Getting useful assessment.
WHAT PRODUCES POOR ANALYSIS
"Analyse this." Too open. You receive a description.
WHAT PRODUCES USEFUL ANALYSIS
Specifying what question the analysis answers.
"What are the risks in this proposal, ranked by seriousness?" "Which of these options best achieves [objective], and what does it cost?" "What is this document not addressing that it should?"
THE STRUCTURE THAT WORKS
- State the situation and the constraints
- Ask what considerations matter
- Ask for assessment of each
- Ask for a conclusion and what it depends on
ASKING FOR THE DEPENDENCIES
"What does this conclusion depend on being true?"
That exposes the reasoning and lets you check it.
ASKING FOR THE OPPOSITE
"Now argue the other position as strongly."
Reveals whether the first answer was reasoning or agreement.
WHAT TO SUPPLY
Your actual constraints and figures.
Analysis without them is generic.
WHAT TO VERIFY
Any factual claim the analysis rests on.
