discover-opportunities

name	discover-opportunities
description	Use after outcomes are defined to discover opportunities, unmet needs, market gaps, or JTBD insights before choosing solutions.

Discover Opportunities

Overview

Find real opportunities by reasoning from first principles and Jobs-To-Be-Done (JTBD). Focus on the user's job, context, and constraints before any solution ideas.

Position in Workflow

Step 2 of product strategy workflow:

1. /discover-outcomes - Define outcomes
2. /discover-opportunities - Identify opportunities (THIS)
3. /ideate-solutions - Explore solution concepts
4. /discover-assumptions - Validate with experiments

Inputs (ask if missing, max 5)

• Target user / segment
• Trigger and context (when the job arises)
• Desired outcomes (time, money, risk, effort, emotion)
• Current alternatives / workarounds
• Non-negotiable constraints (budget, regulation, tech, org)

Workflow

1. Frame the jobs
   • Define the core job as verb + outcome (not a solution).
   • Include functional, emotional, and social jobs.
   • Map the job journey: before / during / after.
2. First-principles check
   • Identify root frictions (physics, economics, human limits).
   • Separate real constraints from assumed constraints.
3. Generate opportunities
   • Produce 5-10 opportunity statements using the template below.
   • For each, note frequency, severity, and current workaround.
4. Score and rank
   • Score 0-3: impact, urgency/frequency, underservedness, feasibility/leverage, willingness to pay.
   • Rank top 3-5.
5. Output and validation
   • Present top opportunities with short rationale.
   • List key assumptions and missing evidence.
   • Suggest fastest validation tests (interviews, data checks, lightweight prototypes).

Opportunity Statement Template

Help [segment] achieve [job outcome] by reducing [specific friction] in [context].

Output Format

## Opportunity Discovery

### Context Summary
[1-3 sentences]

### JTBD Map
- Functional: ...
- Emotional: ...
- Social: ...
- Journey: before / during / after

### Opportunities (ranked)
1) [Statement]
   - Scores: impact X, urgency X, underservedness X, feasibility X, WTP X
   - Evidence: frequency, severity, workaround
   - Rationale: ...

### Assumptions / Gaps
- ...

### Fast Validation Tests
- ...

### Next Step
Proceed to solution ideation. Run `/ideate-solutions`.

Quick Reference

• No solutions until opportunities are listed.
• Use concrete outcomes and observable behaviors.
• Always include alternatives and workarounds.

Common Mistakes

• Jumping to features instead of jobs
• Vague outcomes ("better UX")
• Ignoring current alternatives
• Mixing constraints with assumptions
• Too few opportunities (aim for 5-10)

Example

Input: "Independent designers need to invoice clients. They use spreadsheets and email, but late payments are common. They want faster payment and less admin. Budget is low."

Opportunity statement: Help independent designers get paid faster by reducing follow-up overhead when invoices go overdue in client email workflows.