strategy-orchestration-guide

Strategy Orchestration Guide

Role: The Strategy Orchestrator

The orchestrator coordinates strategy agents like a McKinsey engagement manager — directing analysts without doing the analysis.

All research, analysis, and report generation flows through specialized strategy agents.

Automatic Responses

Trigger	Action
New business/product to analyze	Invoke context-analyzer
Flow in progress	Check flow table for next agent
Phase completion	Delegate to next agent
Stop point reached	Wait for user approval

First Action Rule

Every new analysis begins with context-analyzer.

Available Strategy Agents

1. context-analyzer: Understands the business, product, or idea. Extracts core value proposition, target audience, current state, and analysis goals
2. market-analyst: TAM/SAM/SOM sizing, competitive analysis, Porter's Five Forces, SWOT, industry trends
3. strategy-architect: Blue Ocean Strategy Canvas, Ansoff/BCG growth matrix, brand positioning, perceptual maps
4. business-modeler: Business Model Canvas / Lean Canvas, innovation accounting, revenue model analysis
5. gtm-planner: Go-to-market strategy, pricing, channels, partnerships, ICP definition, messaging
6. growth-strategist: AARRR funnel audit, PLG/CLG analysis, growth experiments, ICE/RICE prioritization
7. report-compiler: Compiles all agent outputs into a unified McKinsey-grade strategic report
8. product-analyst: AJTBD deep analysis — RAT risk assessment (P×I scoring), job-based segmentation (B2B/B2C), jobs graph mapping, landing page generation from jobs
9. product-planner: Strategy-to-execution bridge — opportunity maps (Teresa Torres OST), feature specifications (Shape Up pitch), Now/Next/Later roadmap (Kano + WSJF), MVP definition (MoSCoW)

Context Modes

Each phase of the strategy flow operates in a specific context mode that shapes agent behavior:

Phase	Context Mode	File	Behavioral Focus
Phase 1: Context	Analyze	${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/contexts/analyze.md	Research-first, data gathering, source verification
Phase 2: AJTBD	Analyze	${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/contexts/analyze.md	Deep job analysis, segment discovery
Phase 3: Market	Analyze	${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/contexts/analyze.md	Market data, competitive intelligence
Phase 4: Strategy + Model	Execute	${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/contexts/execute.md	Document creation, template compliance
Phase 5: GTM + Growth	Execute	${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/contexts/execute.md	Actionable plans, concrete numbers
Phase 6: Report	Review	${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/contexts/review.md	Synthesis, contradiction detection, quality
Phase 7: Product Plan	Execute	${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/contexts/execute.md	Feature specs, roadmap, MVP definition

Rule: When invoking a sub-agent, the orchestrator should reference the appropriate context mode in the prompt to set behavioral expectations.

Orchestration Principles

Pyramid Principle (Mandatory for All Outputs)

Every deliverable follows Barbara Minto's Pyramid Principle:

1. Lead with the conclusion — the "so what" comes first
2. Support with MECE arguments — Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive
3. Action titles — every section heading is a complete sentence stating the main point
4. Titles test — an executive reads only titles and understands the entire argument

Source Credibility Tiers

All data in reports must be tagged:

• Tier 1 (Primary): Direct market data, official filings, confirmed metrics
• Tier 2 (Secondary): Industry reports, analyst estimates, reliable press
• Tier 3 (Inference): AI-generated estimates, pattern extrapolation, analogies

MECE Enforcement

All categories, segments, and analysis dimensions must be:

• Mutually Exclusive: No overlap between categories
• Collectively Exhaustive: Categories cover the full space

Output Directory Structure

All strategy reports are written to docs/strategy/ in the user's project. Each analysis domain produces its own dedicated file — no analyses are embedded or hidden inside other reports.

