Build a Modernization Decision Pack

Build an executive modernization case with cost, risk, and roadmap models.

Introduction

30 Second Summary

An aging internal platform can look affordable until incidents interrupt work or support runs out. Leaders then need a clear case for choosing where to invest.

In this project, you will build a CTO-level infrastructure modernization decision pack for the fictional Northstar Service Hub in Microsoft Excel. You will turn its recommendation into a five-slide executive briefing in Microsoft PowerPoint.

What You'll Build

You will present a five-slide case for funding a governed 90-day validation phase for Northstar Service Hub.

By the end of this project, you'll have:

An adjustable decision model where changing an assumption updates the preferred modernization option.
The ability to defend the recommendation using three-year total cost of ownership, a weighted decision matrix, and risk ownership aligned with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0.
A boardroom-ready executive briefing that shows the target operating model. It also presents the governed 12-month roadmap and the approval required to begin.
Secret Mission: Change the executive priorities until the recommendation flips. Then document the condition that makes refresh on-prem the stronger choice.

Are there any prerequisites?

You need a Windows device with Microsoft 365 access. Familiarity with infrastructure and operations helps you focus on the executive tradeoffs.

Desktop apps are optional because the web versions provide a fallback.

Before We Start

Your modernization decision needs a clear business purpose before you assess any options. This is your moment to commit to advising on the fictional Northstar Service Hub and define why an accountable investment decision matters.

Set Up the Decision Pack

A modernization decision cannot be reviewed until its evidence has a clear home. Its executive narrative needs a clear home too.

You'll use Microsoft Excel to hold the scenario plus the decision evidence. You'll use Microsoft PowerPoint to turn that evidence into an executive briefing.

In this step, get ready to:

Open Excel plus PowerPoint in their desktop or web versions.
Create the named workbook plus presentation.
Record the fictional Northstar scenario plus the presentation title.

Open Excel and PowerPoint

Your Microsoft 365 access gives you two ways to create the decision pack. The web apps provide a fallback when either desktop app is unavailable.

✔️ I have both desktop apps

Press the Windows key to open Windows search.
Type Excel into search. Press Enter to open it.

You'll see the Excel start screen with workbook options.

Press the Windows key again to return to Windows search.
Type PowerPoint into search. Press Enter to open it.

You'll see the PowerPoint start screen with presentation options.

ⓧ I need the web apps

Open Microsoft 365 for the web in your browser.
Complete the sign-in flow with your existing Microsoft 365 account.

You'll see the Microsoft 365 home page once your account is ready.

Select Excel for the web from the available apps.
Open another browser tab.

Keep the Excel tab open so you can return to it when you create the workbook.

Open Microsoft 365 for the web in the new tab.
Select PowerPoint for the web from the available apps.

You'll now have Excel plus PowerPoint available in separate browser tabs.

Your workspace is ready. You can now build the evidence file plus its matching executive story.

Can't access both apps?

Use the web-app route above if Windows search does not show either desktop app.
Confirm that you completed the sign-in flow with the Microsoft 365 account that has your existing access.

Get help with accessing Excel or PowerPoint through Microsoft 365.

Create and name the decision files

The workbook keeps every assumption in one auditable model. The presentation gives decision-makers a separate file for the final recommendation.

✔️ I'm using desktop apps

Switch back to Excel.
Select Blank workbook.

You'll see an empty worksheet grid in the new workbook.

Select the save control in Excel's top toolbar.

You'll see the save interface for the new workbook.

Choose the folder where you want to keep the decision pack.
Name the workbook Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx.

The save interface should now show the complete workbook filename.

Confirm the workbook save.

You'll see Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx in Excel's title bar.

Switch back to PowerPoint.

You'll return to the PowerPoint start screen.

Select New.
Select Blank Presentation.

You'll see a new presentation with one blank title slide.

Select the save control in PowerPoint's top toolbar.
Choose the folder where you saved the workbook.

The workbook plus presentation now have the same storage location.

Name the presentation Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx.
Confirm the presentation save.

You'll see Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx in PowerPoint's title bar.

ⓧ I'm using the web apps

Switch back to the Excel browser tab.
Select Blank workbook.

You'll see an empty worksheet grid in the new workbook.

Select the workbook name in the title bar.
Rename the workbook to Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx.

