mckinsey-slide

name	mckinsey-slide
version	1.0.0
platform	cowork
description	Create McKinsey-style slide decks as polished .pptx files: Pyramid Principle, MECE structure, SCR narrative, action titles, and pptxgenjs output.
allowed-tools	["Read","Write","Bash","AskUserQuestion"]

Update Check (run first)

_UPD=$(~/.claude/skills/lenshub/scripts/lenshub-update-check 2>/dev/null || true)
[ -n "$_UPD" ] && echo "$_UPD" || true

If output shows UPGRADE_AVAILABLE <old> <new>: read ~/.claude/skills/lenshub/skills/lenshub-upgrade/SKILL.md and follow the "Inline upgrade flow" (auto-upgrade if configured, otherwise AskUserQuestion with 4 options, write snooze state if declined). If JUST_UPGRADED <from> <to>: tell user "Running lenshub v{to} (just updated!)" and continue.

"Start with the conclusion. The reader should never have to wonder where you are going." — Barbara Minto, The Pyramid Principle

📊 MCKINSEY SLIDE CREATOR

Philosophy

You are not here to make pretty slides. You are here to build a logical argument — then render it visually. McKinsey's method: the conclusion comes first (Pyramid Principle), the structure is airtight (MECE), and every slide title is an insight not a topic. If you covered the body text and read only the titles, the story must still be complete.

Core frameworks applied in order:

1. Pyramid Principle (Barbara Minto): Lead with the governing thought. Support with 2-4 MECE arguments. Back each argument with evidence.
2. SCR Arc: Situation (what's true now) → Complication (why that's a problem) → Resolution (what we recommend).
3. Action Titles: Every headline is an insight sentence ("Revenue declined 23% due to customer churn in SMB") not a topic label ("Revenue").
4. So What? Test: Every slide must answer the "so what?" — if it doesn't, rewrite or cut it.
5. Cover Test: Hide all body text. Read only titles. The full story must survive.
6. Rule of 3-5: Max 3-5 bullets per slide. Max 7 words per bullet. One key message per slide.

Do NOT make the deck until you have completed Steps 0–2. Structure first, content second.

Step 0: Context Intake

AskUserQuestion to collect (all required before proceeding):

1. Topic / problem statement — what decision or situation does this deck address?
2. Audience — board, C-suite, external client, internal team, investor?
3. Key message — complete this sentence: "After this deck, the audience will believe _____."
4. Available data / evidence — what supporting facts, numbers, or analysis exist?
5. Deck length — executive brief (3-5 slides), pitch (8-12 slides), full analysis (15-20 slides)?
6. Output format — structured markdown only, or generate pptxgenjs code for .pptx?

STOP. AskUserQuestion. Do NOT proceed until user provides context.

Step 1: Pyramid Structure

Build the logical argument tree before writing a single slide.

GOVERNING THOUGHT (= Executive Summary headline)
├── ARGUMENT 1 (MECE bucket 1)
│   ├── Evidence 1a
│   └── Evidence 1b
├── ARGUMENT 2 (MECE bucket 2)
│   ├── Evidence 2a
│   └── Evidence 2b
└── ARGUMENT 3 (MECE bucket 3)
    ├── Evidence 3a
    └── Evidence 3b

MECE check on arguments: Do they overlap? (If yes — merge or split.) Do they cover all the ground? (If gaps — add or acknowledge.) Mark: ✅ MECE or ❌ MECE VIOLATION.

Present the pyramid to the user. AskUserQuestion to confirm or adjust before proceeding.

Step 2: SCR Narrative Arc

Map the deck sections to the SCR arc:

SITUATION    | What is currently true? (shared context, no controversy)
COMPLICATION | Why is that a problem or opportunity? (the tension)
RESOLUTION   | What should we do? (the recommendation)

If the key message is a recommendation: full SCR arc. If the key message is a finding/analysis: Situation + Complication, Resolution = "therefore" summary.

STOP. AskUserQuestion to confirm the SCR framing. Do NOT proceed until confirmed.

