Distribution Strategy

A brilliant briefing distributed to the wrong people is wasted intelligence. Distribution strategy answers three questions: who needs this intelligence, in what format, and through what channel. The VANGUARD distribution model uses concentric rings. The inner ring (5-8 people) receives the full briefing with all four layers. The middle ring (15-20 people) receives an abbreviated version — executive summary plus the most relevant signal for their function. The outer ring (organization-wide) receives a monthly digest of the most significant ecosystem shifts. Each ring gets the depth appropriate to their decision-making level.

1. Map Your Distribution Rings Inner ring: executives and strategy leads who make ecosystem-dependent decisions. Middle ring: functional leaders whose planning is affected by ecosystem shifts. Outer ring: the broader organization that benefits from ecosystem awareness. Name specific people in each ring — not job titles.
2. Match Format to Ring Inner ring: full four-layer briefing, delivered by email or secure channel. Middle ring: executive summary plus function-specific signal, delivered by email or team channel. Outer ring: monthly digest, delivered via internal newsletter or all-hands. The format shrinks as the ring expands.
3. Choose the Right Channel Email for formal distribution (archivable, searchable). Slack or Teams for time-sensitive flash alerts (immediate visibility). Shared document or wiki for the living reference version (always current). The channel should match the urgency and permanence of the content.