How to Use this Manual

How to Use This Manual

Unlike the earlier manuals, this manual is not intended to be applied from beginning to end every time you solve a case. Think of it as a collection of specialised lenses.

When deciphering a case, ask whether the situation contains dimensions that require you to look beyond traditional strategic and financial analysis. You might need to consider:

• environmental impact;
• social responsibility;
• ethical implications;
• stakeholder tensions;
• sustainability;
• bias;
• organisational purpose;
• long-term consequences;
• competing definitions of value.

Then go to the chapters that help you explore those questions. The goal is not to force special topics into every case.

Use them when they improve the decision.

Throughout the manual, continue applying the central Discover Your Mad Skills principle: Start with the question, not the framework. Ask what the case requires, select the appropriate lens, generate insight, and connect that insight back to the recommendation. Most importantly, do not treat these topics as an appendix to the "real" business analysis. When they matter, integrate them into the problem, alternatives, decision criteria, recommendation, implementation, risk, and measures of success.