Step 3: Deck Architecture

Generate the full slide outline based on the pyramid and SCR arc:

SLIDE #  | SECTION       | ACTION TITLE (draft)                    | EVIDENCE
---------|---------------|-----------------------------------------|----------
1        | Cover         | [Topic + audience + date]               | —
2        | Exec Summary  | [Governing thought as insight]          | "So What?" test ✅
3        | Situation     | [Action title]                          | [data]
4        | Situation     | [Action title]                          | [data]
5        | Complication  | [Action title]                          | [data]
...
N-1      | Recommendation| [Action title]                          | [data]
N        | Next Steps    | [3 concrete actions with owners/dates]  | —
Appendix | Appendix      | [Supporting detail]                     | —

Step 4: Framework Pass

For each slide in the approved deck outline, read references/frameworks.md for full descriptions, visual layouts, and markdown rendering specs. Select the appropriate McKinsey framework and annotate each slide. No content yet.

Read references/visual-identity.md before writing any slide content.

Framework types: Pyramid Principle | MECE Issue Tree | McKinsey 7S | Three Horizons | GE-McKinsey Matrix | Value Bridge | Structured Action Plan

Step 5: Action Title Pass

For every slide in the deck outline, apply this test to the title:

So What? Test: Does this title tell the audience what to conclude?

• ❌ Topic title: "Market Share" → ✅ Insight title: "We lost 8 points of market share in 18 months, concentrated in Gen Z"
• ❌ Topic title: "Customer Feedback" → ✅ Insight title: "NPS dropped 22 points because onboarding takes 3x too long"

Rewrite any title that fails. Every title must be a complete declarative sentence.

Cover Test: Read only the action titles in sequence. Does the story make sense without any body content? If not, restructure.

Step 6: Content Generation

Write each slide in full:

---

Slide [N]: [ACTION TITLE]

Bullets (3-5 max, 7 words max each, MECE):

• [Bullet 1]
• [Bullet 2]
• [Bullet 3]

Visual Proof Point: [Chart type + data description]

• Suggested chart: [bar / waterfall / scatter / table / 2x2 matrix / process flow]
• Key data: [what the visual shows]

Speaker Notes: [1-2 sentences the presenter says aloud — context not on slide]

---

Repeat for every slide in the deck.

If output format is pptxgenjs: after all slides are written, generate a complete slides.ts file using the pptxgenjs code patterns from references/visual-identity.md.

Output

Produce the complete deck as structured markdown. Sections:

1. Pyramid structure (reference)
2. SCR arc (reference)
3. Full slide-by-slide content (the deliverable)
4. pptxgenjs slides.ts (if output format = pptx)

If the user wants to save: Write to slides.md (or slides.ts) in the current directory.

CRITICAL RULES

• Every slide title MUST be an insight (declarative sentence), NEVER a topic label
• Every deck MUST pass the Cover Test: read titles only — story complete without body
• MECE check is mandatory on every group of bullets: no overlap, no gaps
• The So What? test applies to every slide — if a slide can't answer it, cut or merge it
• Maximum 3-5 bullets per slide; maximum 7 words per bullet
• One key message per slide — if you're making two points, you have two slides

CRITICAL RULE — How to ask questions

Every AskUserQuestion MUST: (1) present 2-3 concrete lettered options, (2) state which you recommend FIRST, (3) explain WHY in 1-2 sentences. No batching. No yes/no questions.

Completion Summary

+====================================================================+
|           📊 MCKINSEY SLIDE CREATOR — COMPLETION SUMMARY           |
+====================================================================+
| Topic                | [topic]                                     |
| Audience             | [audience]                                  |
| Slides generated     | ___ slides + ___ appendix slides           |
| Pyramid structure    | ___ arguments, MECE ✅ / ❌                |
| SCR arc              | Situation / Complication / Resolution       |
| Cover test           | PASS / FAIL                                 |
| Action titles        | ___ of ___ passed So What? test            |
| Output format        | Markdown / pptxgenjs (.pptx)               |
| Output               | Markdown deck / Written to slides.md|ts    |
+====================================================================+

"The reader should never have to wonder where you are going."