tpl-superclaude/.claude/commands/planning/2-brainstorm/2-analyze-ideas.md

---
allowed-tools: [Read, Write, Glob]
description: Analyzes generated ideas from brainstorming session, categorizes them, and suggests next steps for refinement.
---

# Analyze Brainstorming Ideas

## Context
- **User Request:** $ARGUMENTS
- **Session Name/Index:** Passed via `--name` argument.
- **Session State File:** `_session-state.json` within the specified brainstorm session directory.

## Goal
To analyze the raw ideas generated during the brainstorming session, organize them systematically, identify patterns and themes, evaluate their potential, and provide actionable recommendations for the next phase of development.

## Process
1.  **Identify Target Session:**
    - Use the `--name` argument to locate the correct brainstorm session directory (e.g., `.taskmaster/docs/brainstorm/001-product-features/`).

2.  **Read Session State and Context:**
    - Read the `_session-state.json` file to understand the session context.
    - Review the `01_brainstorm_framework.md` file to understand the original objectives and constraints.
    - Identify the `lastAnalyzedFile` to determine which new files need to be processed.

3.  **Find and Analyze New Ideas:**
    - Scan the session directory for any `0*_*.md` files created or modified after `lastAnalyzedFile`.
    - Read the content of the new idea files (typically `02_idea_generation.md`).
    - Parse and extract individual ideas from the documentation.

4.  **Systematic Idea Analysis:**
    - **Categorize Ideas:** Group similar ideas into logical themes or categories.
    - **Evaluate Feasibility:** Assess implementation difficulty and resource requirements.
    - **Assess Impact Potential:** Evaluate the potential value and significance of each idea.
    - **Identify Patterns:** Look for recurring themes, innovative approaches, or breakthrough concepts.
    - **Spot Combinations:** Identify ideas that could be merged or built upon each other.

5.  **Generate Analysis Summary:**
    - Create a comprehensive analysis file named `_analysis_[topic].md` (e.g., `_analysis_product_features.md`).
    - Include:
        - **Executive Summary:** High-level overview of the ideation results
        - **Idea Categorization:** Organized themes with grouped ideas
        - **Top Concepts:** Highest-potential ideas based on evaluation criteria
        - **Feasibility Matrix:** Ideas plotted against impact vs. difficulty
        - **Pattern Analysis:** Recurring themes and innovative approaches
        - **Combination Opportunities:** Ideas that could be merged or enhanced
        - **Quick Wins:** Low-effort, high-impact ideas for immediate implementation
        - **Moonshot Ideas:** High-risk, high-reward concepts for future consideration

6.  **Update Session State with Intelligent Next Action:**
    - Update the `_session-state.json` file:
        - Set `status` to `analysis_complete`.
        - Update `lastAnalyzedFile` to the name of the file just analyzed.
        - Update `ideationResults` with quantitative summary.
        - Formulate the `nextAction` based on the analysis results.

    **Standard Next Actions (contextual selection):**
    - **If many high-quality ideas generated:** "Create refined concept selection with priority ranking"
    - **If ideas need validation:** "Conduct concept validation with target users"
    - **If ideas are too broad:** "Focus and refine top 3-5 concepts"
    - **If ready for development:** "Generate final brainstorm summary and transition to PRD"

7.  **Report Analysis Results with Actionable Recommendations:**
    - Present a concise summary of the analysis findings.
    - Highlight the most promising ideas and their potential impact.
    - Provide specific recommendations for next steps.
    - **Generate a refined ideation prompt if additional brainstorming is needed:**

    **Refined Ideation Prompt Template:**
    ```
    ### Refined Ideation Prompt: [Focus Area from Analysis]

    **1. Analysis Context:**
       - **Total Ideas Generated:** [Number]
       - **Key Themes Identified:** [List of main categories]
       - **Top Concepts:** [2-3 highest-potential ideas]
       - **Gaps Identified:** [Areas needing more exploration]

    **2. Refinement Objective:**
       - [Specific goal for additional ideation, e.g., "Deepen the top 3 concepts with detailed implementation approaches"]

    **3. Focused Prompts:**
       - [3-5 specific questions to guide refinement]
       - [Based on gaps or promising areas from analysis]

    **4. Success Criteria:**
       - [Updated criteria based on analysis results]
    ```

8.  **Conclude with Clear Next Steps:**
    - Instruct the user on the recommended next action.
    - Provide the filename for any additional work needed.
    - **Example conclusion:** "Based on the analysis, I recommend focusing on the top 5 concepts. Please create `03_concept_refinement.md` with detailed development of these ideas, then run `/planning/brainstorm/2-analyze-ideas --name=[session_name]` again to analyze the refined concepts."

