| name | Research-First Development |
| description | Gather and structure knowledge before producing deliverables using 4-dimension gap analysis to ensure thorough understanding first. |
Purpose
Build knowledge before building anything. This skill ensures that every significant task begins with structured research: identifying what is known, what is unknown, what is assumed, and what is risky. The output is a knowledge foundation that makes subsequent work faster, more accurate, and less likely to require rework.
Steps
- Before starting any complex task, pause and define the knowledge gap
- Conduct the 4-dimension gap analysis:
- Known: What facts do we already have? (Search emails, documents, past reports)
- Unknown: What do we need to find out? (Research questions)
- Assumed: What are we assuming without evidence? (Flag for validation)
- Risky: What could go wrong if our assumptions are wrong? (Risk register)
- Search across organizational data (emails, SharePoint, Teams) for existing knowledge
- For each unknown, conduct targeted research using Deep Research
- Document findings in a structured Word document:
- Gap analysis table (4 dimensions)
- Research findings with sources
- Validated assumptions (with evidence)
- Remaining uncertainties (flagged for follow-up)
- Only after the research document is complete, proceed with the original task
- Reference the research document in all subsequent deliverables
4-Dimension Gap Analysis Template
| Dimension | Question | Findings |
|---|
| Known | What facts do we have? | [List verified facts with sources] |
| Unknown | What do we need to find out? | [List research questions] |
| Assumed | What are we assuming? | [List assumptions, mark validated/unvalidated] |
| Risky | What breaks if we're wrong? | [List risks with severity: low/medium/high] |
When to Apply
| Task complexity | Research depth |
|---|
| Simple (1 step, clear requirements) | Skip: proceed directly |
| Medium (multiple steps, some ambiguity) | Quick gap scan: 5 minutes |
| Complex (cross-functional, high stakes) | Full 4-dimension analysis |
| Novel (never done before, new domain) | Deep research with multiple sources |
Output Format
- Word document with gap analysis, findings, and remaining questions
- Include source citations for every claim
- Flag unresolved unknowns with [NEEDS FOLLOW-UP]
- Attach as context when starting the main task
Guidelines
- Research is not optional for complex tasks; it prevents expensive rework
- Better to spend 30 minutes researching than 3 hours redoing work
- Say "I don't know yet" rather than guessing
- Every assumption should be either validated or flagged as a risk
- Keep the research document as a living reference; update it as new information arrives
