The framework for the Opportunity Discovery Process is defined by three primary components.

1. Knowledge Framework - defines the knowledge structures and where and when they are created and used
2. Exploration Framework - defines the means for and structure of the exploration activities
3. Activity Framework - defines the sequence and organization of all activities that take place

These three sub-frameworks guide the process and serve as a tool for managing and coordinating the work of the team performing the opportunity discovery.

Knowledge Framework

Knowledge, information and data gathered during the opportunity discovery process is organized using mind-maps. The following figure shows the various mind-maps used in the process.


The maps are used to organize and synthesize knowledge as it is discovered and gathered. All evidence is placed into a map as well as source links, ideas, opinions, speculations, exploration paths and other exploration and idea generation aides. the maps depicted in the figure above are:

• Domain Exploration Map - The master map for this domain or whitespace is used to manage the exploration process, to collect the OH's, identify which ones move on to OS's and OP's and to gather exploration scenarios and ideas that are 'outside' the boundaries of the defined domain (these always come up).
  
• Weekly review Map - This map is used to manage the weekly OH review meetings. It is populated each week with candidate OH's and then depopulated as the fate of each OH is decided.
  
• Area Exploration Map - These are the day-to-day exploration maps used by the scouts to gather data, information and knowledge, to develop new OH's and indicate future exploration paths
  
• Opportunity Development Map - These are detailed maps specific to one opportunity. They are created when an OH is chosen to move on to the Statement phase and (if chosen again) to the Profile phase.
  
• Archive Map - This map collects OH's OS's and OP's that have been chosen out of the process
  

Exploration Framework

Exploration and searching activities are continuous and on-going during the discovery cycle. They are defined by the following exploration framework dimensions.

• What to look for
• Indicators such as interest (discussion threads, media coverage, community involvement), activity (publications, investments, conferences, research) etc. A complete list of indicators used is on the indicators page.
• Patterns that emerge. Often subtle yet significant patterns that may be 'orthogonal' to the main direction of exploration
• Where to look - The Knowledge 'Spheres' (i.e. those places where relevant knowledge resides)
  
• Science and Technology Sphere - seeing what's being developed and worked on
  
• Community and Ecosystem Sphere - Looking at people and organizational behavior
  
• Explicit Communication Sphere - reading content
  
• Tacit Knowledge Sphere - talking to people
  

• How to Look - Guides the exploration process and how to uncover and look at what is found
• Evidence-based search
• Pattern recognition
• Creative Abstraction - Specialization
  

Activity Framework

The following diagram illustrates the activities performed during a cycle of the Opportunity Discovery Process.



The discovery cycle can be extended-contracted based on exogenous factors such as resources, timing, planning etc. constraints or based on endogenous factors such as a determination that the domain is exhausted’ (for now). Resources determine the pace of discovery. For the pace shown in the diagram, the following team resources are required.

• Exploration coordination and management
• Scouts – responsible for OH and OS creation
• Profilers – responsible for OPs
• Assessors – responsible for assessments
• Opportunity Analyst – expert resource for process and domain knowledge synthesis
  

In addition, the following general resources are required

• Opportunity Domain (White Space) identification and selection team
• Review and Selection Team – From 5 to 15 for 2 hour weekly meeting

From the activities performed during a typical 4 to 6 month cycle, the following outputs result

• 192 Opportunity Hypotheses generated
• 48 Opportunity Statements created
• 8 Opportunity Profiles written
• 4 Opportunity Assessments undertaken
• 2 Opportunities on to Business Validation

The following diagram shows the detailed sequence of activities.



Each of these activities is covered on its own page:

• Hypothesis Generation
• Opportunity Hypothesis meeting
• Statement Generation
• Opportunity Statement meeting
• Profile Generation
• Opportunity Profile meeting
• Assessment Decision
• Opportunity Assessment
• Validation Decision