Strategic analysts use STEEP to understand the complex interplay of forces over which they have no control. Reduce the risk of missing important details. Rethink issues based on a broad understanding of the big picture Identify the factors that explain events. Get beyond normative analysis and assumptions. Make sense of the overwhelming amount of information and data. Identify trends, uncertainties, and inflection points that will defne the future.

1. Making Sense of a
Fast-Moving World
Awash in Information
with STEEP Analysis
August Jackson

2. View the interplay of complex
forces in the broader world over
which we have no control
• Identify the factors that begin to
explain events
• Identify trends, uncertainties, and
inflection points that will influence the
future
• Reduces the risk of missing important
details
• Rethink problems or issues based on a
broad understanding of the big picture
• Get beyond normative analysis
• Make sense of the overwhelming
amount of information and data
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3. 3

4. Society
• Demographics
• Family life
• Public health
• Religion
• Social norms
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5. Technology
• Information Technology
• Communications
• Biotechnology
• Manufacturing
• Materials science
• New methods
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6. Economy
• GDP
• Interest rates
• Inflation
• Commerce
• Labor
• Income distribution
• Equality
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7. Environment
• Climate
• Weather
• Resource availability
• Agricultural systems
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8. Politics
• Elections
• Regulation
• International bodies
• Conflict
• Legislation
• Legal systems
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9. STEEP is interchangeable with
other outside-in analytical
frameworks
• PEST
• PESTLE (Law)
• STEEPLED (Law, Ethics,
Demographic)
• STEEP + 2 (Military, Psychology)
• STEMPLE (Military)
• PMESII (Military, Information,
Infrastructure)
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10. Hold yourself to high
standards
• Question assumptions, generalizations,
and stereotypes
• Validate qualitative trends with
quantitative measures
• Get as close as possible to primary
sources
• Evaluate sources’ reliability and credibility
• Insist on sources that reveal methodology
and assumptions
• Read for nuance
• Triangulate trends and uncertainties from
multiple independent sources
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11. STEEP is a jumping off point for
other powerful analysis
• Implications wheels
• ”What if?” analysis
• Scenario analysis
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12. STEEP is the macro layer of my analytical operating system
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STEEP to understand the macro-environment
Porter’s Five Forces to understand the industry
SWOT to evaluate the players

13. Let’s look at a STEEP
analysis of Covid-19
• You can download an
example STEEP reflecting
some issues related to Covid-
19 here:
https://8of12.com/3akLNWv
• Feel free to sse this as a
template for your own STEEP
projects
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14. Thank you!
august@augustjackson.net
https://augustjackson.net
@8of12
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