A repeatable way to frame a consequential decision: what matters, what must be true, and what would change the recommendation.
Start with the commitment in front of you. Define the objective, compare the alternatives, identify the constraints, and record the evidence needed to proceed. Keep the original rationale visible as conditions change.
In the BuzzAngle case, the strategic question was what the data business could enable alongside Rolling Stone’s editorial authority. In the Sourcing Journal case, the acquisition added supply-chain authority to PMC’s fashion and retail coverage. Both illustrate the need to evaluate the capability an asset creates alongside its standalone earnings.
Use the Acquisition Mandate & Target Screen to establish the business need. Carry the recommendation, downside, and approval conditions into the M&A Investment Committee Memo. Review the outcome against that record after the decision.
Exit Desk applies Mike’s buyer-lens framework to the information an owner provides. AI generates the report from the 26-question intake, using six lenses to examine buyer positioning, diligence pressure, and pre-market priorities. Read a sample report or explore Exit Desk.
The framework gives the analysis a consistent decision structure. The quality and completeness of the submitted information shape the report.