8 ms·

I think it makes sense to just collect the opinions. What if there's also something we don't know about, that we should use instead?

by snitko 17y ago

jacquesm 17y ago
For complicated stuff I use a regular outline editor and assign scores to the 'trees' and their leaves and then sort leaves and substrees by score. I never got around to writing software to do it for me but the application is pretty narrow, and the question sets change with every job. I know it sounds like overkill but it helps me to just shut out the view of the rest of the factors while weighing a smaller section. I've used this method with some success during complicated technical due dilligences. There are usually up to a few hundred questions from several categories that all come together in a single executive summary that should not run beyond a single page. The 'recommendations and conclusions' section is the most important of this and lots of stuff doesn't make the cut in an explicit way but has to be represented somehow. Especially if the advise is not clear cut (this fortunately does not happen often but it has occurred). Others than make the decision to go ahead or not in part on the information in this document, so it had better be weighted correctly. I'm not sure if that is the kind of input you are looking for, but if it doesn't help I hope it doesn't hurt either :) Best of luck with your search, if you find something outstanding please be sure to post it here.
- snitko 17y ago
  Thank you. Got a few questions though. Do you discuss questions with others? Do you make decisions yourself while others are just consultants?
  - jacquesm 17y ago
    The list of questions was compiled over the years, every time I do a dd for a company that is not comparable to one that I've done before I discuss what needs to be added with my employers to make sure that we don't miss something crucial. The actual questions are mine though, they guide the direction. Another reason why the question sets are changed is because of changes in technology (for instance, the appearance of the 'cloud' phenomenon has caused a whole slew of questions to be added). Most of this centers around the analysis of the risk an investor takes when buying all or part of a company, and how that risk can be mitigated, or at least reduced. I do make decisions but on a much lower level (<50K) and of a much simpler nature, usually those are made by myself and my partner and we are much more informal, we also don't need to report our decisions to shareholders or such.

I think it makes sense to just collect the opinions. What if there's also something we don't know about, that we should use instead?

by snitko 17y ago

I think it makes sense to just collect the opinions. What if there's also something we don't know about, that we should use instead?

jacquesm 17y ago

For complicated stuff I use a regular outline editor and assign scores to the 'trees' and their leaves and then sort leaves and substrees by score. I never got around to writing software to do it for me but the application is pretty narrow, and the question sets change with every job. I know it sounds like overkill but it helps me to just shut out the view of the rest of the factors while weighing a smaller section. I've used this method with some success during complicated technical due dilligences. There are usually up to a few hundred questions from several categories that all come together in a single executive summary that should not run beyond a single page. The 'recommendations and conclusions' section is the most important of this and lots of stuff doesn't make the cut in an explicit way but has to be represented somehow. Especially if the advise is not clear cut (this fortunately does not happen often but it has occurred). Others than make the decision to go ahead or not in part on the information in this document, so it had better be weighted correctly. I'm not sure if that is the kind of input you are looking for, but if it doesn't help I hope it doesn't hurt either :) Best of luck with your search, if you find something outstanding please be sure to post it here.

snitko 17y ago
Thank you. Got a few questions though. Do you discuss questions with others? Do you make decisions yourself while others are just consultants?
- jacquesm 17y ago
  The list of questions was compiled over the years, every time I do a dd for a company that is not comparable to one that I've done before I discuss what needs to be added with my employers to make sure that we don't miss something crucial. The actual questions are mine though, they guide the direction. Another reason why the question sets are changed is because of changes in technology (for instance, the appearance of the 'cloud' phenomenon has caused a whole slew of questions to be added). Most of this centers around the analysis of the risk an investor takes when buying all or part of a company, and how that risk can be mitigated, or at least reduced. I do make decisions but on a much lower level (<50K) and of a much simpler nature, usually those are made by myself and my partner and we are much more informal, we also don't need to report our decisions to shareholders or such.