Minto Pyramid Principle Methodology
Exercise: Create a visiontype
Exercise: Defining your Riskiest Assumptions
- Prompt #1 – Extracting Assumptions
- Prompt #2- Prioritising Assumptions by Importance
- Prompt #3 – Prioritising Assumptions by Evidence
- Prompt #4 – Plotting these assumptions in a 2 x 2 table
- Prompt #5 – Identifying Experiments to test your assumptions
Solutions and Experimentation:
Create a visiontype
Prompt – Initial visiontype / Prototype
You are a product manager and have come up a new idea for a product. The product vision is as follows:
The ideal customer profile is [target customers], who has [problem], [product] provides [benefit] unlike [alternatives] because [competitive advantage].
To solve the customer problem and fulfil these benefits create a prototype that includes the following features: [feature 1, feature 2, feature 3].
Defining your riskiest assumptions:
Prompt #1 – Extracting Assumptions
You are a product manager.
Based on the following vision statement:
For [target customers], who has [problem], [product] provides [benefit] unlike [alternatives] because [competitive advantage].
We will know it’s true when [demonstration of achieving outcome].
Please do the following:
Generate a list of risky assumptions that would have to be true for the idea to work. The assumptions should be categorised into three groups: Desirable, Viable, and Feasible. Provide a label and number each assumption with a unique number in the order each assumption is defined. Each number should be preceded by the letter of the risk category they are associated with, for example, for Desirable assumptions, they number should begin with a D, for viable assumptions, they should beging with a V and for feasibility assumptions, they should begin with an F.
Each assumption should be created based on the following:
Desirable: Do they want this? What evidence exists that illustrates customers are interested? Desirability risks include the market being too small, too few customers wanting the value proposition, or the inability to reach, acquire, and retain targeted customers.
Viable: Should we do this? What evidence exists that this is a viable business? Viability risks include the inability to generate enough revenue, customers being unwilling to pay, or costs being too high to make a sustainable profit.
Feasible: Can we do this? What evidence exists that shows we can build and deliver? Feasibility risks include not being able to access key resources (technology, IP, brand, etc.), develop necessary capabilities, or find key partners to build and scale.
Structure the assumptions in a table with the following columns: Category (Desirable, Viable, Feasible)
Each assumption should include a label and accompanying statement starting with “I believe…”
Provide 5 to 8 assumptions for each category.
Prompt #2- Prioritising Assumptions by Importance
Rank each assumption in a separate table based on the level of importance. The table should include the following columns:
Assumption (which should include the number and assumption label)
Level of importance (High, Medum or Low) which should be rated based on the following criteria:
High: These are the riskiest assumptions. If proven false, they could cause the business to fail.
Medium: Less important than high-risk assumptions but still crucial for success.
Low: Not important to the immediate success of the business.
Prompt #3 – Prioritising Assumptions by Evidence
Now rank this table of assumptions by how much recent evidence you can find online that exists for each assumption:
Light Evidence: Includes surveys, opinions, and what people say.
Medium Evidence: Covers actions like email submissions.
Strong Evidence: Involves definitive actions such as pre-payments.
Filter the list of assumptions to the riskiest assumptions with high importance and light evidence. Order the list with high importance + light evidence first.
Prompt #4 – Plotting these assumptions in a 2 x 2 table
Now, plot each assumption in a 2 x 2 matrix with the X axis being importance (low to high) and the Y axis being the level of evidence (low at the top of the Y access and high at the bottom of the Y axis).
For each assumption plotted on the matrix display it as circle with the colour associated with the assumption category (desirable, viable and feasible). Each circle should include the accompanying assumption number. Each quadrant of the matrix should shaded differently.
When you click on a circle:
- A modal popup opens showing the full assumption details
- Displays the category badge (color-coded)
- Shows the complete assumption statement starting with “I believe…”
- Provides detailed description and rationale
- Shows importance and evidence levels in highlighted boxes
- Show details of the rationale for the importance rating
- Shows details of the evidence summary
Prompt #5 – Identifying Experiments to test your assumptions
Now, define experiments to quickly and cheaply test each of your riskiest assumptions.
Your riskiest assumptions are those that have the highest importance and lowest evidence.
Based on your riskiest assumptions, create an experimentation plan that includes a table with the following columns: Assumption, Risk type (Desirability, Feasibility, Viability) Experimentation type, Behaviour/task to be validated, success criteria (should provide recommended metrics to measure success of the experiment).
Additionally, provide an experimentation prioritisation and timeline that includes a week-by-week breakdown of the recommended experiments, proposed time and budget estimate for each experiment (including a total estimated budget).
Solutions and Experimentation:
Defining solutions:
Generate new product ideas with the following requirements: The product will target <target customer and location>
The product needs to <solve these pain points / fulfill these opportunities>
The ideas are just ideas. The product need not yet exist, nor may it necessarily be clearly feasible.
Follow these steps. Do each step, even if you think you do not need to.
First generate a list of 10 ideas (short title only)
Second, go through the list and determine whether the ideas are different and bold, modify the ideas as needed to make them bolder and more different. No two ideas should be the same. This is important!
Next, list the ideas in a table using the following columns: name of solution, solution description, target pain points or opportunities.
Generate experiments for each assumption:
Now, define experiments.
Create a draft experiment plan for the next 90 days based on these riskiest assumptions associated with <idea> to quickly and cheaply test each of your riskiest assumptions. The idea is targeting <customer(s)> and aims to solve <problems / pain points>.
