process-w5h

name	process-w5h
description	Analyzes requirements using the Who, What, When, Where, Why, How framework for comprehensive requirement analysis from multiple perspectives.
license	MIT

Process W5H Analysis

Transforms requirements into comprehensive W5H analysis (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How) providing stakeholder identification, functional analysis, timeline extraction, context understanding, purpose clarification, and implementation approach definition.

Intent

Apply the W5H analytical framework to requirements to systematically extract: stakeholder roles and responsibilities (Who), functional scope (What), timeline and trigger conditions (When), operational context (Where), business rationale and success criteria (Why), and implementation approaches (How).

Inputs

• Requirements: Raw requirements text, document, or requirements.json/requirements.md (from requirements-ingest)
• Project ID: project_id

Outputs

• outputs/projects/{project_id}/Analysis/w5h-analysis.md — W5H analysis report (primary, for downstream skills)
• outputs/projects/{project_id}/Analysis/w5h-analysis.json — Structured W5H data for machine processing

Core Function

Input: Requirements documents + project_id Primary Output: Markdown W5H analysis report matching specification format Secondary Output: JSON format with structured W5H elements for machine processing Output Destination:

• Markdown: outputs/projects/{project_id}/Analysis/w5h-analysis.md (primary for downstream)
• JSON: outputs/projects/{project_id}/Analysis/w5h-analysis.json (machine processing) Directory Structure: Auto-created project folders with Analysis subfolder containing W5H analysis reports, stakeholder maps, and implementation guides

Usage

GitHub Copilot Integration (Recommended):

Use this skill directly in Copilot by providing requirements documents.
Copilot will automatically analyze requirements using the W5H framework.

Example prompt:
"Use process-w5h skill to analyze this requirements document and extract Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How elements with stakeholder identification and implementation approaches."

Traditional Script Approach:

from process_w5h import W5HAnalyzer

analyzer = W5HAnalyzer()
result = analyzer.analyze_requirements(requirements_text, "MY-PROJECT")
# Creates: 
#   outputs/projects/MY-PROJECT/w5h-analysis.md (primary)
#   outputs/projects/MY-PROJECT/w5h-analysis.json (secondary)

Command Line:

python process_w5h.py PROJECT-001 requirements.md
# Saves to: outputs/projects/PROJECT-001/
#   📄 w5h-analysis.md (Markdown - for downstream skills)
#   📋 w5h-analysis.json (JSON - for machine processing)

Output Schema

Primary Format (Markdown) - W5H Analysis Report:

# W5H Requirements Analysis

**Project**: PROJECT-001
**Source**: requirements.md
**Generated**: 2026-02-08T14:30:00Z
**Analysis Framework**: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How

## WHO - Stakeholders and Roles

### Primary Stakeholders
- **End Users**: Software developers using evolutionary development practices
- **Project Team**: Internal development team members
- **Management**: Leadership overseeing development process improvement

### Secondary Stakeholders
- **Quality Assurance**: Testing teams validating new practices
- **Operations**: Teams responsible for deployment and maintenance

### Roles and Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibilities | Authority Level |
|------|-----------------|----------------|
| Development Team Lead | Oversee skill implementation | Decision maker |
| Team Members | Learn and apply new skills | Contributors |

## WHAT - Functional and Non-Functional Requirements

### Functional Requirements
- **F1**: Define core competencies for evolutionary development
- **F2**: Create learning pathways for skill development
- **F3**: Implement adaptive planning methodologies

### Non-Functional Requirements
- **NF1**: Process must integrate with existing tooling
- **NF2**: Training materials must be accessible to all team members
- **NF3**: Implementation timeline must be flexible

### System Boundaries
- **In Scope**: Internal team skill development, process adaptation
- **Out of Scope**: External vendor training, new tooling procurement

## WHEN - Timeline and Milestones

### Project Timeline
- **Phase 1**: Skill framework documentation (Weeks 1-2)
- **Phase 2**: Team capability assessment (Weeks 3-4)
- **Phase 3**: Learning plan creation (Weeks 5-6)
- **Phase 4**: Pilot implementation (Weeks 7-10)

### Critical Milestones
- **M1**: Framework completion - Week 2
- **M2**: Assessment completion - Week 4
- **M3**: Pilot launch - Week 7

### Dependencies and Constraints
- Must complete stakeholder interviews before assessment
- Pilot implementation depends on framework approval

## WHERE - Context and Environment

### Operational Environment
- **Development Environment**: VS Code with existing toolchain
- **Team Structure**: Cross-functional development teams
- **Geographic Distribution**: Primarily local team with some remote members

### System Integration Points
- **Version Control**: Integration with current Git workflows
- **CI/CD**: Compatibility with existing deployment pipelines
- **Documentation**: Alignment with current documentation standards

