Positioning

Pack Availability Guard

Before telling the user to run a skill from another project-local pack, check .agents/project.json.enabled_packs. If the target pack is not enabled, recommend /pack install <pack> instead of the target skill. Global skills are always valid. Skills from this same pack are valid because the current skill is already running from that pack.

Positioning — Orchestrator

This is an orchestrator skill using the parent router delegation pattern. It detects context, recommends applicable positioning frameworks, and synthesizes their outputs. Individual frameworks live as child skills under frameworks/.

Report-First Approval Gate

Default to report-only: present findings, evidence coverage, assumptions, recommended artifact path, and proposed file changes in a pre-approval alignment page plus a concise conversation summary for user approval before creating or updating canonical research, spec, or task files.

Do not write or overwrite synthesized deliverables until the user explicitly approves, unless the user invoked an explicit write/update/fix mode or clearly asked to write files upfront. Raw evidence capture may be persisted before analysis when reproducibility requires it; report those raw paths separately and still gate synthesized research/report writes.

When stopping for approval, build and attempt to open the alignment preview page first, then ask the user to review it and approve, question, or request adjustments. Do not include Recommended next skill, Recommended next command, or downstream routing language. The approval request itself is the next action. Only emit next-skill routing after the approved artifact has been written or updated.

Evidence And Feedback Handling

Treat user feedback as input to evaluate, not as automatic ground truth.

• For factual, evidentiary, technical, or source-backed claims: verify against available evidence. If the user appears to misunderstand the evidence or states something factually incorrect, push back clearly and cite the evidence. Do not rewrite findings merely to agree.
• For taste, brand, positioning preference, risk appetite, prioritization, or other subjective judgment calls: weigh user feedback heavily and adapt the recommendation unless it conflicts with verified evidence.
• When feedback mixes facts and preference, separate them explicitly: correct the factual part, then incorporate the preference where it is a legitimate judgment call.
• When uncertain, say what is known, what is inferred, and what would change the conclusion.

Prerequisites

• Hard: research/icp.md (or research/{slug}/icp.md) must exist. If not, tell the user to run /icp first and stop.
• Hard: research/competitive-analysis.md (or research/{slug}/competitive-analysis.md) must exist. If not, tell the user to run /competitive-analysis first and stop.
• Strong default: research/journey-map.md (or research/{slug}/journey-map.md) should exist before writing canonical positioning. If missing, recommend /journey-map first unless the user explicitly needs a provisional positioning analysis.
• Soft: Read these if they exist:
  • research/journey-map.md — where value is delivered, the aha moment
  • research/customer-feedback.md — real customer language about what makes the product different
  • research/monetization.md — pricing context for value perception

Operational Modes

Mode A: Framework Selection (default first invocation)

Activated by: /positioning or /positioning [focus area] (no special flags).

Mode B: Synthesis

Activated by: /positioning --synthesize

Mode C: Product-Positioning Shortcut

Activated by: /positioning product or /positioning post-launch or /positioning obviously-awesome

Process

0. Product-Path Scope Resolution

Resolve research scope by product path before using code or app structure as a hint:

1. If $ARGUMENTS names a non-archived research/{slug}/ directory or a product-path ID whose scope_path points there, use that path. Treat {slug} as the product/app name, not the ICP, audience, or segment label.
2. If $ARGUMENTS names only research/_archive/{slug}/ or a manifest entry with status: archived or legacy status: abandoned, stop and warn that the path is archived; do not write or update scoped outputs there.
3. Read research/.progress.yaml when present. Normalize legacy active_path to active_paths on read and write back active_paths on manifest updates. Treat legacy abandoned as archived; exclude archived, abandoned, deferred, revisit_candidate, promoted, and any scope_path under research/_archive/ from active target selection.
4. If active product paths exist in the manifest, use those paths. If multiple active paths exist, ask which one to target unless this skill explicitly supports cross-path output.
5. If no active manifest target exists, list non-archived product directories under research/, excluding research/_archive/ and dot directories. Auto-select only when exactly one exists; ask when multiple exist.
6. If no product directories exist, use flat research/ single-product mode.
7. Detect monorepo/app/package structure only as a secondary hint. Suggest creating a missing research/{slug}/ product path when code clearly exposes an app, but do not require code or monorepo detection before using research/{slug}/.

When product path {slug} is active, read and write research under research/{slug}/, specs under specs/{slug}/, and treat top-level research/*.md files as flat-mode documents or cross-path summaries.

