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English — Official English version of structured-thinking.

Structured Thinking — Analyze, Ideate, Decide

Meta-workflow for structured thinking: from problem analysis through creative solutions to a well-founded decision

Workflow & Procedure

Problem/Question
     |
     v
Phase 1: ANALYZE (think)
  Divide & Conquer, Root Cause, Constraint Relaxation
     |
     v
Phase 2: IDEATE (brainstorm)
  SCAMPER, Six Hats, Reverse Brainstorming, Rapid Ideation
     |
     v
Phase 3: DECIDE (decide)
  Pro/Con, Weighted Scoring, Scenario Analysis, Eisenhower
     |
     v
Result + Rationale

Phase 1: Analyze

Goal: Understand the problem, identify causes, recognize structure.

Approaches

Analysis Frameworks

Heuristics under Uncertainty

1. What is the worst-case scenario?
2. Is it reversible?
3. What is the cost of not acting?

Heuristics under Complexity

1. What is the simplest first step?
2. What would an expert do?
3. What would the 80% solution be?

Phase 2: Ideate

Goal: Generate as many solution approaches as possible. Quantity over quality. NO criticism during this phase.

Methods

SCAMPER — Systematically improve existing solutions:

• Substitute: What to replace? | Combine: What to combine? | Adapt: What to adapt?
• Modify: What to change? | Put to other use: What else could it serve? | Eliminate: What to drop?
• Reverse: What to invert?

Six Thinking Hats (de Bono) — 6 perspectives in sequence:

1. Blue: Process control ("What is the question?")
2. White: Facts ("What do we know?")
3. Red: Emotion ("What feels right?")
4. Black: Criticism ("What could go wrong?")
5. Yellow: Optimism ("What are the opportunities?")
6. Green: Creativity ("What new ideas are there?")

Reverse Brainstorming — Invert the problem:

1. "How do we make it WORSE?"
2. Collect bad ideas
3. Invert = good ideas

Rapid Ideation — 50+ ideas in 20 minutes:

• Round 1 (5 min): Open ideation
• Round 2 (5 min): Variations
• Round 3 (5 min): Combinations
• Round 4 (5 min): Extreme ideas

After Ideation

1. Clustering: Group similar ideas
2. Feasibility/Impact matrix: Rate feasibility vs. impact
3. Select top 5-10 for Phase 3

Phase 3: Decide

Goal: Select the best option with a transparent rationale.

Framework Selection

Weighted Scoring (core method)

1. Collect criteria (3-7, specific and measurable)
2. Set weights (sum = 100%, most important >= 25%)
3. Rate options (1-10 scale)
4. Compute scores (rating x weight)
5. Compare and recommend

Scenario Analysis

Best Case (X%):      Outcome → expected value
Realistic Case (X%): Outcome → expected value
Worst Case (X%):     Outcome → expected value
Total expected value: [sum]

Eisenhower Matrix

              URGENT          NOT URGENT
IMPORTANT     1. DO           2. PLAN
NOT IMPORTANT 3. DELEGATE     4. ELIMINATE

Quality Checklist before the Final Recommendation

• All relevant criteria identified?
• User values taken into account?
• Long-term effects considered?
• Risks identified and assessed?
• Bias check performed?
• Reversibility checked?

Context-Sensitive Selection

Changelog

1.0.0 (2026-05-19)

• Created as a meta-skill from think, brainstorm, and decide

Meta-skill | Detailed reference: think, brainstorm, decide