Concept, Content, Construction, and Contingencies: Getting the Horse Before the PowerPoint Cart

The phrase "death by PowerPoint" was not born in the offices of Microsoft's competitors; it came straight from the hearts of victimized meeting attendees. Microsoft estimates that at least 30 million PowerPoint presentations are made daily, with many rightfully warranting death verdict assessment. Death sentences often result from a "construction mentality" that focuses solely on the PowerPoint design activity and ignores the need to conceptualize, build content, and plan for contingencies. In this article, the authors discuss four elements that should be considered when developing and delivering PowerPoint presentations. These considerations include: concept, content, construction, and contingencies. (Contains 2 figures.)