## Templates & Structures

### Analysis Summary Template
```markdown
# Brainstorm Analysis: [Session Name]

## Executive Summary
- **Total Ideas Generated:** [Number]
- **Analysis Date:** [Date]
- **Key Insight:** [One-sentence summary of main finding]

## Idea Categorization

### Category 1: [Theme Name]
- **Description:** [What this category represents]
- **Ideas:** [List of related ideas]
- **Potential Impact:** [Assessment]

### Category 2: [Theme Name]
- **Description:** [What this category represents]
- **Ideas:** [List of related ideas]
- **Potential Impact:** [Assessment]

## Top Concepts (Prioritized)

### 1. [Concept Name]
- **Description:** [Detailed explanation]
- **Impact Score:** [1-10]
- **Feasibility Score:** [1-10]
- **Why it's promising:** [Reasoning]

### 2. [Concept Name]
- **Description:** [Detailed explanation]
- **Impact Score:** [1-10]
- **Feasibility Score:** [1-10]
- **Why it's promising:** [Reasoning]

## Feasibility Matrix

### Quick Wins (High Impact, Low Effort)
- [List of ideas]

### Major Projects (High Impact, High Effort)
- [List of ideas]

### Fill-ins (Low Impact, Low Effort)
- [List of ideas]

### Questionable (Low Impact, High Effort)
- [List of ideas]

## Pattern Analysis
- **Recurring Themes:** [Common patterns across ideas]
- **Innovative Approaches:** [Unique or breakthrough concepts]
- **User-Centric Focus:** [Ideas that strongly address user needs]

## Combination Opportunities
- **Idea A + Idea B:** [Potential synergies]
- **Theme-based Combinations:** [Ways to merge related concepts]

## Recommendations

### Immediate Next Steps
1. [Specific action recommendation]
2. [Specific action recommendation]
3. [Specific action recommendation]

### Future Considerations
- [Longer-term opportunities]
- [Areas for additional brainstorming]

## Gaps and Missing Elements
- [Areas that need more exploration]
- [Stakeholder perspectives not yet considered]
```

### Updated Session State Structure
```json
{
  "index": 1,
  "name": "session-name",
  "type": "brainstorm",
  "status": "analysis_complete",
  "created": "ISO datetime",
  "lastUpdated": "ISO datetime",
  "currentStep": "idea_analysis",
  "completedSteps": ["ideation_setup", "idea_generation"],
  "nextAction": "specific recommendation based on analysis",
  "brainstormType": "creative|problem-solving|feature-expansion|market-opportunities",
  "targetDomain": "user-defined domain",
  "ideationResults": {
    "totalIdeas": 42,
    "categorizedIdeas": {
      "user-experience": 12,
      "technical-innovation": 8,
      "business-model": 6
    },
    "topConcepts": [
      {
        "name": "concept-name",
        "impactScore": 9,
        "feasibilityScore": 7,
        "category": "user-experience"
      }
    ],
    "analysisDate": "ISO datetime"
  }
}
```

## Best Practices

### ✅ DO: Systematic Categorization
- **Use consistent criteria** for grouping ideas into themes
- **Look for natural clusters** rather than forcing artificial categories
- **Consider multiple perspectives** (user, business, technical) when categorizing
- **Document rationale** for categorization decisions

**Why:** Systematic organization makes patterns visible and helps identify the most promising areas for development.

### ✅ DO: Balanced Evaluation
- **Assess both impact and feasibility** for each idea
- **Consider short-term and long-term potential** separately
- **Factor in resource constraints** from the original framework
- **Use consistent scoring criteria** across all ideas

**Why:** Balanced evaluation ensures that both ambitious and practical ideas receive appropriate consideration.

### ✅ DO: Identify Synergies
- **Look for complementary ideas** that could be combined
- **Consider sequential implementation** where one idea enables another
- **Explore theme-based combinations** that address multiple user needs
- **Document potential integration points** between related concepts

**Why:** Combinations often produce more powerful solutions than individual ideas in isolation.

### ❌ DON'T: Dismiss Ideas Too Quickly
- **Don't eliminate ideas based on initial impressions** - analyze them systematically
- **Don't ignore "wild" ideas** - they often contain valuable insights
- **Don't let feasibility bias** overshadow potentially transformative concepts
- **Don't assume resource constraints** are permanent - they may change

**Why:** Premature dismissal can eliminate breakthrough opportunities that might be valuable with different approaches or timing.

### ❌ DON'T: Over-Analyze
- **Don't spend excessive time** on obviously weak ideas
- **Don't get stuck in analysis paralysis** - aim for actionable insights
- **Don't perfect the analysis** - focus on identifying clear next steps
- **Don't analyze in isolation** - consider the original framework and constraints

**Why:** Over-analysis can delay progress and obscure the most important insights needed for decision-making.

## Output
- **Format:** Markdown analysis file
- **Location:** `.taskmaster/docs/brainstorm/[index]-[session_name]/`
- **Primary Files:**
  - `_analysis_[topic].md` - Comprehensive idea analysis
  - `_session-state.json` - Updated session state
  - Optional: `03_concept_refinement.md` - Additional refinement (user-created)

## Example Usage
- **Analyze ideas from a session:**
  `/planning/brainstorm/2-analyze-ideas --name="product-features"`
- **Analyze by index:**
  `/planning/brainstorm/2-analyze-ideas --name="1"`
- **Re-analyze after refinement:**
  `/planning/brainstorm/2-analyze-ideas --name="product-features"` (automatically detects new files)