Excel for the web saves the renamed workbook to OneDrive automatically.

Switch back to the PowerPoint browser tab.
Select New.

You'll see the available presentation templates.

Select Blank Presentation.
Select the presentation name in the title bar.

You'll have one blank title slide plus access to the presentation filename.

Rename the presentation to Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx.

PowerPoint for the web saves the renamed presentation automatically.

The two files now have stable names. Next, the workbook needs a sheet for each part of the decision evidence.

Switch back to Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx.
Double-click the first sheet tab.

The default sheet name becomes editable.

Type Scenario. Press Enter to apply the name.
Select the plus control beside the sheet tabs four times.

You'll see five sheet tabs across the bottom of the workbook.

Rename the second sheet tab to Quick Score.
Rename the third sheet tab to TCO.

The first three tabs now separate the scenario from its first scoring view plus cost model.

Rename the fourth sheet tab to Decision Model.
Rename the fifth sheet tab to Roadmap.

You should now see Scenario, Quick Score, TCO, Decision Model, plus Roadmap in that order.

Don't see all five sheets?

Select the plus control until the workbook contains exactly five sheet tabs.
Check each tab name for spaces before comparing it with the required list.

Get help with fixing the workbook sheet names.

Add the Northstar scenario and title

The model needs a shared baseline before any option can be scored. Every value below is an explicitly fictional planning assumption for the Northstar Service Hub.

Select the Scenario sheet tab.
Enter Employees: 1,200 in cell A1.

The first assumption establishes the scale of the internal platform.

Enter Hardware support ending in: 12 months in cell A2.
Enter Priority incidents last year: 14 in cell A3.

The next two assumptions show why delaying the decision carries continuity risk.

Enter Current annual run cost: $240,000 in cell A4.
Enter Recovery objective: four hours in cell A5.

The scenario now connects operating cost with the recovery target the business expects.

Enter Last recovery test result: nine hours in cell A6.
Use Excel's save control if you are working in the desktop app.

Excel for the web saves these entries automatically. Your Scenario sheet should show all six fictional assumptions in cells A1:A6.

Switch back to Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx.

You'll see the blank title slide that introduces the executive decision.

Select the title placeholder on slide 1.
Enter Northstar Service Hub Modernization Decision.

Slide 1 now identifies the platform plus the decision that executives need to make.

Use PowerPoint's save control if you are working in the desktop app.

PowerPoint for the web saves the title automatically.

Before you reopen the files, do you expect the scenario assumptions plus presentation title to remain in place?

Close the Excel workbook.
Close the PowerPoint presentation.

Reopen Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx from its saved folder or your Microsoft 365 recent-file list.

You'll see the six fictional assumptions on Scenario plus all five sheet tabs. The other four sheets should be blank.

Reopen Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx from its saved folder or your Microsoft 365 recent-file list.

You'll see Northstar Service Hub Modernization Decision as the title on slide 1.

✔️ My files match

That's the setup complete. Your Northstar evidence workbook plus executive presentation are saved and ready for the decision analysis.

ⓧ I'd like to double check the files

Compare your saved files with this checkpoint:

The saved workbook is named Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx. Its sheets are Scenario, Quick Score, TCO, Decision Model, plus Roadmap.
The Scenario sheet records 1,200 employees. It records hardware support ending in 12 months. It records 14 priority incidents last year.
The Scenario sheet records a current annual run cost of $240,000. It records a four-hour recovery objective. It records a nine-hour result in the last recovery test.
The sheets named Quick Score, TCO, Decision Model, plus Roadmap are blank.
The saved presentation is named Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx. Slide 1 is titled Northstar Service Hub Modernization Decision.

Your decision pack now has a home for every piece of evidence plus a separate executive narrative. Next, you'll make a fast technical call and see where that narrow view falls short.

Make the Fast Technical Call

Your Northstar scenario now has a home in Microsoft Excel. Your Microsoft PowerPoint title frames the executive decision.

A fast technical call gives the team an immediate direction. This first pass measures implementation speed.

It also measures operational continuity. Team familiarity completes the narrow technical view.

In this step, get ready to:

Build a technical scorecard for three modernization options.
Score each option on a 1-to-5 scale.
Calculate the first recommendation from weighted totals.

Build the quick score table

A weighted decision matrix turns criteria into comparable option scores. Each option gets its own column.