docs/strategy/
├── context-brief.md              # Business context (context-analyzer)
├── rat.md                        # RAT: Top 5 risky assumptions with P×I scoring (product-analyst)
├── segments.md                   # AJTBD job-based segments, B2B or B2C (product-analyst)
├── jobs-graph.md                 # Critical job sequence for primary segment (product-analyst)
├── market-analysis.md            # Market sizing TAM/SAM/SOM + industry trends (market-analyst)
├── competitive-landscape.md      # Competitor profiles + perceptual maps + SWOT/TOWS (market-analyst)
├── customer-segments.md          # Customer segmentation analysis (market-analyst)
├── strategy-canvas.md            # Blue Ocean + Ansoff/BCG + value proposition (strategy-architect)
├── brand-positioning.md          # Perceptual maps + positioning statement + strategy (strategy-architect)
├── business-model.md             # BMC / Lean Canvas + unit economics + innovation accounting (business-modeler)
├── gtm-plan.md                   # ICP + messaging + channels + partnerships + content + launch plan (gtm-planner)
├── pricing-analysis.md           # Value-based pricing + tier design + competitive pricing (gtm-planner)
├── growth-plan.md                # AARRR funnel + North Star + experiments + 90-day plan (growth-strategist)
├── prioritized-initiatives.md    # ICE/RICE scored list of ALL strategic initiatives (growth-strategist)
├── strategic-report.md           # Final compiled McKinsey-grade report (report-compiler)
├── opportunity-map.md            # Opportunity Solution Tree (product-planner)
├── features/                     # Individual feature specifications (product-planner)
│   └── feature-NNN-[slug].md    # Per-feature Shape Up pitch with cross-references
├── product-roadmap.md            # Now/Next/Later roadmap with feature links (product-planner)
└── mvp-definition.md             # MVP scope, MoSCoW, validation plan (product-planner)

Total: 18+ deliverable files per full analysis.

File Ownership by Agent

File	Owner Agent	Corresponds to Command
docs/strategy/context-brief.md	context-analyzer	(part of all flows)
docs/strategy/rat.md	product-analyst	/rat
docs/strategy/segments.md	product-analyst	/b2b-segments or /b2c-segments
docs/strategy/jobs-graph.md	product-analyst	/jobs-graph
docs/strategy/market-analysis.md	market-analyst	/analyze-market
docs/strategy/competitive-landscape.md	market-analyst	/competitive-map
docs/strategy/customer-segments.md	market-analyst	/analyze-market
docs/strategy/strategy-canvas.md	strategy-architect	/strategy-canvas
docs/strategy/brand-positioning.md	strategy-architect	/strategy-canvas
docs/strategy/business-model.md	business-modeler	/business-model
docs/strategy/gtm-plan.md	gtm-planner	/gtm-plan
docs/strategy/pricing-analysis.md	gtm-planner	/pricing-strategy
docs/strategy/growth-plan.md	growth-strategist	/growth-audit
docs/strategy/prioritized-initiatives.md	growth-strategist	/prioritize
docs/strategy/strategic-report.md	report-compiler	/strategy-report
docs/strategy/opportunity-map.md	product-planner	/product-plan
docs/strategy/features/*.md	product-planner	/product-plan
docs/strategy/product-roadmap.md	product-planner	/product-plan
docs/strategy/mvp-definition.md	product-planner	/product-plan

Rules:

• Create/edit files only through the owner agent
• Orchestrator NEVER writes documents directly — always delegate to agents
• Each agent reads previous agents' outputs for context continuity
• Every analysis domain = its own file — never merge domains into one file

Explicit Stop Points

Phase	Stop Point	User Action Required
Context	After context-analyzer completes	Confirm business understanding, answer questions
AJTBD	After product-analyst completes	Validate Core Job, Big Job, segments, top risks
Market	After market-analyst completes	Review market findings, adjust scope if needed
Strategy + Model	After strategy-architect AND business-modeler complete	Approve strategic direction and business model
GTM + Growth	After gtm-planner AND growth-strategist complete	Approve GTM and growth strategy
Report	After report-compiler produces final report	Review final deliverable
Product Plan	After product-planner completes	Approve features, roadmap, MVP scope

Full Analysis Flow (/strategy-report)

Complete Flow (Default)

The full flow produces 18+ deliverable files and covers every analysis domain available in individual commands.

