01 | Outcomes of discovery
Create a shared definition of the problem before committing to a larger plan. Separate the current position, intended outcome, constraints and questions that still need evidence.
Illustrative outputs for this stage
Problem and priority brief
Identify the commercial and operating issues, the scope to address and what is outside this engagement.
Baseline and KPI definitions
Define relevant sales, contribution, opportunity or processing measures, including period, data source and owner.
Assumptions and open questions
Record resources, supply capacity, timing and available information. Assign unresolved questions for verification.
What to verify
- Stakeholders agree on the priority problem and scope.
- Verified facts, assumptions and unresolved questions are distinguishable.
- Measurement sources and owners are identified.
Decision before the next step
Move to planning when the problem and scope are agreed. Where essential information or decision-makers are missing, resolve those gaps first.
Illustrative situation
Where e-commerce sales exist but retained contribution is weak, review product cost, shipping, advertising and returns before increasing acquisition spending.
These are examples of working outputs, not historical client results or guaranteed outcomes. Work, timing and fees are agreed for each engagement.