### Physical and Virtual Boundaries
- **Team Workspace**: Hybrid office/remote environment
- **Development Infrastructure**: Cloud-based development environment
- **Communication Channels**: Existing team communication tools

## WHY - Purpose and Business Rationale

### Business Drivers
- **Primary**: Improve development agility and responsiveness
- **Secondary**: Enhance team capabilities and job satisfaction
- **Strategic**: Position team for future evolutionary development challenges

### Success Metrics
- **Quantitative**: 25% reduction in feature delivery time
- **Qualitative**: Improved team confidence in handling changing requirements
- **Business**: Increased customer satisfaction with development responsiveness

### Value Proposition
- Enhanced ability to respond to changing market conditions
- Improved team resilience and adaptability
- Better alignment between development practices and business needs

## HOW - Implementation Approach and Methods

### Technical Approach
- **Methodology**: Incremental skill development with regular feedback
- **Framework**: Competency-based learning model
- **Assessment**: 360-degree skill evaluation process

### Implementation Strategy
1. **Discovery Phase**: Research best practices and assess current state
2. **Design Phase**: Create competency framework and learning paths
3. **Development Phase**: Build training materials and assessment tools
4. **Deployment Phase**: Roll out pilot program with selected team
5. **Evaluation Phase**: Measure results and refine approach

### Risk Mitigation
- **Risk**: Team resistance to change
  - **Mitigation**: Involve team in framework design, emphasize benefits
- **Risk**: Time constraints
  - **Mitigation**: Phase implementation, integrate with existing work

### Quality Assurance
- Regular checkpoint reviews with stakeholders
- Continuous feedback collection from participants
- Measurable success criteria at each phase

## Summary

This W5H analysis provides a comprehensive view of the evolutionary development skill building project, ensuring all critical dimensions are considered in planning and implementation.

Secondary Format (JSON) - For Machine Processing:

{
  "project_id": "PROJECT-001",
  "generated_at": "2026-02-08T14:30:00Z",
  "analysis_framework": "W5H",
  "who": {
    "primary_stakeholders": [
      {
        "role": "End Users",
        "description": "Software developers using evolutionary development practices",
        "influence": "high",
        "interest": "high"
      }
    ],
    "secondary_stakeholders": [
      {
        "role": "Quality Assurance", 
        "description": "Testing teams validating new practices",
        "influence": "medium",
        "interest": "medium"
      }
    ],
    "roles_responsibilities": [
      {
        "role": "Development Team Lead",
        "responsibilities": ["Oversee skill implementation"],
        "authority_level": "Decision maker"
      }
    ]
  },
  "what": {
    "functional_requirements": [
      {
        "id": "F1",
        "description": "Define core competencies for evolutionary development",
        "priority": "high",
        "category": "core_functionality"
      }
    ],
    "non_functional_requirements": [
      {
        "id": "NF1", 
        "description": "Process must integrate with existing tooling",
        "type": "integration_constraint",
        "priority": "high"
      }
    ],
    "scope": {
      "in_scope": ["Internal team skill development", "process adaptation"],
      "out_of_scope": ["External vendor training", "new tooling procurement"]
    }
  },
  "when": {
    "timeline": {
      "total_duration": "10 weeks",
      "phases": [
        {
          "name": "Phase 1",
          "description": "Skill framework documentation",
          "duration": "Weeks 1-2",
          "deliverables": ["Framework document"]
        }
      ]
    },
    "milestones": [
      {
        "id": "M1",
        "name": "Framework completion",
        "target_date": "Week 2",
        "dependencies": []
      }
    ]
  },
  "where": {
    "environment": {
      "development": "VS Code with existing toolchain",
      "team_structure": "Cross-functional development teams",
      "geographic": "Primarily local team with some remote members"
    },
    "integration_points": {
      "version_control": "Integration with current Git workflows",
      "cicd": "Compatibility with existing deployment pipelines",
      "documentation": "Alignment with current documentation standards"
    }
  },
  "why": {
    "business_drivers": {
      "primary": "Improve development agility and responsiveness",
      "secondary": "Enhance team capabilities and job satisfaction",
      "strategic": "Position team for future evolutionary development challenges"
    },
    "success_metrics": {
      "quantitative": "25% reduction in feature delivery time",
      "qualitative": "Improved team confidence in handling changing requirements",
      "business": "Increased customer satisfaction with development responsiveness"
    }
  },
  "how": {
    "technical_approach": {
      "methodology": "Incremental skill development with regular feedback",
      "framework": "Competency-based learning model",
      "assessment": "360-degree skill evaluation process"
    },
    "implementation_phases": [
      {
        "phase": "Discovery",
        "description": "Research best practices and assess current state",
        "activities": ["Stakeholder interviews", "Best practice research"]
      }
    ],
    "risks": [
      {
        "risk": "Team resistance to change",
        "probability": "medium",
        "impact": "high",
        "mitigation": "Involve team in framework design, emphasize benefits"
      }
    ]
  }
}