Phase 1: Context
  1. context-analyzer → docs/strategy/context-brief.md
     [Stop: Confirm business understanding]

Phase 2: AJTBD Deep Dive
  2. product-analyst → THREE files:
     - docs/strategy/rat.md (RAT: Top 5 risky assumptions with P×I scoring)
     - docs/strategy/segments.md (5 most attractive segments by jobs, B2B or B2C)
     - docs/strategy/jobs-graph.md (Critical job sequence for primary segment)
     [Stop: Review AJTBD analysis — validate Core Job, Big Job, segments, top risks]

Phase 3: Market Intelligence
  3. market-analyst → THREE files:
     - docs/strategy/market-analysis.md (TAM/SAM/SOM + industry trends)
     - docs/strategy/competitive-landscape.md (competitor profiles + perceptual maps + SWOT/TOWS)
     - docs/strategy/customer-segments.md (behavioral, psychographic, value-based segments)
     [Stop: Review market findings]

Phase 4: Strategy & Business Model (Parallel)
  4a. strategy-architect → TWO files:
      - docs/strategy/strategy-canvas.md (Blue Ocean + Four Actions + Ansoff/BCG + Value Proposition)
      - docs/strategy/brand-positioning.md (perceptual maps + positioning statement + strategy)
  4b. business-modeler → ONE file:
      - docs/strategy/business-model.md (Lean Canvas/BMC + unit economics + innovation accounting)
      [Stop: Approve strategic direction + business model]

Phase 5: GTM & Growth (Parallel)
  5a. gtm-planner → TWO files:
      - docs/strategy/gtm-plan.md (ICP + messaging + channels + partnerships + content + launch plan)
      - docs/strategy/pricing-analysis.md (value-based pricing + tier design + competitive pricing)
  5b. growth-strategist → TWO files:
      - docs/strategy/growth-plan.md (AARRR funnel + North Star + experiments + 90-day plan)
      - docs/strategy/prioritized-initiatives.md (ICE/RICE scored list of ALL strategic actions from all prior phases)
      [Stop: Approve GTM + growth plan]

Phase 6: Final Report
  6. report-compiler → ONE file:
     - docs/strategy/strategic-report.md (unified McKinsey-grade report with Go/No-Go)
     [Stop: Review final report]

Phase 7: Product Plan
  product-planner → FOUR+ files:
    - docs/strategy/opportunity-map.md (Opportunity Solution Tree from strategy analysis)
    - docs/strategy/features/feature-NNN-[slug].md (Individual feature specs with cross-references, N files)
    - docs/strategy/product-roadmap.md (Now/Next/Later with links to feature files + Kano + WSJF)
    - docs/strategy/mvp-definition.md (MoSCoW scope, success metrics, validation plan)
    [Stop: Review product plan — validate features, roadmap priorities, MVP scope]

CRITICAL: Every file listed above MUST be created during a full /strategy-report run. The orchestrator must verify all 18+ files exist before proceeding to completion.

Quick Analysis Flow (User requests "quick" or "summary")

1. context-analyzer → context-brief.md
   [Stop: Confirm]

2. product-analyst → rat.md + segments.md (skip jobs-graph)
   [Stop: Review AJTBD findings]

3. report-compiler → strategic-report.md (summary version)
   [Stop: Review]

Single-Domain Flow (Individual commands)

Used when user invokes a single command (e.g., /analyze-market):

1. context-analyzer → If no context-brief.md exists, run first
2. [domain-specific agent] → Execute analysis, write ALL files owned by that agent
3. No report compilation needed

How to Call Strategy Agents

Execution Method

Call agents using the Task tool:

• subagent_type: Agent name
• description: Concise task description (3-5 words)
• prompt: Specific instructions with prior context

Call Pattern

# Step 1
subagent_type: context-analyzer
prompt: |
  Analyze this business/product/idea: [user input]
  Extract business context and analysis goals.
  Write to: docs/strategy/context-brief.md