The experimentation plan should include: Summary of the idea.
Detail each experiment in a table of riskiest assumptions (Your riskiest assumptions are those that have the highest importance and lowest evidence), Risk type (Desirability, Feasibility, Viability), importance and evidence strength, Experimentation type, Behaviour or task to be validated, success criteria.
Generate a timeline for conducting the experiments, starting with discovery and light evidence, followed by validation and stronger evidence.
Competitor analysis:
Use this prompt to map your competitors, find untapped levers, and rank your best growth plays. Here’s the prompt:
###Instructions###
You are a top-tier strategy consultant with deep expertise in competitive analysis, growth loops, pricing, and unit-economics-driven product strategy. If information is unavailable, state that explicitly.
###Context###
{COMPANY)} and {INDUSTRY)}
{Brief one-paragraph description of what the company does today, including key revenue streams, pricing model, customer segments, and any known growth tactics in use}) ###known_challenges### (List or paragraph of the biggest obstacles you’re aware of – e.g., slowing user growth, rising CAC, regulatory pressure}}
###Task###
1. Map the competitive landscape:
• Identify 3-5 direct competitors + 1-2 adjacent-space disruptors.
• Summarize each competitor’s positioning, pricing, and recent strategic moves.
2. Spot opportunity gaps:
• Compare COMPANY’s current tactics to competitors.
• Highlight at least 5 high-impact growth or profitability levers **not** currently exploited by COMPANY.
3. Prioritize:
• Score each lever on Impact (revenue / margin upside) and Feasibility (time-to-impact, resource need) using a 1-5 scale.
• Recommend the top 3 actions with the strongest Impact x Feasibility.
###Approach###
Go VERY deep. Research far more than you normally would. Spend the time to go through up to 200 webpages — it’s worth it due to the value a successful and accurate response will deliver to COMPANY. – Don’t just look at articles, forums, etc. – anything is fair game…
COMPANY/competitor websites, analytics platforms, etc. </approach>
###Output Format###
Return ONLY the following:
– bullet list of competitors & key data
-opportunity gaps – numbered list of untapped levers
-prioritized actions
– table or bullets with Impact, Feasibility, rationale, first next step
-reference information – numbered list of URLs or publication titles
Minto Pyramid principal Methodology:
Act like an experienced McKinsey consultant and executive communication specialist with deep expertise in the Pyramid Principle methodology. You excel at structuring complex topics into clear, logical, and persuasive presentations that drive decision-making and action.
OBJECTIVE
Based on the topic, target audience, and context you provide, you will create a complete structured presentation using the Pyramid Principle.
Your analysis should equally prioritise logical flow and argument hierarchy, clear executive summary, supporting evidence organisation, audience-specific messaging, actionable conclusions, and persuasive structure.
Base your response on the following information:
<The topic you want to articulate clearly>
<The target audience (board members, senior executives, team members, clients, etc.)>
<The context (board meeting, strategy session, project update, decision-making meeting, etc.)>
ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK
When structuring the presentation using Pyramid Principle, focus equally on:
- Logical flow and argument hierarchy: Clear top-down structure with supporting points
- Clear executive summary and key messages: Compelling opening that states conclusions first
- Supporting evidence and data organisation: Well-organised facts that support main arguments
- Audience-specific messaging and relevance: Tailored content that resonates with specific audience
- Actionable conclusions and recommendations: Clear next steps and decision points
- Persuasive structure and influence techniques: Compelling argument flow that drives agreement
RESPONSE FORMAT
First, provide a brief overview of the Pyramid Principle/Minto Principle methodology and how it will be applied to structure this presentation.
Then provide complete structured presentation using Pyramid Principle (minimum 500 words) with the following structure:
Executive Summary
- Main Message/Recommendation: Single, clear statement of your primary conclusion (start with the answer) – Lead with your main recommendation, conclusion, or “so what.”
- This ensures your audience knows the destination before you walk them through the detail.
- Key Supporting Arguments: 3-4 main reasons why your recommendation is correct
- Critical Success Factors: Most important elements for implementation
- Call to Action: Specific next steps or decisions needed
1 – Start with the Answer (Top of the Pyramid)
- Lead with your main recommendation, conclusion, or “so what.”
- This ensures your audience knows the destination before you walk them through the detail.
- Example: “We recommend launching the product in Market A first.”
2 – Group and Summarise Supporting Arguments (Middle of the Pyramid)
- Present the 3–4 key reasons that support your main point.
- These arguments should be mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive (MECE) to avoid overlap or gaps.
- Each supporting point is a summary statement, not raw data.
- Example: “Market A offers higher profitability, lower competitive intensity, and faster regulatory approval.”
3 – Support Each Argument with Evidence (Base of the Pyramid)
- Under each supporting reason, layer in the analysis, data, and facts.
- Structure evidence in a logical order:
- Deductive (cause → effect → recommendation)
- Inductive (pattern recognition, clustering of facts)
- Example: Under “higher profitability,” show cost and revenue projections compared with other markets.
4 – Outline Critical Success Factors: Most important elements for implementation and the Call to Action: Specific next steps or decisions needed
5 – Ensure Logical Flow
- The hierarchy must follow a clear logic:
- Vertical: Each layer supports the one above.
- Horizontal: Arguments at the same level are parallel and MECE.
- Use either:
- Action logic (what we should do and why)
- Situation–Complication–Resolution (SCR) for narrative flow.
mike 