| name | concept-hierarchy |
| description | Build concept levels from purpose through concepts to ideas, with escape and fractionation at each level. |
| execution | tactic |
| used-by | lateral-thinking, concept-fan, challenge-operation |
Concept Hierarchy
Build multi-level concept structures from purpose through broad concepts to specific ideas.
Stages
Stage 1: Concept Fan Expansion
Use concept-fan-expansion SOP to build the initial hierarchy:
- Purpose level (why)
- Concept level (broad approaches)
- Direction level (specific angles)
- Idea level (concrete proposals)
Stage 2: Escape Technique
Apply escape-technique SOP at each level to identify and break free from dominant thinking patterns that limit the hierarchy.
Stage 3: Fractionation
Use fractionation SOP to split broad concepts into finer units, enabling recombination into novel structures.
Minimum Yield
| Metric | Floor |
|---|
| Concept levels | ≥3 |
| Ideas per level | ≥2 |
| Escape directions identified | ≥2 |
| Fractionation recombinations | ≥3 |
Available SOPs
| SOP | Role |
|---|
| concept-fan-expansion | Stage 1 — build concept hierarchy |
| escape-technique | Stage 2 — escape dominant patterns per level |
| fractionation | Stage 3 — split and recombine concepts |