Switch back to the Excel workbook from earlier.
Select the Quick Score sheet.
Enter Criterion in cell A2.
Enter Weight in cell B2.
Enter Refresh on-prem in cell C2.
Enter Rehost to cloud IaaS in cell D2.
Enter Modernize to managed cloud platform in cell E2.

You should see one criterion column beside one weight column. Three option columns complete the table.

Score the technical criteria

The scoring scale runs from 1 to 5. A score of 5 is best.

Enter Speed to implement in cell A3.
Enter 35% in cell B3.
Enter 3 in cell C3.
Enter 5 in cell D3.
Enter 2 in cell E3.

Row 3 now gives implementation speed a 35% influence.

Enter Operational continuity in cell A4.
Enter 35% in cell B4.
Enter 4 in cell C4.
Enter 4 in cell D4.
Enter 2 in cell E4.

Row 4 gives operational continuity the same influence.

Enter Team familiarity in cell A5.
Enter 30% in cell B5.
Enter 5 in cell C5.
Enter 4 in cell D5.
Enter 2 in cell E5.

Row 5 completes the scorecard. Team familiarity carries the remaining 30%.

Calculate the quick answer

A weighted total multiplies each score by its criterion weight. The sum lets the three options compete on one scale.

Before you calculate the totals, which option do you expect these criteria to favor? Hold that prediction for the result.

Enter =$B$3*C3+$B$4*C4+$B$5*C5 in cell C6.
Enter =$B$3*D3+$B$4*D4+$B$5*D5 in cell D6.
Enter =$B$3*E3+$B$4*E4+$B$5*E5 in cell E6.
Select the range C6:E6.
Set the selected totals to display two decimal places using Excel's number-formatting controls.

How does the formula work?

The formula multiplies each score by its weight. It adds the three contributions into one total.

The dollar signs keep each weight reference fixed. Each option formula uses the score column directly above it.

You should see 3.95 in C6. You should see 4.35 in D6.

You should see 2.00 in E6. The highest technical score belongs to Rehost to cloud IaaS.

Why is this answer incomplete?

The quick score only measures implementation speed. It also measures operational continuity.

Team familiarity completes its narrow evidence base. That evidence favors Rehost to cloud IaaS.

Lifecycle cost is missing. Enterprise risk is missing.

Workforce readiness is also missing. The first-place result now exposes the limits of a purely technical call.

Enter Quick answer: Rehost to cloud IaaS in cell A7.
Save Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx using Excel's save control.

Totals not matching?

A value entered as 35 gives a different weight from 35%. Confirm that each weight includes the percent sign.

Check that each total formula points to the score column directly above it. Use two-decimal number formatting if E6 shows 2.

Help me find why my Quick Score totals differ.

✔️ Awesome, I've got everything!

Your technical scorecard is complete. Keep Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx saved before moving on.

ⓧ I'd like to double check the full code

This reference shows the complete populated area of the Quick Score sheet.

Check that A2:E2 reads Criterion, Weight, Refresh on-prem, Rehost to cloud IaaS, Modernize to managed cloud platform in that order.
Check that A3:E3 reads Speed to implement, 35%, 3, 5, 2 in that order.
Check that A4:E4 reads Operational continuity, 35%, 4, 4, 2 in that order.
Check that A5:E5 reads Team familiarity, 30%, 5, 4, 2 in that order.
Check that C6 contains =$B$3*C3+$B$4*C4+$B$5*C5 and displays 3.95.
Check that D6 contains =$B$3*D3+$B$4*D4+$B$5*D5 and displays 4.35.
Check that E6 contains =$B$3*E3+$B$4*E4+$B$5*E5 and displays 2.00.
Check that A7 contains Quick answer: Rehost to cloud IaaS.

The Scenario sheet stays unchanged. The TCO sheet stays blank.

The Decision Model sheet stays blank. The Roadmap sheet stays blank.

Your saved PowerPoint presentation remains on its titled first slide.

Confirm that row 6 displays 3.95, 4.35, 2.00.
Confirm that the visible quick answer reads Quick answer: Rehost to cloud IaaS.

Strong start. Your scorecard now produces a visible first-place option.

Your fast technical call is now auditable. Next, you'll test whether its recommendation survives a broader executive view.

