research-first-development

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

1. Before starting any complex task, pause and define the knowledge gap
2. 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)
3. Search across organizational data (emails, SharePoint, Teams) for existing knowledge
4. For each unknown, conduct targeted research using Deep Research
5. 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)
6. Only after the research document is complete, proceed with the original task
7. 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