Translating between audiences.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
What decision they need to make.
WHY
It determines what detail is relevant.
WHAT TO LEAD WITH
The implication, not the mechanism.
WHAT EXAMPLE SHOWS IT
Saying the site will be unavailable for a period, rather than describing a database migration.
WHAT TO INCLUDE
What is affected For how long What it costs What the risk is What you recommend
WHAT TO OMIT
How it works internally Technology names Detail that changes nothing for them
WHAT TO DO IF THEY ASK HOW
Explain by analogy, briefly.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD ANALOGY
Something in their experience with the same structure.
WHAT MAKES A BAD ONE
Something requiring its own explanation.
WHAT TO AVOID
Condescension Implying the question was naive Vocabulary you did not define
WHAT TO DO ABOUT NECESSARY TERMS
Define once, in a phrase.
WHAT TO QUANTIFY
Time, money and risk.
WHY
They are the terms decisions are made in.
WHAT TO PREPARE
Detail beneath, for anyone who wants it.
WHAT TO TEST
Whether they could explain it to someone else.
WHY
It is the standard for successful explanation.