Expose the Missing Cost and Risk

Your technical scorecard put Rehost to cloud IaaS in first place. That result exposed how a narrow lens can steer an executive decision.

This step expands the evidence with three-year cost in Microsoft Excel. A balanced model then adds enterprise risk plus workforce readiness.

In this step, get ready to:

Calculate three-year TCO for the three modernization options.
Create a weighted model that covers seven executive criteria.
Chart the recommendation with named risk ownership behind it.

Create the three-year cost model

The quick score leaves lifecycle spending outside the decision. A total cost of ownership model combines the initial investment with three years of operating spend.

These planning values are fictional. Each value represents thousands of dollars.

Switch back to the blank TCO sheet from earlier.
Enter Option, Year 0, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, and Three-year total ($000) across A2:F2.

You should now see six headers defining the cost model.

Enter Refresh on-prem, 180, 200, 200, and 200 across A3:E3.
Enter Rehost to cloud IaaS, 260, 220, 220, and 220 across A4:E4.

The first two rows now show different upfront costs with their ongoing run costs.

Enter Modernize to managed cloud platform, 340, 120, 120, and 120 across A5:E5.

The managed option now shows the highest initial investment with the lowest annual run cost.

Before you calculate the totals, which option do you expect to cost the least across all four planning periods?

Enter =SUM(B3:E3) in F3.
Drag the fill handle from F3 through F5.

You should see totals of 780, 920, and 700 in F3:F5.

How does the cost model work?

Year 0 represents the planned initial investment.
Years 1 through 3 represent annual operating spend.
Column F adds the initial investment to three operating years.
The result is expressed in thousands of dollars.

Seeing an unexpected total?

Select the affected cell in column F.
Confirm that its formula adds columns B through E from the same row.
Check that each planning value was entered without a dollar sign.

Help me troubleshoot my TCO totals.

Save Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx.

Build the balanced decision model

A weighted decision matrix gives each executive concern a defined influence. The same 1-to-5 scale now covers cost, resilience, security, delivery, operations, workforce, and transition risk.

Switch to the blank Decision Model sheet from earlier.
Enter Criterion, Weight, Refresh on-prem, Rehost to cloud IaaS, and Modernize to managed cloud platform across A2:E2.

The sheet now has the same three option columns as your technical scorecard.

Enter Three-year cost, 20%, 3, 2, and 4 across A3:E3.
Enter Resilience, 20%, 2, 3, and 5 across A4:E4.

Cost plus resilience now account for 40% of the decision.

Enter Security and control maturity, 15%, 3, 3, and 5 across A5:E5.
Enter Delivery speed, 15%, 2, 4, and 5 across A6:E6.

Security plus delivery now account for another 30% of the decision.

Enter Operational simplicity, 15%, 2, 3, and 5 across A7:E7.
Enter Workforce readiness, 10%, 5, 4, and 2 across A8:E8.

The model now rewards operating simplicity while recognizing current workforce constraints.

Enter Transition risk, 5%, 5, 4, and 2 across A9:E9.

Why does the recommendation change?

The quick score gave 70% of its weight to implementation speed plus operational continuity. This model distributes influence across the full investment case.

Workforce readiness still matters at 10%. Transition risk also remains visible at 5%.

Before you calculate the balanced result, which option do you expect the wider criteria to favor?

Enter =$B$3*C3+$B$4*C4+$B$5*C5+$B$6*C6+$B$7*C7+$B$8*C8+$B$9*C9 in C10.
Drag the fill handle from C10 through E10.

Excel should calculate values of 2.8, 3.1, and 4.35.

Select C10:E10.
Use the number-format controls on the Home ribbon to display two decimal places.

You should now see 2.80, 3.10, and 4.35 across C10:E10.

Totals do not match?

Confirm that the weights in B3:B9 total 100%.
Check that every formula keeps the weight references in column B absolute.
Confirm that each copied formula uses the option score from its own column.

Help me debug my weighted model.

Save Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx.

Add risk ownership and the comparison chart

The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 gives leaders shared outcomes for communicating cybersecurity risk. This register uses Govern, Protect, and Recover to connect each risk with accountability.

Enter Function, Risk, Owner, and Response across A13:D13.
Enter Govern, unclear decision authority, CTO, and Approve decision rights and a monthly governance review across A14:D14.

