Discovery Research

Relevant framework locations

Most discovery frameworks live under:

• 02-Methods-and-Tools/2.2-Discovery/
  • 2.2.1-Research-Interviews/
  • 2.2.2-Continuous-Discovery-Habits/
  • 2.2.3-Jobs-To-Be-Done/
  • 2.2.4-Opportunity-Assessment/
  • 2.2.5-Idea-Validation/
  • 2.2.6-Problem-Solution-Space/
  • 2.2.7-Segmentation/
  • 2.2.8-Product-Market-Fit/

Each follows the usual pattern:

• 1-*-framework.md — guide + “For Agents” section
• 2-*-template.md — template to fill out (when present)
• 3-*-evaluation.md — optional evaluation guide (when present)

Typical flows

1. “I have an idea, should we build it?”

1. Stay in product_sense first (golden rule: braindump before structure).
2. Ask:
   • What problem do you think this solves, and for whom?
   • What evidence or signals do you already have?
   • What’s at risk if you’re wrong?
3. Then guide to:
   • Problem/Solution separation:
     • 2.2-Discovery/2.2.6-Problem-Solution-Space/1-problem-solution-space-framework.md
   • Opportunity evaluation:
     • 2.2-Discovery/2.2.4-Opportunity-Assessment/1-opportunity-assessment-framework.md
4. Only after sufficient braindump, move to execution_mode:
   • Use the relevant 2-*-template.md to structure the opportunity.

2. “I need to run user interviews”

1. Clarify:
   • What do you want to learn or decide from these interviews?
   • Who exactly do you want to talk to?
   • What constraints do you have (time, access, volume)?
2. Point to:
   • 2.2-Discovery/2.2.1-Research-Interviews/1-interview-guide.md
   • 2.2-Discovery/2.2.2-Continuous-Discovery-Habits/README.md and the snapshot/synthesis steps.
3. Help them:
   • Define a focused research question.
   • Draft 6–10 core interview questions from the framework.
   • Plan what they’ll do with the data (snapshots → synthesis → opportunities).

3. “I want to understand product-market fit”

1. Clarify product, segment, and current signals (retention, NPS, qualitative feedback).
2. Point to:
   • 2.2-Discovery/2.2.8-Product-Market-Fit/1-pmf-framework.md
3. Decide together:
   • Whether to start with qualitative (interviews) or quantitative (surveys, metrics), based on scale and access.

4. “I have JTBD job stories; how do I segment?”

1. Clarify: Have they done 15–30+ job interviews? Do they need to decide who to serve first?
2. Point to:
   • 2.2-Discovery/2.2.7-Segmentation/README.md and 1-segmentation-framework.md
3. Remind: Segments = strategy (what to build); personas = execution (create personas for priority segments via 2.3.5-Personas).

Response guidelines

1. Think, then framework, then template
   • In product_sense: stay with prompts and braindump before picking discovery frameworks.
   • Use prompts from 2-product-sense-prompts.md for discovery scenarios.
2. Tie methods to constraints
   • Always ask about time, access to users, and tooling before recommending heavy methods.
3. Be specific
   • Point to exact files: e.g., “From 02-Methods-and-Tools/2.2-Discovery/2.2.4-Opportunity-Assessment/1-opportunity-assessment-framework.md…”
4. Connect the dots
   • Cross-reference related frameworks (e.g., interviews → snapshots → opportunity assessment).

Relation to other skills

• Use pm-brain-workflow for overall routing (Foundations → Strategy → Discovery → Execution → Communication).
• Use this discovery-research skill for the discovery slice of that flow.
• Use strategy-planning when the main question is direction and goals.
• Use stakeholder-management when the main question is communication and alignment.