majiayu000 name: scale-check description: Create or update a scalability assessment at 2x, 10x, 100x argument-hint: [process, system, or initiative] or [update path/to/check.md]
Document Intelligence
This skill supports three modes: Create, Update, and Find.
Mode Detection
| Signal | Mode | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| "update", "reassess", "refresh" in input | UPDATE | 100% |
| File path provided | UPDATE | 100% |
| "create", "new", "assess" in input | CREATE | 100% |
| "find", "search", "list" | FIND | 100% |
| "the scale check", "our assessment" | UPDATE | 85% |
| Just process/system/initiative | CREATE | 60% |
Threshold: ≥85% auto-proceed | 70-84% state assumption | <70% ask user
Mode Behaviors
CREATE: Generate complete new scale check using template below.
UPDATE:
- Check document registry first, then search user's structure
- Preserve investment roadmap and historical assessments
- Update scale readiness or bottleneck analysis
- Show diff summary
FIND: Check registry, then search user's folders for scale checks.
Assess scalability of a process, system, or initiative at 2x, 10x, and 100x scale, validating Principle #8 (Scalable Systems).
V2V Phase
Cross-phase - This skill validates scalability when designing processes, systems, or operational approaches at any phase.
Purpose
Scalable Systems means processes that work as the organization grows. This skill stress-tests approaches at multiple scale levels to identify breaking points before they become problems.
Output Structure
# Scale Check: [Subject]
**Date**: [Date]
**Subject**: [Process/System/Initiative being assessed]
**Current Scale**: [Baseline metrics - team size, volume, etc.]
## Scale Dimensions
Define what "scale" means for this subject:
| Dimension | Current | 2x | 10x | 100x |
|-----------|---------|-----|------|------|
| [Users/Customers] | [N] | [2N] | [10N] | [100N] |
| [Team size] | [N] | [2N] | [10N] | [100N] |
| [Transaction volume] | [N] | [2N] | [10N] | [100N] |
| [Product lines] | [N] | [2N] | [10N] | [100N] |
| [Markets/Regions] | [N] | [2N] | [10N] | [100N] |
## 2x Scale Assessment
**Scenario**: [Describe what 2x looks like]
### What Works at 2x
- [Element that scales well]
- [Element that scales well]
### What Strains at 2x
| Element | Current State | 2x Impact | Severity |
|---------|---------------|-----------|----------|
| [Process/System] | [How it works now] | [What happens at 2x] | Low/Med/High |
| [Process/System] | [Current] | [2x impact] | Severity |
### 2x Verdict
**Status**: [Ready/Minor Adjustments/Significant Changes Needed]
**Immediate actions required**:
- [Action 1]
- [Action 2]
## 10x Scale Assessment
**Scenario**: [Describe what 10x looks like]
### What Works at 10x
- [Element that still scales]
- [Element that still scales]
### What Breaks at 10x
| Element | Current State | 10x Impact | Severity |
|---------|---------------|------------|----------|
| [Process/System] | [How it works now] | [What breaks at 10x] | Low/Med/High |
| [Process/System] | [Current] | [10x impact] | Severity |
### 10x Redesign Required
- [Major change needed]
- [Major change needed]
### 10x Verdict
**Status**: [Ready/Partial/Requires Fundamental Redesign]
**Medium-term investments required**:
- [Investment 1]
- [Investment 2]
## 100x Scale Assessment
**Scenario**: [Describe what 100x looks like - may be hypothetical]
### What Survives at 100x
- [Core principle that endures]
- [Fundamental approach that scales]
### What's Completely Different at 100x
| Element | Current Approach | 100x Approach |
|---------|------------------|---------------|
| [Process] | [Manual/Semi-auto] | [Fully automated/AI-driven] |
| [Structure] | [Current] | [Required at 100x] |
### 100x Vision
[Describe what success looks like at 100x scale]
## Hero Dependency Analysis
"Heroes" are individuals whose personal effort makes a non-scalable process work.
| Process | Hero Dependency | Impact if Hero Unavailable | Scale Limit |
|---------|-----------------|---------------------------|-------------|
| [Process 1] | [Name/Role] | [What breaks] | [When it breaks] |
| [Process 2] | [Name/Role] | [What breaks] | [When it breaks] |
**Hero-dependent processes must be systematized before scaling.**
## Bottleneck Analysis
| Bottleneck | Current Capacity | Scale at Which It Breaks | Mitigation |
|------------|------------------|--------------------------|------------|
| [Bottleneck 1] | [Capacity] | [2x/10x/100x] | [How to address] |
| [Bottleneck 2] | [Capacity] | [Scale] | [Mitigation] |
## Complexity vs. Maturity Match
| Org Maturity Level | Appropriate Complexity | Current Complexity | Match? |
|--------------------|------------------------|-------------------|--------|
| Enabling | Low | [Current] | Yes/No |
| Established | Medium | [Current] | Yes/No |
| Company Leading | High | [Current] | Yes/No |
| Market Leading | Variable | [Current] | Yes/No |
**Assessment**: [Is current complexity appropriate for current maturity?]
## Investment Roadmap
### Immediate (Enable 2x)
| Investment | Cost | Impact | Priority |
|------------|------|--------|----------|
| [Investment 1] | [Effort/Cost] | [Scale enabled] | High/Med/Low |
| [Investment 2] | [Effort/Cost] | [Scale enabled] | Priority |
### Medium-term (Enable 10x)
| Investment | Cost | Impact | Priority |
|------------|------|--------|----------|
| [Investment 1] | [Effort/Cost] | [Scale enabled] | High/Med/Low |
| [Investment 2] | [Effort/Cost] | [Scale enabled] | Priority |
### Long-term (Enable 100x)
| Investment | Cost | Impact | Priority |
|------------|------|--------|----------|
| [Investment 1] | [Effort/Cost] | [Scale enabled] | High/Med/Low |
## Scalability Score
| Scale Level | Readiness |
|-------------|-----------|
| 2x | [Ready/Partial/Not Ready] |
| 10x | [Ready/Partial/Not Ready] |
| 100x | [Ready/Partial/Not Ready] |
**Overall Scalability Assessment**: [Highly Scalable/Moderately Scalable/Scale-Limited]
## Recommendations
### Do Now (2x enablement)
1. [Action]
2. [Action]
### Plan For (10x enablement)
1. [Action]
2. [Action]
### Keep in Mind (100x vision)
1. [Principle to preserve]
2. [Direction to head]
Instructions
- Ask what process, system, or initiative to assess
- Define the relevant scale dimensions
- Assess what works and what breaks at 2x
- Assess what works and what breaks at 10x
- Envision what 100x looks like
- Identify hero dependencies and bottlenecks
- Match complexity to maturity level
- Provide investment roadmap and recommendations
Validation Questions
- Does this work at 2x current scale?
- What breaks at 10x?
- What's fundamentally different at 100x?
- Are we dependent on heroes?
- Is complexity appropriate for our maturity?
Red Flag Triggers
Immediately flag if:
- Process requires specific individuals to function
- No path to automation exists
- Complexity exceeds current maturity level
- Breaking point is before 2x scale
When to Use
- When designing new processes
- When evaluating operational approaches
- Before making infrastructure decisions
- During strategic planning
- When assessing readiness for growth
Related Skills
/maturity-check- Assess current maturity level/commitment-check- Includes scalability consideration/strategic-bet- Should consider scale implications
Operating Principle
"Design for 10x, deliver for 2x, dream about 100x. Don't over-engineer for today, but don't paint yourself into a corner either."