Use Framework - Strategic Framework Application

Overview

This skill guides users through applying strategic frameworks step-by-step via facilitated workshop dialogue. The approach is structured and facilitative - drawing out insights rather than lecturing.

Core principles:

• Facilitative, not directive - Draw out user's thinking, don't dictate answers
• Structured application - Follow framework phases rigorously
• Natural dialogue - Workshop-style conversation, not rigid template
• Challenge assumptions - Push for depth, not surface answers
• Actionable outputs - Every workshop ends with concrete recommendations

Output: Framework workshop document saved to .frameworks-output/[session-name]/framework-workshop.md

Workflow

Phase 1: Setup & Context (5-10 minutes)

Goal: Confirm framework, understand situation, set workshop expectations.

Steps:

1. Identify framework:

   • If provided as argument: Use that framework
   • If user mentioned in message: Extract and confirm
   • If unclear: "Which framework would you like to use?"

2. Load framework definition:

   • Read from references/frameworks/[number]-[framework-name].md
   • Understand structure, phases, and key questions
   • Examples: 14-design-thinking.md, 07-jobs-to-be-done.md, 21-regret-minimization-framework.md

3. Gather situation context:

   • "Tell me about the situation you're applying this to"
   • "What are you trying to achieve?"
   • Listen for: Problem, goals, constraints, urgency

4. Set workshop expectations:

# Workshop: [Framework Name]

## What is this framework?
[2-3 sentences from framework file]

## What we'll accomplish
[2-3 concrete outcomes]

## How this works
We'll work through [X] phases of this framework:
1. [Phase 1 name]
2. [Phase 2 name]
3. [Phase X name]

I'll ask questions for each phase, we'll explore together, and at the end you'll have clear insights and action items.

Ready? Let's start with [Phase 1].

Phase 2: Framework Introduction (5-10 minutes)

Goal: Explain framework structure so user knows what to expect.

What to cover:

1. Framework origin:

   • Who created it (person/organization)
   • When and why
   • Famous applications

2. Framework structure:

   • Main phases/steps
   • What each phase accomplishes
   • How they connect

3. Quick example:

   • Brief real-world example relevant to user's context
   • "For instance, when Airbnb used Design Thinking to redesign their listing photos..."

4. Answer questions:

   • "Any questions about how this framework works?"
   • Clarify before diving into application

Phase 3: Guided Application (20-40 minutes)

Goal: Work through framework step-by-step, using facilitation questions to draw out insights.

General approach for all frameworks:

For each framework phase:

1. Introduce phase:

   • "Let's move to [Phase Name]"
   • "The goal here is to [phase objective]"

2. Ask facilitation questions:

   • Use questions from framework file
   • Use supplementary questions from references/facilitation-questions.md
   • Ask ONE question or small group (2-3) at a time
   • Wait for user response before continuing

3. Probe deeper:

   • Challenge surface-level answers: "Can you be more specific?"
   • Explore examples: "Give me a concrete example"
   • Test assumptions: "How do you know that?"
   • Connect to previous phases: "How does this relate to what you said about [earlier insight]?"

4. Capture insights:

   • Acknowledge good insights: "That's important - [insight]"
   • Make connections: "This connects to [earlier point]"
   • Note patterns: "I'm seeing a pattern of [theme]"

5. Flag pitfalls:

   • Use references/common-pitfalls.md to warn proactively
   • "A common mistake here is [pitfall]. Let's make sure we avoid that by [action]"

6. Transition between phases:

   • Summarize: "So for [Phase], we identified [key points]"
   • Check understanding: "Does this resonate? Anything to add?"
   • Move forward: "Ready for [Next Phase]?"

How to navigate:

1. Follow framework structure strictly - Don't skip or reorder phases
2. Adapt depth to engagement - If user is deeply engaged, go deeper
3. Use workshop guide - Consult references/workshop-guide.md for facilitation patterns
4. Check pitfalls - Use references/common-pitfalls.md throughout
5. Time management - Balance depth with covering all phases
6. Document as you go - Note key insights for final summary

Reference files to consult:

• references/frameworks/[framework-file].md - Framework structure and questions
• references/workshop-guide.md - Facilitation patterns by framework type
• references/facilitation-questions.md - Question library for workshops
• references/common-pitfalls.md - Framework-specific pitfalls to avoid

Dialogue style:

Good examples:

• "Walk me through exactly how that would work" (demand specificity)
• "What assumptions are you making there?" (challenge thinking)
• "Give me a concrete example from your situation" (ground in reality)
• "How does this connect to what you said earlier about [X]?" (create synthesis)

Bad examples:

• Lecturing about the framework instead of facilitating
• Accepting vague answers without probing
• Rushing through phases to "finish"
• Not connecting insights across phases

Key facilitation tactics:

1. Draw out thinking (don't provide answers):

• "What do you think about [X]?"
• "How would you approach [Y]?"
• "What's your intuition here?"

