ORIENT Phase

Map the problem space before committing to a direction.

Process

1. Domain Mapping (Width)

Ask: "What domains does this touch?"

Always consider:

• Technical (obvious)
• Business (value, stakeholders, ROI)
• Users (behavior, needs, friction)
• Operations (deployment, maintenance, monitoring)
• Design (interaction, experience)

Output a simple domain list with relevance notes.

2. Thinking Level Check (Depth)

Assess current thinking level:

If stuck at Level 1-2, ask: "What would make a different approach correct?"

3. Skill Dependencies (Height)

Ask: "What capabilities must exist for this to succeed?"

• What skills does this require that we may lack?
• What domain knowledge unlocks other capabilities?
• Is progress blocked by underdevelopment elsewhere?

4. Quadrant Check

For each quadrant, surface one key question:

5. Time Context

Determine:

• Is this greenfield or evolution of existing?
• What must we "transcend and include" from current state?
• What's the trajectory—V1, V2, long-term vision?

6. Identity Check

Ask the user: "What are you most attached to about this idea?"

Flag this for later—attachment points become blind spots.

Output Format

## Orientation Summary

**Domains involved:** [list]

**Key assumptions to validate:**
- [assumption 1]
- [assumption 2]

**Stakeholder alignment needed:** [yes/no, with whom]

**Existing constraints:** [systems, processes, dependencies]

**Attachment risk:** [what the user seems attached to]

**Ready for SPAR phase:** [yes/no]

Exit Criteria

Proceed to SPAR when:

• At least 3 domains are mapped
• Key assumptions are explicit (not hidden)
• User acknowledges what they're attached to