| name | trend-modeling |
| description | Use when the user asks to "model trends with limited data", "three-valued logic analysis", "scenario generation", "transitional graphs", "qualitative trend analysis", "uncertain data analysis", "minimal-information modeling", or needs trend-based modeling with INC/DEC/CONST logic, scenario planning with little quantitative data, or transitional scenario graphs. |
| version | 0.4.2 |
Trend Modeling with Three-Valued Logic
Apply three-valued logic — increasing (INC), decreasing (DEC), constant (CONST) — to analyze markets when precise numerical data is unavailable. Enables meaningful directional analysis with minimal information.
Required Frameworks
| Framework | Output Section | Required |
|---|
| Variables Table | Variables | yes |
| Relationship Matrix | Relationship Matrix | yes |
| Scenario Generation | Generated Scenarios | yes |
| Transitional Graph | Transitional Scenario Graph (Mermaid stateDiagram) | yes |
| Terminal Scenario Analysis | Terminal Scenario Analysis | yes |
| Multi-Objective Trade-offs | Trade-offs | yes |
When to Use
Choose three-valued logic when data is scarce or unreliable, relationships are qualitative, uncertainty is high, or quick directional insight is needed.
The Three Values
Each variable is assigned INC, DEC, or CONST. A formal-notation variant expresses pairwise relationships as INC(X, Y) (X and Y move together) or DEC(X, Y) (X and Y move oppositely). An extended notation adds acceleration/deceleration modifiers: AG (accelerating growth), DG (decelerating growth), AD (accelerating decline), DD (decelerating decline).
When the user provides correlation data, you MUST
- Label each correlation "positive" or "negative".
- Convert it to
INC(X, Y) or DEC(X, Y) notation.
- Show the conversion before building the matrix.
Example:
- Market size & competition → positive correlation →
INC(Market Size, Competition): if Market Size = INC then Competition = INC; if DEC then DEC.
- Price & demand → negative correlation →
DEC(Price, Demand): if Price = INC then Demand = DEC; if Price = DEC then Demand = INC.
Construction
-
Identify variables — e.g., market size, competition intensity, price pressure, innovation rate, customer adoption, regulatory burden.
-
Determine relationships — for each pair, find the correlation direction and convert to INC/DEC.
-
Build the trend matrix:
| Variable | Market Size | Competition | Price | Innovation |
|---|
| Market Size | - | INC | DEC | INC |
| Competition | INC | - | DEC | CONST |
| Price | DEC | DEC | - | DEC |
| Innovation | INC | CONST | DEC | - |
-
Generate scenarios — a scenario is a consistent assignment of INC/DEC/CONST to all variables satisfying every relationship.
-
Identify terminal scenarios — equilibrium states where all relationships hold, the system is stable, and no further transitions occur.
Transitional Scenario Graph
Show scenario evolution as a Mermaid state diagram:
stateDiagram-v2
[*] --> S1: Initial conditions
S1: Scenario 1<br/>Market=INC, Comp=INC<br/>Price=DEC, Innov=INC
S2: Scenario 2<br/>Market=CONST, Comp=INC<br/>Price=DEC, Innov=CONST
S3: Scenario 3 (Terminal)<br/>Market=DEC, Comp=CONST<br/>Price=CONST, Innov=DEC
S4: Scenario 4 (Terminal)<br/>Market=INC, Comp=INC<br/>Price=DEC, Innov=INC
S1 --> S2: Market saturation
S1 --> S4: Sustained growth
S2 --> S3: Commoditization
S2 --> S4: Innovation breakthrough
Multi-Objective Trade-offs
No scenario satisfies all objective functions simultaneously. For terminal scenarios: identify competing objectives, map which scenarios favor which objectives, highlight required trade-offs, and recommend based on priority alignment.
Worked Example: New Market Entry
Variables: Market Growth (MG), Competitive Intensity (CI), Entry Barriers (EB), Customer Awareness (CA).
Relationships: INC(MG, CI) (growth attracts competitors), INC(MG, CA), DEC(EB, CI) (lower barriers increase competition), INC(CA, MG).
Scenarios: (1) Explosive growth — MG=AG, CI=AG, EB=DEC, CA=AG. (2) Mature equilibrium — MG=DG, CI=CONST, EB=CONST, CA=CONST. (3) Consolidation — MG=DEC, CI=DEC, EB=INC, CA=CONST.
Output Structure
## Trend Model Summary
### Variables [name | current state | trend | confidence]
### Relationship Matrix [INC/DEC relationships]
### Generated Scenarios [per-variable assignment | terminal?]
### Transitional Graph [Mermaid state diagram]
### Terminal Scenario Analysis [conditions, trade-offs, recommendation]
### Key Insights [transitions, trade-offs]
Best Practices
- Start with 4-6 variables; validate relationships with domain experts.
- Document where relationships are speculative; refine iteratively as information emerges.
- Focus on transitions — the paths between scenarios often matter more than endpoints.
- Large models (7+ variables): keep the matrix to direct relationships only (CONST for unclear pairs), generate 3-5 key scenarios rather than enumerating exhaustively, and prioritize terminal scenarios and likely transitions.
Advantages
No numerical constants or parameters are required; a complete list of all futures/histories is obtained; results stay understandable without sophisticated mathematical tools.
Confidence Tiers
High = inputs validated by 3+ independent dimensions' findings. Medium = inputs from 2 dimensions with reasonable assumptions. Low = speculative or single-dimension basis. All other dimensions supply input variables for scenario modeling. Alert on a scenario with >50% probability of adverse outcome, a bifurcation point within the planning horizon, or a terminal scenario that invalidates core business assumptions.