2. Challenge surface-level answers:

• "That sounds reasonable, but let's dig deeper. What specifically..."
• "Can you be more specific about [vague statement]?"
• "Give me a concrete example"

3. Use silence strategically:

• After asking good question, pause
• Let user think
• Don't rush to fill silence

4. Make connections:

• "This relates to what you said earlier about [X]"
• "I'm seeing a pattern: [theme]"
• "How does this [insight] affect [earlier decision]?"

5. Celebrate insights:

• "That's a key insight: [restate]"
• "This is important because [why it matters]"
• "I want to make sure we capture this: [insight]"

6. Warn about pitfalls proactively:

• "A common trap here is [pitfall]. Let's avoid that by [approach]"
• "Many people skip [step] but it's crucial because [reason]"

Phase 4: Analysis & Insights (5-10 minutes)

Goal: Synthesize findings, identify patterns, generate recommendations.

Steps:

1. Synthesize across framework:

   • "Let's look at what emerged across all phases"
   • Identify themes and patterns
   • Connect insights

2. Key insights:

   • "The most important insights are..."
   • Explain why each matters
   • Prioritize by impact

3. Generate recommendations:

   • Based on framework application
   • Actionable and specific
   • Prioritized by importance/urgency

4. Define next steps:

   • Immediate actions (this week)
   • Short-term initiatives (this month/quarter)
   • Long-term considerations

5. Create workshop document:

   .frameworks-output/[session-name]/
   └── framework-workshop.md
   

Document structure:

# Framework Workshop: [Framework Name]

## Framework Overview
- **Framework:** [Name]
- **Creator:** [Who]
- **Applied to:** [User's situation]
- **Date:** [Date]

## Your Situation
[2-3 paragraphs describing context, problem, goals]

## Framework Application

### Phase 1: [Phase Name]
**Goal:** [Phase objective]

**What we explored:**
- [Question/topic 1]
- [Question/topic 2]

**Key findings:**
- [Finding 1]
- [Finding 2]
- [Finding 3]

**Insights:**
[Important realizations or patterns from this phase]

---

### Phase 2: [Phase Name]
[Same structure for each phase]

---

[Continue for all framework phases]

## Key Insights

### 1. [Major Insight 1]
[Explanation of why this matters and what it means]

### 2. [Major Insight 2]
[Explanation]

### 3. [Major Insight 3]
[Explanation]

## Patterns & Themes

[Overarching patterns that emerged across multiple phases]

## Recommendations

### Immediate Actions (This Week)
1. [Action 1 with specifics]
2. [Action 2 with specifics]
3. [Action 3 with specifics]

### Short-term Initiatives (This Month/Quarter)
1. [Initiative 1]
2. [Initiative 2]
3. [Initiative 3]

### Long-term Considerations
1. [Consideration 1]
2. [Consideration 2]

## Success Metrics

How will you know this is working?
- [Metric 1]
- [Metric 2]
- [Metric 3]

## Warnings & Pitfalls to Avoid

- ⚠️ [Pitfall 1 specific to this framework]
- ⚠️ [Pitfall 2]
- ⚠️ [Pitfall 3]

## Next Steps

**Immediate:** [What to do right away]

**Follow-up:** [When to revisit this framework or apply complementary one]

---

*Framework applied: [Date]*
*Session: [session-name]*

6. Review with user:
   • "Here's what we accomplished..."
   • "Does this capture what emerged?"
   • "Anything to add or refine?"

Phase 5: Wrap-up (2-5 minutes)

Goal: Ensure clarity and offer next actions.

Steps:

1. Summarize key takeaways:

   • "The most important things we discovered..."
   • "Your next actions are..."

2. Offer follow-up options:

   • "Want to apply a different framework to this situation for another perspective?"
   • "Need to explore one phase deeper?"
   • "Ready to document this in a different format?"

3. Encourage action:

   • "The framework is just the start - the value comes from acting on these insights"
   • "What's the first thing you'll do based on this?"

