structure-thinking

# Structure Thinking

## Overview
Use this skill to turn a messy situation into a clear decision path. You will model the system to find real levers, then build a compact argument that enables action. The focus is practical: define the decision, diagnose the system behavior, choose interventions, and communicate a decisive recommendation.

## Preferred Inputs
- Decision owner and deadline.
- Success definition (metric, threshold, or observable change).
- Constraints (budget, time, policy, technical limits).
- Behavior over time (trend, seasonality, oscillation).

If any are missing and the user wants an answer now, proceed with explicit assumptions and mark them as `Assumed`.

## Workflow

### 1) Define the Decision and Question
Goal: one clear governing question and a provisional answer.

Do:
- Write a one-sentence decision statement: “Decide whether to X by date Y to achieve Z.”
- Capture `Situation`, `Complication`, `Question`, `Answer`.
- List assumptions and unknowns explicitly.

Output:
- Governing question.
- Provisional answer in one sentence.

### 2) Describe Behavior Over Time
Goal: pin the problem to a trend, not a feeling.

Do:
- Summarize how the key metric changes over time.
- Note seasonality, spikes, or oscillations.
- State the time horizon that matters.

Output:
- Behavior-over-time summary (2-4 bullets).

### 3) Model the System
Goal: explain why the behavior persists.

Do:
- Define system boundary and stakeholders.
- Identify 1-3 critical stocks and their flows.
- Draw reinforcing and balancing loops.
- Mark delays and missing information.

Output:
- System map notes: stocks, flows, loops, delays.

### 4) Generate Hypotheses (MECE)
Goal: create testable explanations or options.

Do:
- Build an issue tree with 3-5 MECE branches.
- Label each branch as an assertion (not a topic).
- Rank branches by impact and evidence availability.

Output:
- Issue tree with ranked branches.

### 5) Select Leverage Points and Interventions
Goal: choose a small set...