The first risk now has an executive owner with a governance response.

Enter Protect, unvalidated identity, access, and data controls, CISO, and Complete control validation before pilot exit across A15:D15.
Enter Recover, unproven rollback and recovery procedures, Head of Infrastructure and Operations, and Pass a recovery exercise before production cutover across A16:D16.

Each risk now has a named owner with a response that must be completed before a defined gate.

Enter Option in G2 with Weighted score in H2.
Enter Refresh on-prem in G3 with =C10 in H3.

The summary table now links its first option directly to the weighted result.

Enter Rehost to cloud IaaS in G4 with =D10 in H4.
Enter Modernize to managed cloud platform in G5 with =E10 in H5.

The completed summary range should show the same three totals as row 10.

The chart path differs slightly between the desktop app and the web version. Use the tab that matches the version already open.

Excel desktop

Select G2:H5.
Select Insert on the ribbon.
Select Recommended Charts.
Choose a clustered bar chart from the previews.
Select OK.

Excel for the web

Select G2:H5.
Open Insert on the ribbon.
Choose a chart from the Charts area.
Choose a clustered bar chart from the available chart types.

Select the chart title.
Enter Weighted Decision Score.

You should see three horizontal bars with the managed cloud platform option extending the furthest.

Chart missing an option?

Confirm that the chart source includes G2:H5.
Check that H3:H5 contains numeric results from row 10.
Recreate the chart after selecting the complete summary range.

Help me fix my comparison chart.

Before you compare this result with the Quick Score, which option do you expect the balanced model to rank first?

Read the three totals in row 10 from left to right.
Compare the three bars in the Weighted Decision Score chart.
Review the owners with responses in rows 14:16.

You should see 2.80, 3.10, and 4.35. The chart should rank Modernize to managed cloud platform first.

Every risk row should have an owner with a response. This proves the recommendation has financial evidence plus accountable risk treatment.

Save Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx.

Strong work. Your original technical answer has become a cost-aware recommendation with risk ownership behind it.

✔️ Awesome, I've got everything!

Your workbook now contains the cost model, balanced decision model, risk register, summary range, and comparison chart.

ⓧ I'd like to double check the model

Compare your workbook with this complete reference before moving on.

The Scenario sheet remains unchanged with the fictional Northstar assumptions.
The Quick Score sheet remains unchanged with totals of 3.95, 4.35, and 2.00.
The TCO sheet has headers Option, Year 0, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, and Three-year total ($000).
The TCO rows show Refresh on-prem with 180, 200, 200, 200 plus a total of 780.
The TCO rows show Rehost to cloud IaaS with 260, 220, 220, 220 plus a total of 920.
The TCO rows show Modernize to managed cloud platform with 340, 120, 120, 120 plus a total of 700.
The formulas in F3:F5 are =SUM(B3:E3), =SUM(B4:E4), and =SUM(B5:E5).
The Decision Model contains the seven criteria from Three-year cost through Transition risk.
The seven weights are 20%, 20%, 15%, 15%, 15%, 10%, 5%.
The Refresh on-prem scores are 3, 2, 3, 2, 2, 5, 5.
The Rehost to cloud IaaS scores are 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4.
The Modernize to managed cloud platform scores are 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 2, 2.
The direct weighted formulas in row 10 produce 2.80, 3.10, and 4.35.
The Govern risk records unclear decision authority with owner CTO plus response Approve decision rights and a monthly governance review.
The Protect risk records unvalidated identity, access, and data controls with owner CISO plus response Complete control validation before pilot exit.
The Recover risk records unproven rollback and recovery procedures with owner Head of Infrastructure and Operations plus response Pass a recovery exercise before production cutover.
The summary range G2:H5 contains the three option names with links to the row 10 totals.
The clustered bar chart is titled Weighted Decision Score.
The Roadmap sheet remains blank.
The saved PowerPoint presentation still contains the slide 1 title Northstar Service Hub Modernization Decision.

Your recommendation now has an auditable financial case with governed risk responses. Next, you will turn that choice into a phased roadmap with owners, gates, and measurable targets.

Build a Governed Roadmap

Your Microsoft Excel decision model has selected managed modernization as Northstar's strongest option. That evidence gives the organization a direction.

