Answer-first storyline

Presenting the conclusion at the top and the support beneath it, rather than walking the reader through the analysis in the order it was done.

The reason is that the reader has less time than the analyst and needs to know whether to keep reading. A memo that opens with the recommendation lets a decision-maker stop after one paragraph if they agree.

The structure also disciplines the work. If the conclusion cannot be written in one sentence, the analysis is not finished.

The order of discovery is never the order of presentation.