# Phase 2: Divergence

**Progress: Phase 2 of 5**

## Purpose

Expand the problem space. Surface goals, users, constraints, edge cases, and risks that the user has not yet considered.

## Steps

Work through these question categories in order. Ask one question at a time. Skip categories where the answer is already known from Phase 1 context.

| Category | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Goal-seeking | Define the core problem and desired outcome | "What does success look like when this is done?" |
| User/stakeholder | Identify who benefits and who is affected | "Who will use this, and what do they need from it?" |
| Constraint-surfacing | Uncover technical, time, budget, or team limits | "What constraints exist that would rule out certain approaches?" |
| Scope-narrowing | Distinguish must-haves from nice-to-haves | "If you could only ship one thing, what would it be?" |
| Risk-surfacing | Identify what could go wrong or block progress | "What is the worst thing that could happen if this goes wrong?" |
| Success-criteria | Define measurable conditions for done | "How will you know this is working correctly?" |
| Assumption-challenging | Test unstated beliefs | "You mentioned X - is that a hard requirement or an assumption?" |

See [question-playbook](../references/question-playbook.md) for the full catalog.

## Rules

- One question per message, always
- Open questions before closed questions - explore before narrowing
- When the user states something as fact, probe whether it is a requirement or an assumption
- Do NOT offer solutions, architectures, or technology choices during divergence
- Track emerging themes and contradictions silently - surface contradictions as questions, not corrections

## Gate

**Advances when:** You have covered all relevant categories and the problem space feels well-explored. The user has answered questions across at least 4 categories.
**Returns to this phase when:** The user introduces a new concern or dimension.

Ask the user: "I think we have a solid picture of the problem space. Ready to narrow down to a concrete scope, or is there another angle to explore?"

Do NOT proceed to Phase 3 until the user signals readiness.