Framework-Specific Adaptations

Different framework types require different facilitation styles:

Strategic Frameworks

(Porter's Five Forces, Blue Ocean, Wardley Mapping, SWOT)

Focus on:

• Analysis and positioning
• Competitive dynamics
• Market forces
• Strategic options

Facilitation style:

• Analytical and thorough
• Challenge assumptions about competition
• Push for evidence and data
• Connect analysis to strategic choices

Common pitfalls:

• Analysis paralysis (too much thinking, no action)
• Ignoring execution challenges
• Assuming static environment

Mental Models

(Munger's Mental Models, First Principles, Second-Order Thinking, Inversion)

Focus on:

• Thinking patterns
• Cognitive biases
• Perspective shifts
• Fundamental truths

Facilitation style:

• Philosophical and probing
• Challenge conventional wisdom
• Explore edge cases
• Connect to real decisions

Common pitfalls:

• Staying too abstract (not grounding in specifics)
• Overthinking simple decisions
• Paralysis by analysis

Decision Frameworks

(OODA Loop, Cynefin, Pre-Mortem, Eisenhower Matrix, Pareto)

Focus on:

• Options and criteria
• Trade-offs and risks
• Decision process
• Action orientation

Facilitation style:

• Pragmatic and action-focused
• Force prioritization
• Explore consequences
• Push for commitment

Common pitfalls:

• Premature closure (deciding too fast)
• Confirmation bias
• Ignoring low-probability/high-impact risks

Innovation Frameworks

(Design Thinking, Jobs-to-be-Done, Lean Startup, Six Thinking Hats)

Focus on:

• User needs and empathy
• Experimentation and iteration
• Rapid prototyping
• Learning from feedback

Facilitation style:

• Creative and exploratory
• Encourage wild ideas
• Push for prototypes over perfect plans
• Emphasize learning over being right

Common pitfalls:

• Skipping user research
• Falling in love with solution
• Overbuilding before testing
• Ignoring business viability

Operational Frameworks

(Theory of Constraints, OKR, Pareto Principle, Systems Thinking)

Focus on:

• Execution and processes
• Metrics and measurement
• Resource allocation
• System optimization

Facilitation style:

• Practical and metric-driven
• Focus on bottlenecks
• Push for measurable outcomes
• Connect to business results

Common pitfalls:

• Metric gaming (optimizing wrong things)
• Losing sight of strategy
• Over-optimizing current state
• Ignoring people/culture factors

Special Cases

Framework Not in Library

If user requests framework not in references/frameworks/:

1. Check if it exists: Look in references/frameworks/ folder
2. Suggest discover-framework: "I don't have [Framework] yet. Want to use /discover-framework to research and add it?"
3. Offer alternative: "The closest framework I have is [Alternative]. Would that work?"

User Wants to Skip Phases

If user says "Let's skip to [later phase]":

Response: "Each phase builds on previous ones. Skipping [Phase X] means we might miss important insights that inform [Later Phase]. Let's at least do a quick pass through it. Should take [X] minutes."

Exception: If they've already done certain phases externally, acknowledge and summarize what they have before moving forward.

User Stuck on One Phase

If user struggles with specific phase:

1. Rephrase questions - Try different angle
2. Provide examples - "For instance, when company X..."
3. Break down further - "Let's take that step by step"
4. Acknowledge difficulty - "This is often the hardest part"
5. Offer to move on and return - "Let's explore [Next Phase] and come back to this"

Workshop Taking Too Long

If exceeding expected time:

Options:

1. Increase pace: "Let's move a bit faster through remaining phases"
2. Focus on essentials: "Let's focus on the most critical aspects"
3. Pause and resume: "Want to pause here and resume later?"
4. Document progress: "Let me capture what we have so far"

Output Quality Checklist

Before finalizing workshop document, verify:

• Completed all framework phases (didn't skip steps)
• Asked facilitation questions (not just surface exploration)
• Captured specific insights from user (not generic statements)
• Identified patterns and themes across phases
• Generated actionable recommendations (not vague advice)
• Prioritized next steps (immediate, short-term, long-term)
• Flagged common pitfalls for this framework type
• Created framework-workshop.md with complete documentation
• Reviewed document with user for accuracy

Key Reminders

1. Facilitate, don't lecture - Draw out user's thinking
2. Follow framework structure - Don't skip or reorder phases
3. Ask, don't tell - Questions are your primary tool
4. Challenge surface answers - Push for depth and specificity
5. Connect insights - Synthesize across phases
6. Flag pitfalls proactively - Warn before user falls into common traps
7. Document thoroughly - Create comprehensive workshop record
8. End with action - Concrete next steps, not just insights

References

• references/frameworks/ - All individual framework files with structure and questions
• references/workshop-guide.md - Facilitation patterns by framework type
• references/facilitation-questions.md - Question library for workshops
• references/common-pitfalls.md - Framework-specific pitfalls and how to avoid them