Lecture on Procter & Gamble One-Page Memos

Introduction to P&G One-Page Memos

Concept introduced by CEO Richard Dupree in the 1940s.
Designed to simplify communication by breaking down complex ideas into simple, step-by-step memos.
Used as a standardized tool for communication within P&G.

Speaker's first encounter with P&G memo style involved multiple revisions.
Initially struggled with the format but was sent to "Procter & Gamble University" to learn the correct style.
Continued to use and teach this format throughout their career.
Notable impact: Former colleague at Disney expressed gratitude for learning the memo style.

Speaker taught the memo style to students at Huntsman Marketing Association.
Success story: Eliza Culver, a student, impressed her General Mills division president with her memo written in P&G style.
Led to the inclusion of memo writing in the Fundamentals of Marketing course and MBA course.

Writing in P&G style improves clarity and precision in thought and communication.
Memos serve as a knowledge codification tool.
Encourages concise communication, avoiding unnecessary details.

Addressing: Use initials (e.g., E.D. Schultz) for gender neutrality.
Subject Line: Clearly state the memo’s purpose.
Opening Paragraph:
- First sentence: State purpose.
- Second sentence: What you’re asking/reporting.
- Third sentence: Benefit to the company.
Background Section: Context of the memo for senior management.
Key Section:
- Three bullet points for key benefits, insights, or learnings.
- Each bullet should have a bold and underlined opening sentence followed by context.
Next Steps: Specify actions for the reader.

Used for various purposes, from asking for advertising budgets to reporting data.
Emphasizes precise, focused writing.