A recommendation without sequencing, ownership, or stop-or-go gates cannot be governed safely. In this step, you will turn the recommendation into a 12-month roadmap with accountable decisions and measurable outcomes.

In this step, get ready to:

Build a three-phase roadmap for managed modernization.
Assign executive decision rights for funding, security, operations, and tradeoffs.
Define measurable targets for the 12-month roadmap.

Create the phased roadmap

A phased modernization roadmap divides a large change into controlled decisions. Each exit gate states what must be true before Northstar commits to the next phase.

Switch back to the Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx workbook in Microsoft Excel.
Select the Roadmap sheet tab.
Fill cells A2:D2 from left to right with Phase, Timing Window, Accountable Owner, and Exit Gate.
Fill cells A3:D3 with Validate, Days 0 to 90, Enterprise Architecture, and Validated dependency inventory, pilot, cost baseline, and approved business case.

You should see a validation phase with a 90-day boundary. Its exit gate requires evidence before Northstar approves broader transition work.

Fill cells A4:D4 with Transition, Months 4 to 9, Infrastructure and Operations, and Migration waves, parallel running, rollback testing, and operational acceptance.
Fill cells A5:D5 with Retire, Months 10 to 12, Infrastructure and Operations, and Legacy decommissioning, support handoff, and benefits confirmation.

The roadmap should now progress from validation to controlled transition. The final row closes the lifecycle through retirement and benefits confirmation.

Save the Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx workbook.

Assign executive decision rights

The risk register built with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 names the governance concerns. Decision rights convert risk ownership into specific executive authority.

Enter Decision Rights in cell A7.
Fill cells A8:B8 with the headers Role and Decision Right.

You should now have a dedicated governance section beneath the phase table.

Fill cells A9:B9 with CTO and approves cost and risk tradeoffs.
Fill cells A10:B10 with CFO and validates funding.

The first two rows place investment tradeoffs with the CTO. They place funding validation with the CFO.

Fill cells A11:B11 with CISO and accepts residual security risk.
Fill cells A12:B12 with Head of Infrastructure and Operations and accepts operational readiness.

Every major approval now has a named executive owner. This prevents funding, security, or operational acceptance from becoming an implied responsibility.

Save the Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx workbook.

Add measurable targets and verify the roadmap

Scenario targets give leaders evidence for judging execution. They also show when the modernization program needs intervention.

Enter Scenario Targets in cell A14.
Enter Forecast variance at or below 10% in cell A15.

The first target sets a measurable boundary for financial control.

Enter Parallel running no longer than 90 days in cell A16.
Enter Zero Severity 1 incidents caused by migration in cell A17.

These targets limit the transition state. They protect service stability during migration.

Enter A passed recovery exercise before production cutover in cell A18.
Enter Legacy decommissioning by month 12 in cell A19.

The final targets make recovery proof mandatory before cutover. They also prevent the legacy platform from remaining indefinitely.

Before you review the finished sheet, predict whether every phase now shows who owns it and what must be true before it ends.

Save the Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx workbook.
Read cells A3:D5 from left to right.
Check each phase for a timing window.
Check each phase for an accountable owner.
Check each phase for an observable exit outcome.
Review the decision rights in cells A9:B12.
Review the five scenario targets in cells A15:A19.

Each phase row should show a timing window, an accountable owner, and an exit gate. The exit gates define observable completion outcomes for validation, transition, and retirement.

You should also see four named decision owners and five measurable targets. Together, they make the 12-month roadmap governable.

That is a major shift: managed modernization now has accountable gates instead of a loose schedule. Next, you will return to Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx and turn this evidence into a five-slide executive briefing.

Brief the Executive Team

Your governed Microsoft Excel workbook now gives the recommendation a safe sequence. It also names who owns each decision.

Executives still need a short story that exposes the tradeoff. In this step, you will turn the evidence into a five-slide Microsoft PowerPoint executive briefing with a specific approval request.

In this step, get ready to:

Structure a five-slide executive decision story.
Visualize why managed modernization wins.
Turn the governed roadmap into a specific approval request.

Build the five-slide decision story

Slide 1 states the decision. Slide 2 establishes the urgency.

Switch back to your saved Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx presentation.
Select the slide 1 thumbnail in the left pane.
Replace the slide 1 title with Decision Required.
Enter Northstar Service Hub Modernization Decision beneath the title.

