This never really caught on at IBM, or for that matter, I didn't push it at Dell. Technology companies are some of the worst when it comes to being succinct. Presentations are often a business case, marketing justification and technical specification jammed into one. The primary objective of which is to convince the audience you know what you are doing, you must, after all, you have 130 slides. "death by powerpoint" is a well known condition, but it doesn't mean you have to become a terminator.

1. What is a six pack
presentation?
Getting your ideas over succinctly…
Mark Cathcart, IBM Distinguished Engineer
April 2002

2. What problem does it solve
• Avoid complex slide heavy presentations
• Stick to key points
• Similar structure across solutions
• Suggestion: One per unique solution
• Get message over simply to broad group of
people, IBM and Customer.
• Should be a 64,000ft technical “fly-by”
• Emphasise key products, technologies etc.
ONLY
April 2002 m_cathcart@yahoo.co.uk 2

3. What is the structure
• Strictly limited to six slides
1. Title, name of solution, presenter/dept. etc.
2. What Business problem does it solve?
3. Supporting information on why IBM is right
partner with this solution!
4. What it does; What are its’
advantages(competive etc.)
5. How is it installed; enabled; lifecycle etc.
6. Summary and next steps.
April 2002 m_cathcart@yahoo.co.uk 3

4. What it is not?
• An excuse to cram dozens of lines per slide in
an 8-point font
• A place to store complex line art and model
diagrams
• “cheap” clip-art – Illustrations should have a
point
• A substitute for a good overview white-paper
• A place for complex product names and
acronyms, architecture etc.
April 2002 m_cathcart@yahoo.co.uk 4

5. Why should you do them?
• We should all be able to do an “elevator
pitch” on all infrastructure solutions
• We need to understand the “touch points”
and directions for the solutions
• Good place to start on common direction
• Useful training for all IBMers
• Simple, effective messaging for customer
presentations.
April 2002 m_cathcart@yahoo.co.uk 5