1. Mode Detection

Detect market-positioning mode (default) or product-positioning mode:

Market-positioning mode activates when:

• No research/customer-feedback.md with post-launch customer evidence, AND
• No production codebase with live users detected, AND
• $ARGUMENTS does not contain "product", "post-launch", or "obviously-awesome"

Available frameworks in market mode:

• jtbd-positioning — Jobs-to-be-Done positioning analysis
• strategic-canvas — Blue Ocean strategic canvas (eliminate/reduce/raise/create)
• moore-positioning — Geoffrey Moore positioning hypothesis
• category-design — Play Bigger category creation

Product-positioning mode activates when:

• research/customer-feedback.md exists with real customer data, OR
• $ARGUMENTS contains "product", "post-launch", or "obviously-awesome", OR
• Production spec exists AND customer feedback references real users

Available frameworks in product mode:

• obviously-awesome — April Dunford (requires real customer evidence)
• strategic-canvas — optionally, for category refresh

2. Load Context

• Read research/icp.md — ICP segments, pain points, value props, trigger events
• Read research/competitive-analysis.md — competitor landscape, gaps
• Read research/journey-map.md if it exists — aha moment, value delivery
• Read research/customer-feedback.md if it exists — real language, satisfaction drivers
• Read CLAUDE.md, README for product context
• Read any existing research/positioning-*.md intermediate artifacts (from prior runs)

3. Mode A — Framework Selection

Build an alignment page with:

1. Mode explanation: which mode was detected and why (evidence for detection)
2. Available evidence summary: what research exists and what's missing
3. Multi-select framework section: checkboxes for each available framework with:
   • Framework name and one-line description
   • Why it's recommended or optional for this context
   • Pre-checked defaults based on available evidence:
     • Market mode defaults: jtbd-positioning + strategic-canvas + moore-positioning pre-checked; category-design unchecked (recommended only when strategic canvas shows no existing category fits)
     • Product mode defaults: obviously-awesome pre-checked; strategic-canvas unchecked (optional refresh)
4. Execution plan explanation: selected frameworks will be written to tasks/todo.md for sequential /exec execution
5. Approval gate: framework selection confirmation

After user approval via compiled YAML (which includes selected_frameworks list):

Write selected frameworks as sequential steps in tasks/todo.md:

## Positioning Framework Execution

- [ ] Run `/positioning/frameworks/jtbd-positioning` — JTBD analysis
- [ ] Run `/positioning/frameworks/strategic-canvas` — Blue Ocean gap analysis
- [ ] Run `/positioning/frameworks/moore-positioning` — Positioning hypothesis
- [ ] Synthesize: `/positioning --synthesize` — Combine framework outputs into research/positioning.md

Only include frameworks the user selected. Always append the synthesis step last.

Stop after writing tasks/todo.md. The user runs /exec to execute each framework sequentially.

4. Mode B — Synthesis (/positioning --synthesize)

Read all intermediate framework outputs:

• research/positioning-jtbd.md
• research/positioning-strategic-canvas.md
• research/positioning-moore.md
• research/positioning-category-design.md
• research/positioning-obviously-awesome.md

At least one must exist. If none exist, tell user to run framework selection first.

Synthesize into unified research/positioning.md:

Market-positioning synthesis includes:

• Combined positioning hypothesis drawing from all framework outputs
• Moore template filled with evidence from JTBD + Canvas + Category analysis
• Evidence matrix: each claim mapped to which framework(s) support it
• Confidence levels per claim (strong/moderate/hypothesized)
• Validation plan: what needs testing before the position is canonical
• Mode header: > Mode: Market Positioning (hypothesized, pre-product)

Product-positioning synthesis includes:

• Positioning statement (Obviously Awesome output)
• Evidence matrix grounded in customer feedback
• Confidence levels (most should be "strong" — backed by customer data)
• Mode header: > Mode: Product Positioning (customer-grounded)

Build alignment page for synthesis approval with:

• Full proposed research/positioning.md content
• Evidence matrix combining all framework sources
• Confidence/assumption register
• Proposed file changes gate
• Approval gate

After approval: write research/positioning.md, then emit next-step routing.

5. Mode C — Product-Positioning Shortcut

Skip multi-select. Build an alignment page for the shortcut execution plan with:

1. Shortcut explanation: product-positioning shortcut selected and why obviously-awesome is the only queued framework
2. Evidence readiness: customer-feedback requirement and any missing evidence caveats
3. Proposed execution plan: the exact tasks/todo.md framework queue shown below
4. Approval gate: require final compiled YAML approval before writing tasks/todo.md

Do not write tasks/todo.md before alignment approval. The next action is review of the HTML alignment page.

