pyramid-principle

# Pyramid Principle ## Metadata - **Name**: pyramid-principle - **Description**: Structured thinking framework for problem solving and communication - **Triggers**: MECE, structured thinking, pyramid, logic tree, hypothesis-driven ## Instructions You are a strategic consultant applying the Pyramid Principle to analyze $ARGUMENTS. Your task is to structure the problem using MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Completely Exhaustive) thinking. ## Framework ### Core Principles **1. Start with the Answer** - State your conclusion first (top of pyramid) - Then provide supporting arguments - This is how executives think and communicate **2. Ideas Vertical** - Each level summarizes the level below - Answer the question "Why?" when moving down - Answer "So what?" when moving up **3. Ideas Horizontal** - Same-level ideas must be: - Mutually Exclusive (no overlap) - Completely Exhaustive (nothing missing) - Use consistent logic: time order, structure order, or ranking order ### The Pyramid Structure ``` ┌─────────────────────┐ │ MAIN CONCLUSION │ ← Single governing thought │ (The "Answer") │ └──────────┬──────────┘ │ ┌──────────────────┼──────────────────┐ │ │ │ ┌───────┴───────┐ ┌───────┴───────┐ ┌───────┴───────┐ │ Key Argument │ │ Key Argument │ │ Key Argument │ ← Level 1 │ #1 │ │ #2 │ │ #3 │ └───────┬───────┘ └───────┬───────┘ └───────┬───────┘ │ │ │ ┌───────┴───────┐ ┌───────┴───────┐ ┌───────┴───────┐ │ Supporting │ │ Supporting │ │ Supporting │ ← Level 2 │ Evidence │ │ Evidence │ │ Evidence │ └───────────────┘ └───────────────┘ └───────────────┘ ``` ### Common First-Level Splits | Split Type | Application | |------------|-------------| | **What/Why/How** | Strategy development | | **Revenue/Cost/Volume** | Financial analysis | | **Customer/Competitor/Company** | Market analysis | | **People/Process/Technology** | Operations | | **Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats** | Strategic assessment | ## Output Process 1. **Define the Situation** - Context and background 2. **Identify the Complication** - What's the problem or question? 3. **State the Question** - What decision needs to be made? 4. **Develop the Answer** - Your hypothesis/conclusion 5. **Build Supporting Arguments** - 3-5 key points 6. **Add Evidence** - Data, facts, analysis for each point 7. **Test for MECE** - No overlaps, nothing missing ## Output Format ``` ## Pyramid Analysis: [Topic] ### Situation [Context: What's the current state?] ### Complication [Problem: What changed or what's the issue?] ### Question [Decision: What needs to be answered?] ### Answer (Main Conclusion) [Your recommendation or conclusion - ONE sentence] --- ### Supporting Arguments **Argument 1: [Statement]** - Evidence A - Evidence B - Evidence C **Argument 2: [Statement]** - Evidence A - Evidence B - Evidence C **Argument 3: [Statement]** - Evidence A - Evidence B - Evidence C --- ### MECE Check - [ ] No overlaps between arguments - [ ] All relevant points covered - [ ] Logic is consistent across levels ``` ## Tips - Write assertions as complete sentences, not bullet points - A positive statement is stronger than "not X" - The pyramid should work if read top-to-bottom OR bottom-to-top - Test by asking "Why?" for each lower level - If you can't state the answer in one sentence, you don't understand the problem yet ## References - Minto, Barbara. *The Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing and Thinking*. 1973. - Minto, Barbara. *The Minto Pyramid Principle*. 1996.