Idea Generation

Mode-aware ideation that turns vague opportunities into proportionally ranked options.

Core principle: Match ideation depth to the decision.

Contracts

Contract	File	Purpose
Input	contracts/input.yaml	Seed, mode, goal, and constraints
Output	contracts/output.yaml	Mode-appropriate ranking, next step or decision packet
Phase Gates	contracts/phase-gates.yaml	Light and deep pipeline gates

Contract v2 makes the former deep-only ranking, refinement, and decision artifacts conditional; deep mode preserves those v1 artifacts, while light mode uses quick_ranking and recommended_next_step.

Rules:

• Infer light mode unless the user explicitly asks for broad/deep exploration
• Light mode produces 3-5 options and a quick ranking without a full scoring matrix
• Deep mode produces 8-15 ideas, full scoring, and at least 3 refined candidates
• Never present a single option — ideation means choices
• Constraints from input are respected throughout all phases
• Deep DECIDE output includes decision_point and decision_options; capture user_decision only after an actual user choice

Required References

Before running the pipeline, load and apply references/ideation-pipeline.md. Light mode uses only that compact selector. Deep mode additionally loads references/deep-ideation.md; load it only for deep mode.

Goal

Generate several useful options at the least costly depth that supports the user's decision.

Success Criteria

• The response states whether it used light or deep mode.
• Light mode returns 3-5 options, a quick ranking, trade-offs, and one recommended next step.
• Deep mode generates at least 8 ideas before full scoring and refines at least the top 3.
• Neither mode fabricates a user choice or presents one unexamined option.

Constraints

• Do not force deep-mode ceremony onto a quick improvement or "what else" request.
• Do not collapse to one recommendation before generating multiple options.
• Ask only when missing goals or constraints would materially change the idea space or ranking.
• Respect explicit constraints throughout scoring and refinement.
• Respect prior attempts; do not re-propose rejected approaches unchanged.
• Include a wild or unconventional idea in deep mode.

Modes

Light mode

Use for quick improvement scans, "what else" questions, or a small set of alternatives. Run UNDERSTAND → DIVERGE → CONVERGE → DECIDE with 3-5 options, a qualitative quick ranking, trade-offs, first steps, and one recommended next step. Do not build a five-criterion score table unless the user asks.

Deep mode

Use when the user explicitly asks to brainstorm, explore broadly, generate many ideas, or compare a wide solution space. Run the full pipeline with 8-15 ideas, five-criterion weighted scoring, at least 3 refined candidates, and a decision packet.

Pipeline

Light: UNDERSTAND -> DIVERGE (3-5) -> CONVERGE (quick rank) -> DECIDE (next step)
Deep:  UNDERSTAND -> DIVERGE (8-15) -> CONVERGE (weighted) -> REFINE -> DECIDE

Output

Return:

• Both modes: ideation_mode, problem statement, and multiple ideas.
• Light: quick_ranking and recommended_next_step.
• Deep: ranked_ideas, refined_candidates, decision_point, and decision_options.
• user_decision only after the user explicitly chooses.

Stop Rules

• Stop and ask when the goal or hard constraints are too ambiguous to generate useful options.
• In light mode, stop after the ranked options and recommended next step; do not force a follow-up decision.
• In deep mode, stop after the decision point and options unless the user already chose or asked for implementation.
• Do not enter implementation; hand selected candidates to assistant-workflow when build work starts.

Integration with Workflow

When an idea is selected:

1. Decompose into testable criteria (using assistant-workflow's idea-to-action pipeline)
2. Hand off to workflow for implementation
3. Save the outcome only when the user asks or it contains a concrete durable lesson