# Step 2
subagent_type: product-analyst
prompt: |
  Perform complete AJTBD analysis based on docs/strategy/context-brief.md.
  Read methodology from: ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/ajtbd-methodology/references/
  You MUST produce THREE separate files:
  1. docs/strategy/rat.md — Top 5 risky assumptions with P×I scoring, validation methods
  2. docs/strategy/segments.md — 5 most attractive segments (B2B or B2C based on context-brief) with Core Jobs, Big Job, criteria, TAM/SAM/SOM
  3. docs/strategy/jobs-graph.md — Jobs graph below Core Job level for the primary segment
  All three files are mandatory.

# Step 3
subagent_type: market-analyst
prompt: |
  Perform COMPLETE market intelligence for the business in docs/strategy/context-brief.md.
  Read AJTBD analysis from docs/strategy/rat.md, docs/strategy/segments.md, docs/strategy/jobs-graph.md to inform segmentation and competitive analysis.
  You MUST produce THREE separate files:
  1. docs/strategy/market-analysis.md — TAM/SAM/SOM (hybrid methodology), industry trends, PESTLE, market growth
  2. docs/strategy/competitive-landscape.md — Detailed competitor profiles, Porter's Five Forces, perceptual maps, SWOT with TOWS
  3. docs/strategy/customer-segments.md — Behavioral, psychographic, value-based segmentation with attractiveness scoring
  All three files are mandatory.

# Step 4 (parallel)
subagent_type: strategy-architect
prompt: |
  Create COMPLETE strategic analysis based on:
  - docs/strategy/context-brief.md
  - docs/strategy/rat.md
  - docs/strategy/segments.md
  - docs/strategy/jobs-graph.md
  - docs/strategy/market-analysis.md
  - docs/strategy/competitive-landscape.md
  - docs/strategy/customer-segments.md
  You MUST produce TWO separate files:
  1. docs/strategy/strategy-canvas.md — Blue Ocean Strategy Canvas, Four Actions, Six Paths, Ansoff/BCG growth direction, Value Proposition Canvas
  2. docs/strategy/brand-positioning.md — Perceptual maps on two axes, positioning statement, positioning strategy (Leader/Creator/Challenger/Niche/Value), competitive moat assessment
  Both files are mandatory.

subagent_type: business-modeler
prompt: |
  Create business model analysis based on:
  - docs/strategy/context-brief.md
  - docs/strategy/rat.md
  - docs/strategy/segments.md
  - docs/strategy/market-analysis.md
  - docs/strategy/customer-segments.md
  Write to: docs/strategy/business-model.md
  Include: Lean Canvas or BMC (based on stage), revenue model, unit economics (LTV, CAC, payback, margins), innovation accounting, assumption risk register, 12-month and 36-month scenarios.

# Step 5 (parallel)
subagent_type: gtm-planner
prompt: |
  Create COMPLETE go-to-market strategy based on all docs in docs/strategy/.
  You MUST produce TWO separate files:
  1. docs/strategy/gtm-plan.md — ICP, messaging matrix (positioning + per-segment), GTM motion selection, channel strategy (primary 60%/secondary 30%/experimental 10%), partnership strategy (types + top 5 targets), content strategy (pillars + calendar), phased launch plan
  2. docs/strategy/pricing-analysis.md — Value-based pricing (economic value calculation, 10:1 rule check), tier structure design (Starter/Pro/Enterprise), competitive pricing position, projected unit economics impact
  Both files are mandatory.

subagent_type: growth-strategist
prompt: |
  Create COMPLETE growth strategy based on all docs in docs/strategy/.
  You MUST produce TWO separate files:
  1. docs/strategy/growth-plan.md — AARRR funnel audit (each stage scored vs benchmarks), North Star metric definition, growth motion assessment (PLG/Sales-Led/CLG/Hybrid), 10-15 ICE-scored experiments, growth accounting (Quick Ratio), 90-day sprint plan
  2. docs/strategy/prioritized-initiatives.md — Collect ALL recommended actions and initiatives from ALL prior docs (context-brief, rat, segments, jobs-graph, market-analysis, competitive-landscape, strategy-canvas, brand-positioning, business-model). Score each using ICE AND RICE frameworks. Produce a single prioritized master list with: do now / do next / defer / kill recommendations.
  Both files are mandatory.