GitHub Copilot Integration

Direct Usage in Copilot Chat

Simply paste your requirements document and ask:

@workspace Use the process-w5h skill to analyze this document:

[PASTE YOUR REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT HERE]

Project ID: MY-PROJECT-001

Perform comprehensive W5H analysis extracting:
- WHO: Stakeholders, roles, responsibilities
- WHAT: Functional/non-functional requirements, scope
- WHEN: Timeline, milestones, dependencies
- WHERE: Context, environment, integration points
- WHY: Business drivers, success metrics, value proposition
- HOW: Implementation approach, methodology, risk mitigation

Return structured analysis with both strategic and tactical insights.

Copilot Prompt Template

Analyze requirements document using W5H framework methodology:

1. WHO Analysis: Identify all stakeholders, map roles and responsibilities, determine authority levels
2. WHAT Analysis: Extract functional and non-functional requirements, define system boundaries
3. WHEN Analysis: Establish timeline, identify milestones, map dependencies
4. WHERE Analysis: Define operational context, identify integration points, map environments
5. WHY Analysis: Clarify business drivers, define success metrics, articulate value proposition
6. HOW Analysis: Define implementation approach, identify methodology, plan risk mitigation

Output comprehensive W5H analysis following JSON schema with strategic insights and tactical details.

Advantages of Copilot Integration:

• ✅ Comprehensive Analysis: Ensures all W5H dimensions are thoroughly examined
• ✅ Stakeholder Clarity: Clear identification of who is involved and their roles
• ✅ Strategic Alignment: Links requirements to business objectives and success metrics
• ✅ Implementation Ready: Provides actionable insights for project execution

W5H Analysis Framework

WHO Analysis Prompt

Identify stakeholders using this framework:

- **Primary Stakeholders**: Direct users, customers, decision makers
- **Secondary Stakeholders**: Influenced parties, support teams, vendors
- **Internal Roles**: Team members, management, operations
- **External Entities**: Customers, partners, regulators

Map responsibilities, authority levels, and influence/interest matrix.

WHAT Analysis Prompt

Categorize requirements using:

- **Functional**: Core features, user actions, system behaviors
- **Non-Functional**: Performance, security, usability, scalability
- **Business Rules**: Logic, workflows, decision points
- **Constraints**: Budget, technology, regulatory limitations
- **Assumptions**: Dependencies, prerequisites, accepted facts

Define clear scope boundaries (in/out of scope).

WHEN Analysis Prompt

Extract temporal elements:

- **Timeline**: Project phases, duration estimates
- **Milestones**: Critical checkpoints, deliverables
- **Dependencies**: Sequential requirements, blocking factors
- **Deadlines**: Hard constraints, market windows
- **Iterations**: Planned releases, feedback cycles

Create realistic schedule with buffer time.

WHERE Analysis Prompt

Define operational context:

- **Physical Environment**: Hardware, infrastructure, locations
- **System Environment**: Software, platforms, integrations
- **Process Environment**: Workflows, methodologies, standards
- **Organizational Environment**: Team structure, culture, policies

Map integration points and environmental constraints.

WHY Analysis Prompt

Clarify purpose and rationale:

- **Business Drivers**: Market needs, strategic goals, competitive advantage
- **Problem Statement**: Current pain points, inefficiencies, gaps
- **Success Metrics**: Quantifiable measures, KPIs, ROI targets
- **Value Proposition**: Benefits, outcomes, stakeholder value

Ensure alignment between requirements and business objectives.

HOW Analysis Prompt

Define implementation approach:

- **Technical Approach**: Architecture, methodologies, frameworks
- **Process Approach**: Project management, quality assurance, validation
- **Resource Approach**: Team composition, skill requirements, budget
- **Risk Management**: Identified risks, mitigation strategies, contingencies

Provide actionable implementation roadmap.

Processing Rules

1. Comprehensive Coverage: All six W5H dimensions must be addressed
2. Stakeholder Focus: Clear identification of who is involved and their interests
3. Business Alignment: Strong connection between requirements and business objectives
4. Actionable Insights: Analysis leads to concrete implementation guidance
5. Risk Awareness: Identification of potential challenges and mitigation strategies
6. Dual Output: Markdown (primary for downstream) + JSON (machine processing)
7. Traceability: Clear links back to source requirements
8. Iterative Refinement: Analysis can be updated as requirements evolve