Information overload
Operational detail obscures the decision question.
Turn long reports into a short, reviewed summary.
FOCUS extracts the main decision points from selected information and links them to the source. Advisers review the facts, nuance and wording before use.
A building block within iSyNAPS
Your organisation profile connects the work.
Goals, roles, working methods and validated knowledge provide the context for this building block. During onboarding, we agree what is needed. That profile can then grow with further applications, within the permissions agreed for your organisation.
Explore the ecosystem ↗The challenge
Important decisions get buried in long reports.
Progress, risks and open decisions are spread across different formats and reporting cycles. Leaders receive either too much detail or too little context.
Different reporting formats
Projects and programmes do not always use the same definitions or cycles.
Loss of context
A brief summary may omit important assumptions or uncertainty.
Intended benefits
Shorter information and clearer decision questions.
Test whether long reports can become a reviewable summary with clear issues and decision questions.
Concise
without hiding context
Connect the short summary with reviewable source information.
Focused
on decision questions
Make clear which attention or choice is required.
Reviewed
before publication
Have professionals approve the content and wording.
Who it is for
For teams preparing information for leaders and elected officials.
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Relevant for
Elected officials and senior management
Where it helpsFor a concise view of issues, risks and decisions.
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Relevant for
Governance advisers
Where it helpsFor preparing, reviewing and editing decision information.
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Relevant for
Programme and portfolio managers
Where it helpsFor consistent delivery of status and context.
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Relevant for
Control and corporate staff
Where it helpsFor connections between goals, progress and accountability.
How it works
Turn source information into a reviewed draft summary.
FOCUS brings selected information together and prepares key points and decision questions. Information owners and advisers review every step.
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01
Define the decision question
Record which decision, accountability or attention is required.
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02
Select source information
Use only current and relevant project and portfolio data.
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03
Build the draft summary
Prepare key points, risks, decisions and follow-up questions.
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04
Review and approve
Have the information owner and governance adviser assess content, nuance and wording.
Capabilities
What FOCUS can prepare for a briefing.
Create a draft summary with key points, risks, issues and decision questions. Source information and human review remain visible.
Decision overview
Bring portfolio, programmes and critical issues together.
Draft summary
Prepare a concise summary from selected information.
Risks in view
Surface signals for review by the responsible information owner.
Decision questions
Structure open decisions, dependencies and required action.
Regular briefing moments
Support recurring briefings with a consistent structure.
Review steps
Have drafts reviewed for content and suitability before use.
Frequently asked questions
Good to know before you begin
Does FOCUS independently write management or council papers?
No. It can prepare a draft summary. Information owners and authorised advisers must review content, completeness and wording.
How does FOCUS differ from PRISMA?
FOCUS prepares summaries and decision questions. PRISMA compares possible portfolio choices and scenarios.
How do you prevent nuance being lost?
By keeping source information, assumptions and uncertainty available and using fixed human review steps.
Can FOCUS identify decisions automatically?
It can support potential issues. A professional determines whether something is relevant and which action is required.
What is its current status?
FOCUS is in development. Functionality, pilot options and timing are confirmed in conversation.