"name": "So What",
"description": "Explain the significance. Why should your audience care about this information?",
"instructions": "Explain the significance. Why should your audience care about this information?",
"type": "metric",
"layout": "metrics"
},
{
"id": "now-what",
"name": "Now What",
"description": "Define the action required. What decisions or next steps follow from this?",
"instructions": "Define the action required. What decisions or next steps follow from this?",
"type": "text",
"layout": "list"
}
]
}
},
"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"
}
}
}
}
}
}Load this config in the gallery's visual editor, or in the Inspector at pptx.dev.
Pace
3-6 slides
5-15 minutes
3 beats, one slide each
Audience Fit
Tone
Analytical - data-forward and respectful of executive time.
Best For
Executive briefings, status updates, research findings
Example Deck Types
Analytics report, Team performance review, Strategy update
Example
Present the data, explain why it matters, then outline the recommended actions or decisions needed.
Beat-by-Beat Guide
What
Present the facts, data, or findings objectively and clearly.
Instruction: Present the facts, data, or findings objectively and clearly.
So What
Explain the significance. Why should your audience care about this information?
Instruction: Explain the significance. Why should your audience care about this information?
Now What
Define the action required. What decisions or next steps follow from this?
Instruction: Define the action required. What decisions or next steps follow from this?