Grading papers is work

Grading papers is a double-edged sword; it’s insanely time-consuming, and yet enormously valuable. As a ballpark estimate, last semester I reviewed 500+ written pages (MS Word, double-spaced) and countless presentation slides (MS PPT). Yes, I have TAs, and yes, I also grade the assignments myself. 

Raw actionable feedback

For me, this writing feedback is one of the most valuable things I do for students. When someone really digs into your work and gives you raw and actionable feedback – well – consider it gold. It’s the only way you get better.

Team assignments are a prominent fixture at B-school. Let’s agree that the toughest, and most interesting, problems often require teamwork. They are too large, ambiguous, multi-faceted, or conflicted to be simply reduced to a 1 person show. As a result, my students spend beaucoup de temps with their teams madman / architect / carpenter / judge thoughtful arguments to difficult questions.

1. Content first 

Clearly, the first goal of any paper or presentation is to ask the right questions. (Note: this is one of the hardest parts). Then, the teams should frame the problem into distinct elements to help organize the analysis. Determine what is an input / output / constraint / consideration / in (or out) of scope. Namely, what is/are the specific problem(s) we are trying to solve. Then, what is/are the recommendation(s)? Why those (vs. other ones)?  Where is the proof, evidence, logic, which gives the reader the confidence that this is a smart way to go? Is this a recommendation, or just an idea? NB: Is this recommendation worth $1M of your client’s money?

2. Persuasion second 

Then, and only then, should the teams start the equally laborious craft of structuring a great argument.  From last semester, teams tackled great questions facing some diverse companies: Target, Walmart, Exxon, Uber, Casper, Tiffany, Blue Apron, First Data, CVS, Comcast, Disney, Thor Industries, Facebook and others. Here are some verbatim feedback I gave:

3. Provide clear takeaways

• Be clear on the takeaways (what do you want the reader to do with the information)?
• Super dense slide, once again, easy for the reader to get lost. Not sure where to focus attention
• Gave lots of background, but what do you want the reader to takeaway? What’s the call to action?
• Super small font, and 122 words. This slides starts looking like a memo, not a presentation
• Might highlight the top choice, so it’s clear to the audience. Don’t make them guess

4. Use strong titles

• Let’s use titles better. simply “financial analysis” does not answer the so what.
• More concise PowerPoint English. Not “improvements can be made to improve”
• Let’s use titles more effectively. “Analysis of X & Y” is too generic
• Tell the reader what your point of view is. .
• In the kicker box, start using PowerPoint English (shorter phrases that are easier to get quickly).
• Pages 4,5,6 all have the same title? Seems like wasted real estate

5. Don’t distract the reader

• Nit pick – fewer colors. There are 5 background colors
• Nit pick – start the word at the front with the same verb tense (enhance vs. enhancing).
• Okay, this is an eye-full. 1) font way to small ) grey background hard to  read 3) make it easy to understand
• Consistent use of the same verb tense (recruit, get, cap, REDEFINE)

6. Show the logic

• Well, wouldn’t that be true of all companies? Why is that more relevant to retail?
• Where did this recommendation come from? Of all the problems to solve for, why this one?
• This might all be 100% true, but need to bring the reader along. where is the data etc. . to help prove this out?
• What qualifies as high profitability? (10% net margin, 50% net margin)
• These recommendations seem plausible, but not clear how we got to this point

7. What’s the “So What?”

• What is the financial implications of what you are recommending?
• Will this ensure that FB maintains it’s competitive advantage?
• How does this create a sustainable economic moat?
• If the executive reading this memo agrees with you, what are the next steps? What are the risks?

8. Tell a story

• Make it easy for the reader to “get it”
• Got clear how we got from the previous page to this deeper dive on a specific in-app feature. Need transition.
• Too high level, consultants would have to provide clients a lot more rigor than this
• Would advise fewer words so that people can see the great research done

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