kimasplund Breadth of Thought (BoT)
Exhaustive exploration methodology for discovering ALL viable solutions.
When to Use
- Solution space is unknown or poorly defined
- Need multiple viable options (not just one best)
- Can't afford to miss alternatives
- Exploring possibilities before committing
- Brainstorming or ideation phases
Key Difference from ToT
| ToT | BoT |
|---|---|
| Find THE best | Find ALL viable |
| Prune aggressively (keep top 2-3) | Prune conservatively (keep >40% confidence) |
| Deep exploration of winners | Broad exploration of everything |
| Single recommendation | Multiple options with trade-offs |
Process
Phase 1: Divergent Generation
Generate 8-10 approaches at each level:
- Don't filter yet
- Include unconventional ideas
- Cross-domain analogies welcome
- Quantity over quality initially
Phase 2: Conservative Filtering
Keep anything above 40% viability threshold:
- "Might work" = keep
- "Definitely won't work" = prune
- Document why each was kept/pruned
Phase 3: Parallel Expansion
For EACH remaining option, generate sub-approaches:
Option 1 → 1a, 1b, 1c
Option 2 → 2a, 2b, 2c
Option 3 → 3a, 3b, 3c
...
Phase 4: Viability Assessment
Score all remaining options:
- Feasibility (1-10)
- Uniqueness (how different from others)
- Trade-off profile (what you gain/lose)
Phase 5: Portfolio Output
Return 3-5 viable solutions with:
- Clear differentiation
- Trade-off comparison
- Use case fit
Output Template
## BoT Exploration: [Problem]
### Solution Portfolio
#### Option 1: [Name]
- **Approach**: [description]
- **Best for**: [use case]
- **Trade-offs**: [gains vs losses]
- **Confidence**: X%
#### Option 2: [Name]
- **Approach**: [description]
- **Best for**: [use case]
- **Trade-offs**: [gains vs losses]
- **Confidence**: X%
#### Option 3: [Name]
...
### Comparison Matrix
| Option | Speed | Cost | Complexity | Risk | Best When |
|--------|-------|------|------------|------|-----------|
| 1 | | | | | |
| 2 | | | | | |
| 3 | | | | | |
### Eliminated Options
- [Option X]: [why not viable]
### Recommendation
No single "best" - choose based on priorities:
- If [priority A] matters most → Option 1
- If [priority B] matters most → Option 2
- If [priority C] matters most → Option 3
Example
Problem: Data pipeline architecture options
BoT Output:
- Batch ETL - Best for: cost-sensitive, latency-tolerant
- Stream Processing - Best for: real-time requirements
- Lambda Architecture - Best for: mixed workloads
- Lakehouse - Best for: unified analytics + ML
- Event Sourcing - Best for: audit trails, replay needs
Each is viable - choice depends on specific requirements.