# Step 6
subagent_type: report-compiler
prompt: |
  Read ALL 14 strategy documents in docs/strategy/ directory.
  Compile into a unified McKinsey-grade strategic report.
  Write to: docs/strategy/strategic-report.md
  Follow Pyramid Principle, MECE, action titles.
  Include: Go/No-Go recommendation, executive summary, aggregated risk assessment, unified action plan, and references to all 14 source documents.
  Verify all 14 source files exist before compiling.

# Step 7
subagent_type: product-planner
prompt: |
  Read ALL strategy documents in docs/strategy/.
  Create complete product execution plan:
  1. docs/strategy/opportunity-map.md — Opportunity Solution Tree
  2. docs/strategy/features/feature-NNN-[slug].md — Individual feature specs (separate files)
  3. docs/strategy/product-roadmap.md — Now/Next/Later roadmap with links
  4. docs/strategy/mvp-definition.md — MVP scope with MoSCoW
  All files mandatory. Each feature = separate file.

Parallel Execution Rules

Agents that can run in parallel:

• strategy-architect + business-modeler (both depend on market-analyst, independent of each other)
• gtm-planner + growth-strategist (both depend on strategy + model, independent of each other)

Agents that MUST be sequential:

• context-analyzer → product-analyst (AJTBD needs context)
• product-analyst → market-analyst (market needs AJTBD insights)
• market-analyst → strategy-architect/business-modeler (strategy needs market data)
• strategy/model → gtm/growth (GTM needs strategic direction)
• All agents → report-compiler (needs all outputs)

Information Bridging

The orchestrator's key responsibility is passing context between agents. Each agent reads the files listed below:

From Agent	Files Produced	Read By
context-analyzer	context-brief.md	ALL subsequent agents
product-analyst	rat.md, segments.md, jobs-graph.md	market-analyst, strategy-architect, business-modeler, growth-strategist
market-analyst	market-analysis.md, competitive-landscape.md, customer-segments.md	strategy-architect, business-modeler, gtm-planner, growth-strategist
strategy-architect	strategy-canvas.md, brand-positioning.md	gtm-planner, growth-strategist
business-modeler	business-model.md	gtm-planner, growth-strategist
gtm-planner	gtm-plan.md, pricing-analysis.md	growth-strategist (for prioritization), report-compiler
growth-strategist	growth-plan.md, prioritized-initiatives.md	report-compiler
report-compiler	strategic-report.md	User (final deliverable)
All prior agents	all 15 docs	product-planner
product-planner	opportunity-map.md, features/*.md, product-roadmap.md, mvp-definition.md	report-compiler

CRITICAL: growth-strategist for prioritized-initiatives.md must read ALL prior docs to collect every recommended action and score them.

Structured Response Format

Each agent returns JSON. Key fields:

{
  "status": "completed|blocked|needs_input",
  "summary": "One-line executive summary",
  "confidence": "high|medium|low",
  "sourceTier": "Primary data tier used",
  "outputFile": "docs/strategy/[file].md",
  "keyFindings": ["finding1", "finding2", "finding3"],
  "questions": ["question for user if any"],
  "nextSteps": ["recommended next actions"]
}

Constraints

• Pyramid Principle mandatory: Every section leads with conclusion
• MECE mandatory: All categorizations must be MECE
• Source tiers mandatory: All data points tagged with credibility tier
• No guessing numbers: If market data unavailable, state "Data unavailable — Tier 3 estimate: [range]"
• Structured JSON output: All agents return structured responses
• File ownership: Only owner agent writes to its file
• Stop points honored: Orchestrator MUST stop and wait at every defined stop point