SOME COMMON PATTERNS

As time goes on and you find yourself thinking through the introductions to a variety of documents, you will notice some common patterns begin to emerge, and note that you generally tend to write to answer only one of four questions.

1. What should we do?

2. How should we/will we/did we do it?

3. Should we do it?

4. Why did it happen?

The overwhelming number of documents are written to tell people what action to take in various situations. Indeed, it is rare that people want to know why something happened Without at the same time knowing what action to take about it, except perhaps when reporting findings in the early stages of an analysis.

Which patterns become common for you will, of course, depend on the business you are in. But let me explain the four patterns I have seen repeated most often in business:

1. Giving direction (What should we do? or How should we do it?)

2. Seeking approval to spend money (Should we do it?)

3. Explaining "How to" (How should we do it?)

4. Choosing among alternatives (What should we do?)