Slide 1 now identifies the business decision pack before presenting its recommendation.

Add Recommendation: Modernize to managed cloud platform to slide 1.

The opening slide now states the choice that the rest of the briefing supports.

Select Home in the ribbon.
Select New Slide four times.

You should see five slide thumbnails in the left pane.

Select slide 2.
Enter Why Now as its title.
Select slide 3.
Enter Options and Recommendation as its title.

The first three thumbnails should now show the decision question followed by urgency and evidence.

Select slide 4.
Enter Target Operating Model as its title.
Select slide 5.
Enter 12-Month Roadmap and Governance as its title.

Your five-slide structure now moves from decision to urgency to evidence to execution to approval.

Return to slide 2.
Enter Hardware support ends in 12 months as the first evidence line.
Enter 14 priority incidents last year as the second evidence line.

The first two lines establish a deadline plus a visible reliability problem.

Enter Current annual run cost: $240,000 as the third evidence line.
Enter Recovery performance: nine hours against a four-hour objective as the fourth evidence line.

Slide 2 now connects operational pressure to cost and recovery performance.

Visualize the recommendation

Slide 3 answers why managed modernization wins. Slide 4 shows how the target operating model supports that choice.

Switch back to your saved Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx workbook.
Select the Decision Model sheet.
Select the Weighted Decision Score chart.
Press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Cmd+C (macOS) to copy the chart.
Switch back to your PowerPoint presentation.
Select slide 3.
Paste the chart using the Picture paste option.

You should see the complete Weighted Decision Score chart as one image on slide 3.

Position the chart so the slide title remains visible.
Enter Recommendation: Modernize to managed cloud platform beside the chart.
Enter Weighted score: 4.35 beneath the recommendation.

Slide 3 now makes the recommendation visible beside the evidence that supports it.

Why paste a picture?

A static picture keeps the chart stable when someone opens the presentation without access to the workbook. The workbook remains the source of truth for assumptions and calculations.

Chart pasted as editable cells?

Undo the pasted object.
Copy the Weighted Decision Score chart from Excel again.
Choose the Picture paste option in PowerPoint.

Help me paste my Excel chart into PowerPoint as a picture.

Select slide 4.
Select Insert in the ribbon.
Select Shapes.
Select a rectangular shape.
Draw five boxes in a horizontal flow.

You should see five empty boxes ready to show the target operating model.

Enter Employees and business teams in the first box.
Enter Identity and access in the second box.

The first two boxes show who uses the service plus the control layer they pass through.

Enter Managed application platform in the third box.
Enter Data and integration in the fourth box.

The middle of the flow now shows the managed platform plus its data layer.

Enter Monitoring, security, and service management in the fifth box.

The fifth box makes operational control visible as part of the target model.

Select Insert in the ribbon.
Select Shapes.
Choose a connector.
Draw four connectors from each box to the next box.

You should see one left-to-right flow from employees through the managed service model.

Draw one separate rectangular shape beneath the main flow.
Enter Legacy platform: retire after validation in the separate box.

Slide 4 now separates the future operating model from the legacy retirement transition.

Deliver the roadmap approval slide

The final slide converts the recommendation into governed action. It gives executives a specific decision to make.

Select slide 5.
Select Insert in the ribbon.
Select Shapes.
Select a rectangular shape.
Draw three phase boxes across the top of the slide.

You should see three spaces for the modernization sequence.

Enter Validate | Days 0 to 90 in the first phase box.
Enter Transition | Months 4 to 9 in the second phase box.

The first two phase boxes now show validation before controlled transition.

Enter Retire | Months 10 to 12 in the third phase box.

The roadmap now ends with a defined legacy retirement window.

Draw one wide shape beneath the phase boxes.
Enter CTO: approves cost and risk tradeoffs as the first decision-right line.
Enter CFO: validates funding as the second decision-right line.

The first two lines identify ownership of the investment decision.

Enter CISO: accepts residual security risk as the third decision-right line.
Enter Head of Infrastructure and Operations: accepts operational readiness as the fourth decision-right line.

The owner area now covers financial, security, operational, and technology accountability.

Draw another wide shape beneath the decision owners.
Enter Forecast variance at or below 10% as the first target.
Enter Parallel running no longer than 90 days as the second target.

The first two measures control financial accuracy plus transition duration.

