itsual Idea Refine
Overview
Jumping straight to implementation on a half-formed idea is a common source of waste. Spend a short, structured period expanding and then focusing the idea.
When to Use
- Early-stage feature or product ideas
- When the request is ambiguous or open-ended
- Before writing a full spec
Process
- Diverge – Generate multiple interpretations, approaches, or variations.
- Cluster – Group related ideas and identify themes.
- Converge – Select the most promising direction based on goals, constraints, and impact.
- Frame – Turn the chosen direction into a clear problem statement and success criteria.
- Hand off to
spec-driven-developmentorplanning-and-task-breakdown.
Principles
- Separate idea generation from evaluation
- Make constraints explicit early
- Prefer directions that are testable and scoped
Verification
- Multiple options were considered
- A clear direction and rationale exist before major implementation begins