strategic-group-map

Pack Availability Guard

Before telling the user to run a skill from another project-local pack, check .agents/project.json.enabled_packs. If the target pack is not enabled, recommend npx skillpacks install <pack> from the project shell, instead of the target skill. Only the currently running skill and skills verified available in the active session or project-local install state are directly recommendable. For unavailable pack skills, recommend npx skillpacks install <pack-or-skill>; for unavailable base skills, recommend npx skillpacks init before the skill.

Strategic Group Map - Competitive Cluster Analysis

Parent Orchestrator Routing

Run only through the parent orchestrator /competitive-analysis as part of its Research Session Loop. If the user needs to continue pending framework work, tell them to clear context and re-invoke /competitive-analysis with the same product/research path argument when present, for example /competitive-analysis research/afps-tracker.

Do not ask users to invoke this framework directly or with a path-shaped child framework command. Do not emit downstream routing labels, child-framework commands, execution-loop commands, or downstream skill recommendations from this framework subskill.

Terminal Handoff Contract

When this framework is run inline and stops on its findings review page, the terminal response must end with:

## Next Work
Review the framework findings page and compile YAML. The parent will consume that YAML, write the approved intermediate, and recalculate whether another framework or synthesis is next.

## Recommended Next Command After Compiling YAML
/competitive-analysis

Use the same product/research path argument when present. Do not decide from inside the framework whether the next parent run executes another framework or synthesis; the parent orchestrator recalculates that from the run manifest and canonical-intermediate files after approval.

Report-First Approval Gate

Default to scope-first approval: before synthesized research, inspect only enough repository, user, and source context to propose research scope, source plan, assumptions, output paths, and approval questions in a review alignment page plus a concise conversation summary.

Do not perform synthesized research, rank candidates, make recommendations, or write working packets or canonical deliverables until final compiled YAML approves the research scope. Minimal pre-approval discovery may identify available files, source categories, and open questions; label it as scope evidence, not findings.

After approved research-scope YAML, perform the research and write only the non-canonical working packet defined in the staged workflow. Then update the review alignment page with findings and stop again for feedback-only YAML or final compiled YAML artifact approval before creating or updating canonical research, spec, or task files.

Do not include downstream routing language. While the framework findings page is in review, use only the parent-owned terminal handoff sections above. Parent synthesis owns downstream routing only after approved synthesis artifacts are written or updated.

Staged Research Workflow

Use this staged workflow for synthesized research or report outputs that would create or update canonical research, spec, or task files.

1. Stage 1 - Scope discovery and approval. Inspect only enough repository, user, and source context to propose research scope, source plan, assumptions, output paths, and approval questions. Build the review HTML alignment page before synthesized research. The page must render the proposed scope, available source categories, known context, assumptions/confidence, proposed working-packet and canonical output paths, and research-scope approval gates. Stop for final compiled YAML approval of the research scope. Do not perform synthesized research, rank candidates, make recommendations, or write working packets, canonical research, spec, or task files in Stage 1.
2. Stage 2 - Research and artifact review. Only after approved research-scope YAML with no unresolved needs-clarification, unresolved down feedback, or other unresolved negative feedback, perform the synthesized research, run required source/code checks, and write only a non-canonical working packet: flat mode uses research/_working/preliminary-<skill>-research.md; product-path mode uses research/{slug}/_working/preliminary-<skill>-research.md. Replace <skill> with this skill's name value. Raw evidence or search logs may remain as supporting evidence where this skill already requires them, but synthesized deliverables stay in the working packet. Update the review HTML alignment page so it renders the complete working-packet substance as structured HTML review UI: purpose-built sections, tables, matrices, gates, cards, and tier-appropriate charts or diagrams that preserve every packet section, finding, caveat, and decision detail without summary loss. Raw Markdown packet text may appear only as a supplemental source view after the rendered review UI; do not make a Full Preliminary Packet or Full Working Packet raw Markdown dump, giant <pre><code> block, link-only view, or source-only view the primary review surface. Include the evidence matrix, assumptions/confidence register, source coverage gaps, proposed canonical file changes, and artifact approval gates. Stop for either feedback-only YAML or final compiled YAML. Feedback-only YAML revises the working packet and page, then remains in Stage 2.
3. Stage 3 - Finalize approved artifacts. Consume final compiled YAML for artifact approval only when it has no unresolved needs-clarification, unresolved down feedback, or other unresolved negative feedback. Apply approved edits first, archive the working packet to docs/history/archive/YYYY-MM-DD/HHMMSS/<original-working-path>, remove the active working packet, write the approved canonical artifacts to the unchanged output paths below, and convert the alignment page to confirmed with the approval record preserved.

Canonical output paths remain unchanged. Search logs and other supporting evidence remain allowed only where this skill's output contract already requires them.

Prerequisites

• Hard: Parent context from research/_working/preliminary-competitive-analysis-research.md or product-path equivalent. If absent, read research/icp.md or product-path equivalent plus repo context; if neither exists, tell the user to run /competitive-analysis first and stop.
• Soft: Existing competitive framework outputs, positioning research, journey research, customer feedback, and specs.

Product-Path Scope Resolution

Use the parent competitive-analysis product-path scope when present. Otherwise resolve scope from research/.progress.yaml and active non-archived paths before writing under research/{slug}/.

Process

1. Load seeded competitors and use web search to broaden the competitor list enough for meaningful clustering.
2. Select 2-3 evidence-backed axes, such as:
   • enterprise vs SMB
   • high-service vs self-serve
   • broad platform vs focused workflow
   • premium vs low-cost
   • incumbent suite vs specialist tool
3. Place competitors on the map only when evidence supports their position.
4. Identify clusters, crowded zones, underserved segments, and competitors that blur categories.
5. Record axis uncertainty and alternative maps when the market does not fit one clean 2x2.
6. Present findings before writing and incorporate factual corrections.

Output

research/competitive-analysis-strategic-group-map.md (or research/{slug}/competitive-analysis-strategic-group-map.md)

# Strategic Group Map

> Based on: [parent context, sources]
> Date: [current date]
> Methodology: Strategic Group Mapping

## Axis Selection
| Axis | Why It Matters | Evidence | Confidence |
|------|----------------|----------|------------|

## Competitor Placement
| Competitor | Axis 1 Position | Axis 2 Position | Group | Evidence | Confidence |
|------------|-----------------|-----------------|-------|----------|------------|

## Strategic Groups
[Named clusters, shared traits, and how they compete]

## Whitespace And Crowded Zones
[Underserved spaces and over-served clusters]

## Evidence Matrix
| Claim | Source | Evidence Type | Confidence |
|-------|--------|---------------|------------|

Constraints

• Do not force a 2x2 when the market needs a table or multiple maps; explain the limitation.
• Competitor placement must cite evidence.
• This is a sub-skill; do not emit downstream routing labels or command recommendations.

Alignment Page

When this skill produces durable deliverables (research, specs, plans, reports, prototypes, or any document output), build a full-depth HTML alignment page following ALIGNMENT-PAGE.md in this skill's directory. Output: alignment/strategic-group-map-{topic}.html.

Default Shipping Contract

Follow the shared shipping contract convention in CLAUDE.md.