Enter Zero Severity 1 incidents caused by migration as the third target.
Enter Passed recovery exercise before production cutover as the fourth target.

The next two measures protect service continuity before production cutover.

Enter Legacy decommissioning by month 12 as the fifth target.

The target list now finishes with a measurable retirement deadline.

Draw one wide shape across the bottom of slide 5.
Enter Approve the 90-day validation phase, its governance owners, and funding to produce a final migration business case.

Slide 5 now ends with the exact investment decision required from the executive team.

Save Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx by pressing Ctrl+S (Windows) or Cmd+S (macOS).
In PowerPoint for the web, wait for automatic saving to finish.

Before you start the slide show, do you expect each slide to answer a different executive question?

Select Slide Show in the ribbon.
Select From Beginning.
Advance through all five slides.

You should see five readable slides. Slide 3 should show the option chart as a picture.

Slide 4 should show the connected target operating model. Slide 5 should end with the explicit approval request.

Press Esc to leave the slide show.
Shorten any text that looked crowded or ambiguous.
Run the slide show from the beginning again after any correction.

Briefing difficult to read?

Enlarge the chart if its option labels cannot be read in slide show view.
Increase the spacing between shapes if the target operating model looks crowded.
Shorten supporting text while keeping every required owner, target, and approval condition.

Help me improve the readability of my five-slide executive briefing.

That completes the decision pack. Your evidence now ends in a specific executive approval request.

Secret mission

Stress-Test the Recommendation

Test whether a skills constraint can overturn the managed modernization recommendation. You will discover the exact assumptions that make Refresh on-prem the stronger choice.

Clean Up Your Resources

Choose how you want to leave your saved Northstar decision pack. The project uses your existing Microsoft 365 access with no running infrastructure or additional project cost.

Resources you used:

Microsoft Excel workbook Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx containing the original model plus the Sensitivity stress test.
Microsoft PowerPoint presentation Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx containing the five-slide executive briefing.

Keep everything running

No action needed. Choose this if you want to retain the evidence for future reviews or refine the executive story.

Keep Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx as the auditable source for your recommendation.
Keep Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx beside the workbook as the executive-facing briefing.

Pause - I'll come back to this later

Close the open files to clear your workspace while preserving every saved formula and slide for later.

Close the window or browser tab containing Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx.
Close the window or browser tab containing Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx.
Leave both saved files in their current location.
Reopen the two files when you are ready to continue.

Delete - I don't want to use this again

Deleting the decision pack can feel drastic. Your Microsoft 365 account remains unchanged because this path removes only the two Northstar files.

Saved on Windows

Close Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx if it is still open.
Close Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx if it is still open.
Return to the Windows folder where you saved the two files.
Select Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx.
Add Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx to the selection with Ctrl+click.
Permanently delete the selected files with Shift+Delete.
Confirm the deletion in the prompt.

You should no longer see either filename in the folder where the decision pack was saved.

Saved in Microsoft 365 for the web

Close the browser tab containing Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx.
Close the browser tab containing Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx.
Return to the OneDrive file list where you saved the two files.
Use the row selection control for Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx.
Use the row selection control for Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx.
Choose the deletion action in the file toolbar.

The two files move out of the original file list and into OneDrive's deleted-files area.

Open the deleted-files area in OneDrive.
Use the row selection control for Northstar_Modernization_Decision.xlsx.
Use the row selection control for Northstar_Executive_Brief.pptx.
Choose the permanent deletion action in the file toolbar.
Confirm the permanent removal in the prompt.

You should no longer see either filename in the deleted-files area. The original file list should also contain neither file.

Nice Work!

Strong finish. Your boardroom-ready modernization decision pack now includes an auditable Microsoft Excel model plus a five-slide Microsoft PowerPoint briefing.

You've learned how to:

Build an auditable weighted decision matrix that incorporates three-year total cost of ownership. This exposes why a narrow technical score can mislead an executive decision.
Assign executive risk ownership to Govern, Protect, and Recover risks through the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0.
Turn the selected option into a governed 12-month roadmap with named owners, exit gates, plus measurable targets. Present that case through a five-slide executive briefing with a specific approval request.
Secret Mission: Stress-test the original weights to reveal the skills-constrained recommendation of Refresh on-prem. Record the condition that reverses the recommendation on slide 5.

Ready to quiz yourself?