Executive Search & Talent Intelligence - Decision Sprint™ (10 days )

10 Days. One Clear Decision: GO • CALIBRATE • NO-GO

A confidential decision sprint designed to reduce risk before significant time, resources and capital are committed.

Through discreet, anonymised market testing conducted under NDA, we assess mandate feasibility, market attractiveness and the practical constraints that may affect success.

Confidential • Decision-Focused • Fixed Fee • No Public Advertising.

Executive Decision Readout (45–75 Minutes)

Before committing significant time, resources and leadership capital to a mandate that may not be viable.

An unclear mandate leads to slow execution, internal friction and unnecessary risk.
Without real market signals, organisations often confuse internal expectations with external reality.
The Sprint delivers a clear decision, supported by explicit success conditions and actionable next steps.

When to Use the Decision Sprint™

The mandate is unstable: uncertainty around scope, seniority, compensation, location or timing.
Stakeholders are not aligned: differing expectations between decision-makers and key stakeholders.
Market attractiveness is uncertain: concerns around compensation, governance, reporting lines or other potential barriers.
Critical constraints need to be validated: before committing resources to a full search.
Market intelligence is required: to obtain real-world signals before engaging the organisation.

The Decision Sprint provides the clarity needed to move forward with confidence, recalibrate the mandate or decide not to proceed.

**If the mandate is already clearly defined and the decision is ready to be executed, we generally recommend moving directly to implementation.**

What the Sprint Delivers.

Decision Pack
(PDF 8–12 pages)

A Decision-Ready Report

Role Scorecard & 12-Month Success Metrics
A clear definition of what success looks like and the performance indicators that matter most.
Key Assumptions
Assessment of the target profile, required level of seniority, compensation package, location and critical constraints.
Success Conditions
Governance, reporting lines, resources, stakeholder alignment and priorities required to maximise the chances of success.
Market Indicators
Feasibility, competitiveness, talent availability, expected speed of execution and market scarcity.
Risk Factors & Recommendations
Identification of the issues most likely to weaken the mandate, together with practical recommendations to address them.
Final Recommendation
A clear GO / CALIBRATE / NO-GO decision, supported by alternative scenarios and recommended next steps.

Discreet Market Testing

Anonymised outreach conducted under NDA, with no public advertising and no market exposure. (8–12 Exploratory Conversations to Test Market Reality)

Three Outputs

Perceived market attractiveness
Recurring barriers and objections
Candidate expectations and success conditions

No individual names or identifiable contacts are disclosed without explicit consent.

Decision Debrief (45–75 Minutes)

Alignment • Key Decisions • Next Steps

Interpretation of market signals and clarification of key assumptions
A clear, defensible decision supported by recommended scenarios
Immediate alignment on the path forward, whether launching the mandate or recalibrating its parameters

What It Is Not

Not a full Executive Search engagement
Not a market mapping exercise
Not a consulting study with no clear outcome
Not a replacement for stakeholder alignment and decision-making
Not a commitment to launch a search

A Structured 10-Day Process

Timing

Days 1–2 | Scoping & Decision Criteria

Clarification of the challenge, decision criteria, areas of uncertainty and confidentiality requirements.

Days 3–7 | Market Testing & Analysis

Confidential market testing, signal gathering, validation of key assumptions and identification of execution risks.

Days 8–9 | Decision Pack & Recommendations

Preparation of the final Decision Pack, including market insights, recommendations and GO / CALIBRATE / NO-GO scenarios.

Day 10 | Executive Decision Readout

Presentation of findings, clarification of key assumptions, discussion of strategic options and alignment on next steps.

One Sprint. One Clear Decision.

GO – Mandate Validated. Ready to Launch.

Conditions Met. Clear Path to Execution.

CALIBRATE

Adjust Key Parameters Before Proceeding.

NO-GO

Current Conditions Do Not Support a Successful Outcome.

Confidentiality & Engagement Terms

No public campaign. No candidate process.
All market conversations are anonymised by default.
NDA and formal confidentiality framework available where required.
Direct involvement of the key decision-maker is required to ensure timely decisions and effective calibration.

Format & Fees

Fixed Fee: €7,000

Includes:

A Decision-Ready Report (8–12 pages)
8–12 confidential and anonymised market conversations conducted under NDA and without public advertising
An Executive Decision Readout (45–75 minutes)

Timeline: 10 business days

Optional Add-Ons (for Complex Situations)

Multi-Country / Multi-Language Market Testing
Expanded outreach across multiple geographies, talent pools and language markets.
Enhanced Confidentiality Framework
Restricted stakeholder groups, controlled communications, document validation procedures and extended NDA arrangements.
Multi-Stakeholder Alignment Workshops
Additional workshops designed to align decision-makers, clarify priorities and accelerate decision-making across multiple stakeholders.

Following a GO Decision (Optional & Discreet)

Should the recommendation be GO, the Decision Sprint fee may be credited against a subsequent Executive Search engagement:

100% credited if the search is launched within 30 days
50% credited if the search is launched within 60 days

This option remains entirely at the client’s discretion and does not affect the independence of the Sprint recommendation.

Which Solution Fits Your Situation?

Decision Sprint™:

DECIDE

GO / CALIBRATE / NO-GO

Anonymised market intelligence and decision support.

Talent Mapping

MAP

Market landscape, talent pools and hiring scenarios.

Anonymised by default.

Retained Search

APPOINT

Identify, engage and appoint the right leader.

Full search and candidate process.

Confidential Discussion: Diagnostic Scoping

Objective: confirm whether the Decision Sprint™ is the right approach and define the scope of the engagement, including the role, business context, confidentiality requirements and key decision-makers.

Possible Outcomes:
GO • Proceed with the Decision Sprint™
CALIBRATE • Refine the scope, assumptions or priorities before proceeding
NO-GO • Alternative approaches recommended

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How many people from the client side need to be involved?

One decision-maker and one operational point of contact are usually sufficient, provided they are available to engage quickly throughout the Sprint.

Q2. Do you contact candidates?

No. The Decision Sprint™ is based on anonymised market conversations conducted without public advertising, direct candidate approaches or the disclosure of the client’s identity.

Q3. What if the mandate is highly sensitive?

The format is specifically designed for sensitive situations. Enhanced confidentiality measures can be implemented, including NDAs, anonymised market testing, restricted stakeholder groups and streamlined governance.