Explain the situation in plain language
Describe what prompted the question and why it matters now. Include the proposed opportunity or issue, the people who will use the findings and the commitment being considered.
State what you already know
List available documents, previous research, competing interpretations and known constraints. Identifying an existing information gap helps avoid paying to rediscover familiar facts.
Prioritise the questions
Separate essential questions from useful background. The essential questions should have a clear connection to whether or how the initiative moves forward.
Agree evidence boundaries
Identify relevant countries, entities, periods and source types. Discuss access limitations, paid records, confidential materials, translation and any matters that require specialists.
Specify a usable output
A short executive brief, evidence table, comparison and action sequence may be more useful than a long narrative. Agree the output and the criteria for sufficient research before starting.