The objective and decision
What would you like to evaluate, and what decision needs to follow? Identify the market, product or relationship and explain why it matters now.
Our approach · BALLACK 90
A structured path from
opportunity to action.
BALLACK 90 connects discovery, validation, relationship development and activation planning through a sequence of clear decisions.
The method
A framework for progress, with decisions at every stage.
BALLACK 90 organizes a potential engagement into four phases. Each connects a purpose, a set of activities and a decision about the next step. The framework helps keep research, relationship development and implementation planning connected.
The day ranges provide a methodology reference. Actual timing and scope depend on available evidence, client participation, counterpart readiness and the work agreed. Commercial outcomes and market entry are not guaranteed within ninety days.
BALLACK 90 in practice
Discover. Validate. Connect. Activate.
A clear purpose and a meaningful checkpoint for each phase.
- 01
Days 1–15
Discover
Establish the decision, the starting evidence and the limits of the assignment.
Typical activities
- Clarify objectives and commercial priorities
- Review the proposition and existing market information
- Map stakeholders and important unknowns
From the client
A business overview, product information, existing research and access to the people responsible for the decision.
Illustrative outputs
An agreed brief, initial opportunity map and prioritized questions.
Decision checkpoint
Agree what deserves further validation and what would make the opportunity unsuitable.
- 02
Days 16–30
Validate
Test the assumptions that matter most to commercial feasibility.
Typical activities
- Examine customer needs and competitive alternatives
- Compare possible routes to market
- Identify partner criteria, risks and specialist questions
From the client
Feedback on market assumptions, operating capabilities, resource limits and the practical implications of each option.
Illustrative outputs
An options assessment, evidence gaps and a proposed direction.
Decision checkpoint
Decide whether the evidence supports progression, a narrower scope or further investigation.
- 03
Days 31–60
Connect
Prepare the basis for relevant commercial relationships and informed discussions.
Typical activities
- Develop partner or stakeholder profiles
- Structure qualification and discussion questions
- Coordinate agreed engagement preparation and follow-up
From the client
Agreement on counterpart criteria, approved business information and participation in relevant commercial discussions.
Illustrative outputs
A qualification framework, engagement brief and follow-up priorities.
Decision checkpoint
Confirm which relationships or workstreams merit further attention, without assuming counterpart commitment.
- 04
Days 61–90
Activate
Turn the selected direction into a practical programme of next steps.
Typical activities
- Sequence activities and dependencies
- Clarify responsibilities and resources
- Define progress reviews and decision points
From the client
Named decision owners, implementation priorities and realistic availability of people and resources.
Illustrative outputs
A prioritized activation roadmap with responsibilities and checkpoints.
Decision checkpoint
Agree what to activate, what remains conditional and how progress will be reviewed.
Prepare the brief
What we need to get started.
The first information exchange should make the assignment clearer, without requiring a finished plan.
What you already know
Share relevant public information, existing analysis and commercial experience. Highlight the assumptions the team is least confident about.
People, scope and timing
Identify who can contribute information and make decisions, any important milestones, and the resources available for the next phase.
Usable work products
What a clear engagement produces.
Outputs are selected for their usefulness to the decision, rather than the size of the document.
A decision record
A concise statement of the options considered, the evidence supporting the chosen direction and the conditions that could change it.
An actionable work plan
A sequence of priorities with responsibilities, information requirements and dependencies that the client can use in implementation discussions.
Visible open questions
A clear account of what remains uncertain and how it affects the next step. A useful recommendation identifies the limits of the evidence as well as its implications.
Start with a clear question
Define the first decision. Then the path forward.
Share your objective and current stage. We can discuss how the framework could be shaped around your assignment.
Start a conversation