2. Solution phase

The right to build is earned by thinking.

This is the operational guide for executing Solution Phase — the phase where the team finds, structures, and aligns on the right solution before building anything. While the methodology section explains the why and the conceptual foundations, this guide covers the how: the concrete process to follow, the artifacts to produce, the criteria to meet before moving forward, and the failure patterns to watch for.

5

Structured steps

From Divergence to Gate Review

6

Artifacts

Transferred to Phase 3

7

Gate Review criteria

All must pass to advance

The Solution Phase workflow

Solution Phase structures in five steps the path from idea to shared mandate. The first three (Divergence, Structuring, Convergence) are intellectual work: generating options, decomposing them, and selecting with explicit criteria. The last two (Client validation, Internal stakeholder validation) are alignment work: confirming that the solution solves the real problem and that the entire organization understands it the same way. The Solution Brief packages everything for transfer to Phase 3.

1. Divergence

How Might We reformulation and silent ideation. Generate the widest possible range of solutions without filtering or judging.

Ideation Board

1

2. Structuring

Decomposition of each solution across 4 dimensions: business, AI model, architecture, and data. Assumption classification by risk.

Solution Trees + Assumptions Register

2

3. Convergence

Candidate evaluation with weighted criteria fixed before scoring. Evidence-based decision, not intuition.

Decision Matrix

3

4. Client validation

Present the solution to real users. Key question: "If this existed tomorrow, would anything change in your day-to-day?"

Feedback Log (external)

4

5. Internal stakeholder validation

Achieve real organizational consensus. Corridor Consensus Test: anyone can explain the what and why coherently.

Feedback Log (internal) + Solution Brief

5

The six artifacts

This phase produces six artifacts that together form the foundation for Phase 3. The first three capture the intellectual work of generating and evaluating solutions. The last three record validation and package everything for transfer.

Ideation Board

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Solution Trees

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Assumptions Register

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Decision Matrix

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Feedback Log

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Solution Brief

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What this guide covers

Step by Step

A five-step process from divergence to validated Solution Brief. Generate, structure, converge, and validate with real stakeholders.

Anatomy

The eight mandatory sections of a Solution Brief. The document that packages every decision for transfer to Phase 3.

Artifacts

Ideation Board, Solution Trees, Assumptions Register, Decision Matrix, Feedback Log, and Solution Brief. Complete reference.

Gate Review

Seven criteria that must all pass before advancing to Phase 3. Validates both solution quality and organizational consensus.

Anti-patterns

Common failure modes in solution alignment. From premature convergence to consensus theater and missing assumptions.

Effort

Time investment ranges by team size and solution complexity. Calibrating between too-fast and over-analyzed.

The investment in consensus pays for itself

This phase is the hinge between pure human thinking (Phase 1) and the translation of that thinking into language the AI can process (Phase 3). Everything done poorly here is exponentially amplified when context reaches the AI. A well-aligned solution produces precise context. An ambiguous solution produces context that looks correct but doesn't solve what it was supposed to solve.