Storytelling

Challenge & Selection

Storytelling was very useful during my studies, especially for public presentation. In a  consulting project for my Masters, we were assigned a client hoping to expand to new  ventures. As a new Coffeehouse, they had several ideas to sell more coffee but lacked the  founding for it. Banks and government were not willing to lend them money without a business  plan and they had no concept of what was needed to create one.

After brainstorming, choosing viable solutions for their issues, we made a presentation with  our findings. We chose to do a talk which included a PowerPoint presentation, separating the  targets in short, medium and long-term objectives. For some of the topics, we also added  Excel and online resources. We chose these tools because they seemed easy to understand  and to handle once we no longer be involved in the project.

Application

During the talk, we clarified what issues were the most relevant for the company, using not  only PowerPoint, but also charts and Excel to provide easy solutions. Among these answers,  my part of the presentation were various Excel sheets, design to keep accountability of what  was purchased, sold or disposed due to expiration. This was intended to help create a  business plan, so the company could access that much needed to grow.

I tried to be clear on how important this was for any sustainable business, and how crucial it  was for an owner to know their organization inside and out. After the talked, I approached the  owner and once again insisted that with the very small step of keeping track of how the  company was doing, they would be able to not only get the founding needed but also know  better what was happening daily.

We pitch many different ideas and the owner only seemed engaged and interested when we  mentioned financial aid through government or NGOs.

Insight & Approach

At the time, we tried our best to clarify what issues were the most important and which could  have waited, but perhaps we did not tell the story in a compelling enough way. None of the  practical ideas that we gave were taken to term and the client chose to use crowdfunding  instead. Needless to say, that the crowdfunding did not reach the money needed to make the  business grow and according to several reviews online the Coffeehouse is no longer  operative.

I find this disappointing, as I would argue that we provided all the necessary ideas and tools  for the business to grow. While I believe that there are people who do not have the patience  required to follow those steps, I also think that perhaps if we had explained our view in a more  compelling way this would not have happened.

Finally, I find that a more on-hand approach, where we would have been more involved in the  implementation of the new ideas, could have been beneficial for the company. As students,  we were limited on time (this project was abroad) and resources to make that happen. If I had  the opportunity to do this again, I would tried to be more practical and show them myself how  to take the more important tasks to term.


Storytelling Challenge & Selection Storytelling was very useful during my studies , especially for public presentation . In a consulting project for my Masters , we were assigned a client hoping to expand to new ventures . As a new Coffeehouse , they had several ideas to sell more coffee but lacked the founding for it . Banks and government were not willing to lend them money without a business plan and they had no concept of what was needed to create one . After brainstorming , choosing viable solutions for their issues , we made a presentation with our findings . We chose to do a talk which included a PowerPoint presentation , separating the targets in short , medium and long - term objectives . For some of the topics , we also added Excel and online resources . We chose these tools because they seemed easy to understand and to handle once we no longer be involved in the project . Application During the talk , we clarified what issues were the most relevant for the company , using not only PowerPoint , but also charts and Excel to provide easy solutions . Among these answers , my part of the presentation were various Excel sheets , design to keep accountability of what was purchased , sold or disposed due to expiration . This was intended to help create a business plan , so the company could access that much needed to grow . I tried to be clear on how important this was for any sustainable business , and how crucial it was for an owner to know their organization inside and out . After the talked , I approached the owner and once again insisted that with the very small step of keeping track of how the company was doing , they would be able to not only get the founding needed but also know better what was happening daily . We pitch many different ideas and the owner only seemed engaged and interested when we mentioned financial aid through government or NGOs . Insight & Approach At the time , we tried our best to clarify what issues were the most important and which could have waited , but perhaps we did not tell the story in a compelling enough way . None of the practical ideas that we gave were taken to term and the client chose to use crowdfunding instead . Needless to say , that the crowdfunding did not reach the money needed to make the business grow and according to several reviews online the Coffeehouse is no longer operative . I find this disappointing , as I would argue that we provided all the necessary ideas and tools for the business to grow . While I believe that there are people who do not have the patience required to follow those steps , I also think that perhaps if we had explained our view in a more compelling way this would not have happened . Finally , I find that a more on - hand approach , where we would have been more involved in the implementation of the new ideas , could have been beneficial for the company . As students , we were limited on time ( this project was abroad ) and resources to make that happen . If I had the opportunity to do this again , I would tried to be more practical and show them myself how to take the more important tasks to term .