The four phases are not a linear gate process. Teams diverge and converge repeatedly, work people-centred, collaboratively and iteratively, and test the problem as well as solutions.

1. 1

   Discover

   Discover

   

   Goal

   Produce research evidence so the core question “Which problem matters to whom, and which tested solution addresses it effectively?” can be answered with stronger support.

   Inputs for this step

   • Challenge and constraints
   • access to affected people
   • decision and test capacity

   Actions

   • Explore the problem space broadly with people, data, and context.
   • Record source, rationale, and open uncertainty directly in research evidence.

   Output

   research evidence

   research evidence · source · uncertainty · next decision

   Quality check

   Does research include conflicting perspectives?

   Pitfall

   A preselected feature passes through the phases without reopening the problem space. Reopen the problem space, seek disconfirming evidence, and make convergence criteria visible.

   Timing: 10–20 minutes

2. 2

   Define

   Define

   

   Goal

   Produce defined challenge so the core question “Which problem matters to whom, and which tested solution addresses it effectively?” can be answered with stronger support.

   Inputs for this step

   • research evidence
   • access to affected people
   • decision and test capacity

   Actions

   • Synthesize patterns and focus an evidenced challenge.
   • Record source, rationale, and open uncertainty directly in defined challenge.

   Output

   defined challenge

   defined challenge · source · uncertainty · next decision

   Quality check

   Is the problem definition solution-neutral?

   Pitfall

   A preselected feature passes through the phases without reopening the problem space. Reopen the problem space, seek disconfirming evidence, and make convergence criteria visible.

   Timing: 10–20 minutes

3. 3

   Develop

   Develop

   

   Goal

   Produce tested options so the core question “Which problem matters to whom, and which tested solution addresses it effectively?” can be answered with stronger support.

   Inputs for this step

   • defined challenge
   • access to affected people
   • decision and test capacity

   Actions

   • Generate, prototype, and compare several solution directions.
   • Record source, rationale, and open uncertainty directly in tested options.

   Output

   tested options

   tested options · source · uncertainty · next decision

   Quality check

   Do tests create decision-ready learning?

   Pitfall

   A preselected feature passes through the phases without reopening the problem space. Reopen the problem space, seek disconfirming evidence, and make convergence criteria visible.

   Timing: 10–20 minutes

4. 4

   Deliver

   Deliver

   

   Goal

   Produce delivery evidence so the core question “Which problem matters to whom, and which tested solution addresses it effectively?” can be answered with stronger support.

   Inputs for this step

   • tested options
   • access to affected people
   • decision and test capacity

   Actions

   • Pilot, measure, adapt, and scale or stop the solution.
   • Record source, rationale, and open uncertainty directly in delivery evidence.

   Output

   delivery evidence

   delivery evidence · source · uncertainty · next decision

   Quality check

   Are outcome and guardrails evidenced?

   Pitfall

   A preselected feature passes through the phases without reopening the problem space. Reopen the problem space, seek disconfirming evidence, and make convergence criteria visible.

   Timing: 10–20 minutes