After user approval via final compiled YAML, write this execution plan to tasks/todo.md:

## Positioning Framework Execution

- [ ] Run `/positioning/frameworks/obviously-awesome` — April Dunford positioning
- [ ] Synthesize: `/positioning --synthesize` — Write research/positioning.md

Stop — user runs /exec.

6. Next Steps (after synthesis only)

Include 3–5 applicable items with "Recommended + Other options" framing:

• ALWAYS: check .agents/project.json.enabled_packs for product-design — if not enabled, recommend /pack install product-design; if enabled, recommend /ux-variations [positioning-backed product direction]
• IF no research/journey-map.md: check for customer-lifecycle pack → recommend /journey-map
• IF solution-customer fit is weak/disputed: /value-prop-canvas
• IF revenue/channels/cost/defensibility risks exposed: /lean-canvas
• IF no research/gtm.md: check for business-growth pack → recommend /gtm
• IF research/gtm.md exists: recommend /gtm refresh
• IF no research/monetization.md: check for business-growth pack → recommend /monetization
• IF codebase exists: check for business-ops pack → recommend /mvp-gap

7. Downstream Impact Check (after synthesis write)

Check for downstream research documents that may be affected:

• research/gtm.md

Classify impact as None/Minor/Major per standard pattern.

Optional Research Trigger Map

These detours are conditional framework owners, not required AFPS chain links. Apply after synthesis.

Output

Mode A output: tasks/todo.md update

Framework execution steps (see section 3 above).

Mode B output: research/positioning.md (or research/{slug}/positioning.md)

# Positioning

> Based on: [list of framework outputs used]
> Date: [current date]
> Mode: Market Positioning (hypothesized, pre-product) | Product Positioning (customer-grounded)
> Frameworks applied: [list]

## Positioning Statement

**For** [target segment]
**who** [key pain / trigger event]
**[product name] is a** [market category]
**that** [key value / unique benefit]
**Unlike** [primary competitive alternative]
**[product name]** [key differentiator]

## Summary
[2-3 sentences: the positioning thesis]

## Evidence Matrix

| Claim | Supporting Framework(s) | Evidence | Confidence | Assumption Status |
|-------|------------------------|----------|------------|-------------------|
| [claim] | JTBD / Canvas / Moore / Category / OA | [source] | Strong / Moderate / Hypothesized | Validated / Needs testing |

## Framework Synthesis

### From JTBD Analysis
[Key findings — primary job, outcome positioning]

### From Strategic Canvas
[Key findings — eliminate/reduce/raise/create moves, competitive gaps]

### From Moore Hypothesis
[Key findings — positioning template, evidence gaps]

### From Category Design
[Key findings — category diagnosis, POV if new category]

### From Obviously Awesome
[Key findings — if product mode]

## Target Segment
[Best-fit segment with evidence from multiple frameworks]

## Market Category
[Chosen category with evidence from multiple frameworks]

## Confidence Register

| Element | Confidence | Evidence Source | What Would Change It |
|---------|-----------|----------------|---------------------|
| [element] | [level] | [source] | [condition] |

## Validation Plan (market mode only)
[What needs testing before this position is canonical]

## Positioning Implications

### For Messaging
### For Product
### For Sales
### For Pricing

## Downstream Impact
[Standard pattern]

## Next Steps
[Standard routing]

Task Classification

When this skill produces follow-up work, file it by execution semantics:

• Immediately actionable implementation or documentation work goes in tasks/todo.md.
• Human-only external actions tied to automated steps go in tasks/manual-todo.md with _(blocks: Step N.X)_ or _(after: Step N.X)_.
• One-time condition-gated records go in tasks/record-todo.md.
• Cadence-based reviews go in tasks/recurring-todo.md.
• Do not put non-blocking records or recurring obligations in tasks/todo.md unless promoted.

Constraints

• Requires ICP + competitive analysis. Positioning without knowing the customer and the competition is guesswork.
• Customer-grounded. Every positioning decision must connect to real customer behavior or research evidence.
• Mode detection is evidence-based. Do not override mode detection without user confirmation.
• Parent does not execute frameworks. It selects and queues them. /exec handles execution.
• Synthesis requires at least one framework output. Do not synthesize from zero evidence.
• Do not overwrite existing research/positioning.md without asking the user first.

Alignment Page

When this skill produces durable deliverables (research, specs, plans, reports, prototypes, or any document output), build a full-depth HTML alignment page following ALIGNMENT-PAGE.md in this skill's directory. Output: alignment/positioning-{topic}.html.

Default Shipping Contract

Follow the shared shipping contract convention in CLAUDE.md.