Ideate Solutions
Generate multiple product solution concepts grounded in outcomes and opportunities before validating assumptions.
Position in Workflow
Step 3 of product strategy workflow:
/discover-outcomes- Define outcomes/discover-opportunities- Identify opportunities/ideate-solutions- Explore solution concepts (THIS)/discover-assumptions- Validate with experiments
Core Principle
Diverge before you converge. Create several distinct solutions, then evaluate them against outcomes and constraints.
Input
Default: Use outcomes and opportunities from the current conversation.
If argument provided:
- File path: Read the file for context
- Notion/Doc URL: Summarize relevant outcomes and opportunities
Workflow
1. Gather Context
- Restate the target outcomes and top opportunities.
- List constraints (time, budget, compliance, positioning).
- Clarify what is in scope vs out of scope.
2. Ask Clarifying Questions
Ask what improves ideation quality:
- Which outcomes matter most right now?
- What constraints are non-negotiable?
- What segments or use cases are priority?
- What current alternatives must be beaten?
3. Ideate Multiple Solutions
Generate 3-5 distinct solution concepts. Vary across:
| Dimension | Examples |
|---|---|
| Approach | Self-serve tool, concierge, marketplace, automation |
| Value prop | Speed, cost reduction, risk reduction, delight |
| Delivery model | Feature, workflow, service, integration |
| Adoption path | Low-friction trial, assisted onboarding, pilots |
Avoid anchoring on the first idea. Make the options meaningfully different.
4. Evaluate Trade-offs
For each solution, assess:
- Pros: How it advances outcomes
- Cons: Risks or limitations
- Evidence fit: What assumptions it relies on
- Feasibility: Rough effort and dependencies
- Differentiation: Why it wins vs alternatives
5. Pick a Leading Concept
Rank the options and select a leading concept to validate next.
Output Format
## Solution Ideation
### Context Summary
[Target outcomes + top opportunities]
### Clarifying Questions
[Questions about priorities or constraints - if any]
---
### Concepts
#### Concept 1: [Name] - Leading
[Description]
**Pros:**
- ...
**Cons:**
- ...
**Evidence fit:** [Key assumptions this relies on]
**Feasibility:** [Low/Medium/High]
**Differentiation:** [Why this wins vs alternatives]
#### Concept 2: [Name]
[Same structure]
#### Concept 3: [Name]
[Same structure]
---
### Recommendation
[Why the leading concept wins, and when you'd choose differently]
### Open Questions
[Assumptions or unknowns to validate]
### Next Step
Validate assumptions. Run `/discover-assumptions`.Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Jumping to one idea | Generate 3-5 concepts first |
| Concepts too similar | Force meaningful variation |
| Ignoring constraints | State non-negotiables early |
| No link to outcomes | Tie each concept to outcomes |
What NOT to Do
- Do NOT define experiments yet
- Do NOT commit to a solution without assumptions
- Do NOT skip trade-off analysis