test pitch

Aim: to draw together the business case components into a coherent form, expressed in the extremely compressed format of the imaginary elevator pitch.

General hints:

• pick a target audience from your stakeholder analysis. Are you talking to senior managers? Your IT department? Students? Library staff?
• think of they key ideas or themes and show how they run through the whole pitch, don't swamp the listener with too much detail
• run through the pitch a few times to make sure it flows. Aim to speak for around 30-60 seconds.

Structure (based on http://www.alumni.hbs.edu/careers/pitch/)

1. Describe who you are

Hint: keep it short. What do they need to know and what do they not need to know?

2. Describe what you do

Here is where you state your value phrased as key results or impact. To organize your thoughts, it may help to think of this as your tag line. This should allow the listener to understand how you would add value.

Hint: think about the language you are using. Is it appropriate for your audience? Too technical or not technical enough?

3. Describe why you are unique

Now it's time to show the unique benefits that you bring to the institution. Show what you do that is different or better or creates new opportunities.

Hint: going back to your benefits and stakeholder analysis, think about the benefits that matter for your audience. What do they care about? Show how what you do meets their needs and concerns.

4. Describe your immediate goals

Goals should be concrete, defined, and realistic. Include a time frame. This is the final step and it should be readily apparent to the listener what you are asking of him or her.

Hint: taking from the skills gap analysis, make it clear that what you are asking for is essential to the mission you have described.