---
name: creative-innovation-strategy-workflow
description: "Identify disruption opportunities using Blue Ocean Strategy, Jobs-to-be-Done, and business model innovation frameworks."
tags: [creative, innovation-strategy, workflow, facilitation]
---

---
last-redoc-date: 2025-09-28
---

# Innovation Strategy Workflow

**Type:** Interactive Document Workflow **Module:** Creative Intelligence System (CIS)

## Purpose

Identifies disruption opportunities and architects business model innovation through strategic
analysis of markets, competitive dynamics, and value chain transformation. Uncovers sustainable
competitive advantages and breakthrough opportunities using proven innovation frameworks.

## Distinctive Features

- **Strategic Focus**: Emphasizes business model innovation over feature innovation
- **Framework Library**: Comprehensive innovation frameworks in `innovation-frameworks.csv`
  (Jobs-to-be-Done, Blue Ocean, Disruptive Innovation)
- **Market Analysis**: Systematic evaluation of disruption potential and competitive positioning
- **Pragmatic Lens**: Ruthlessly focused on sustainable competitive advantage

## Usage

```bash
# Basic invocation
workflow innovation-strategy

# With market context
workflow innovation-strategy --data /path/to/industry-analysis.md
```

## Inputs

- **market_context**: Industry landscape and competitive intelligence
- **innovation_challenge**: Strategic opportunity or threat being addressed
- **constraints**: Resource limitations and strategic boundaries
- **recommended_inputs**: Existing competitive analysis or market research

## Outputs

**File:** `{output_folder}/innovation-strategy-{date}.md`

**Structure:**

- Market landscape and disruption analysis
- Jobs-to-be-Done identification
- Business model innovation opportunities
- Blue ocean strategy mapping
- Competitive advantage assessment
- Implementation roadmap and strategic priorities

## Workflow Components

- `workflow.yaml` - Configuration with innovation_frameworks CSV reference
- `instructions.md` - Strategic innovation facilitation guide
- `template.md` - Strategic output format
- `innovation-frameworks.csv` - Business model innovation frameworks library


## Workflow Instructions

# Innovation Strategy Workflow Instructions

<critical>The workflow execution engine is governed by:
{project_root}/.faos/core/tasks/workflow.xml</critical> <critical>You MUST have already loaded and
processed: {project_root}/.faos/cis/workflows/innovation-strategy/workflow.yaml</critical>
<critical>Load and understand innovation frameworks from: {innovation_frameworks}</critical>
<critical>⚠️ ABSOLUTELY NO TIME ESTIMATES - NEVER mention hours, days, weeks, months, or ANY
time-based predictions. AI has fundamentally changed development speed - what once took teams
weeks/months can now be done by one person in hours. DO NOT give ANY time estimates
whatsoever.</critical> <critical>⚠️ CHECKPOINT PROTOCOL: After EVERY <template-output> tag, you MUST
follow workflow.xml substep 2c: SAVE content to file immediately → SHOW checkpoint separator
(━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━) → DISPLAY generated content → PRESENT options [a]Advanced
Elicitation/[c]Continue/[p]Party-Mode/[y]YOLO → WAIT for user response. Never batch saves or skip
checkpoints.</critical>

<facilitation-principles>
  YOU ARE A STRATEGIC INNOVATION ADVISOR:
  - Demand brutal truth about market realities before innovation exploration
  - Challenge assumptions ruthlessly - comfortable illusions kill strategies
  - Balance bold vision with pragmatic execution
  - Focus on sustainable competitive advantage, not clever features
  - Push for evidence-based decisions over hopeful guesses
  - Celebrate strategic clarity when achieved
</facilitation-principles>

<workflow>

<step n="1" goal="Establish strategic context">
Understand the strategic situation and objectives:

Ask the user:

- What company or business are we analyzing?
- What's driving this strategic exploration? (market pressure, new opportunity, plateau, etc.)
- What's your current business model in brief?
- What constraints or boundaries exist? (resources, timeline, regulatory)
- What would breakthrough success look like?

Load any context data provided via the data attribute.

Synthesize into clear strategic framing.

<template-output>company_name</template-output> <template-output>strategic_focus</template-output>
<template-output>current_situation</template-output>
<template-output>strategic_challenge</template-output> </step>

<step n="2" goal="Analyze market landscape and competitive dynamics">
Conduct thorough market analysis using strategic frameworks. Explain in your own voice why unflinching clarity about market realities must precede innovation exploration.

Review market analysis frameworks from {innovation_frameworks} (category: market_analysis) and
select 2-4 most relevant to the strategic context. Consider:

- Stage of business (startup vs established)
- Industry maturity
- Available market data
- Strategic priorities

Offer selected frameworks with guidance on what each reveals. Common options:

- **TAM SAM SOM Analysis** - For sizing opportunity
- **Five Forces Analysis** - For industry structure
- **Competitive Positioning Map** - For differentiation analysis
- **Market Timing Assessment** - For innovation timing

Key questions to explore:

- What market segments exist and how are they evolving?
- Who are the real competitors (including non-obvious ones)?
- What substitutes threaten your value proposition?
- What's changing in the market that creates opportunity or threat?
- Where are customers underserved or overserved?

<template-output>market_landscape</template-output>
<template-output>competitive_dynamics</template-output>
<template-output>market_opportunities</template-output>
<template-output>market_insights</template-output> </step>

<step n="3" goal="Analyze current business model">
<energy-checkpoint>
Check in: "We've covered market landscape. How's your energy? This next part - deconstructing your business model - requires honest self-assessment. Ready?"
</energy-checkpoint>

Deconstruct the existing business model to identify strengths and weaknesses. Explain in your own
voice why understanding current model vulnerabilities is essential before innovation.

Review business model frameworks from {innovation_frameworks} (category: business_model) and select
2-3 appropriate for the business type. Consider:

- Business maturity (early stage vs mature)
- Complexity of model
- Key strategic questions

Offer selected frameworks. Common options:

- **Business Model Canvas** - For comprehensive mapping
- **Value Proposition Canvas** - For product-market fit
- **Revenue Model Innovation** - For monetization analysis
- **Cost Structure Innovation** - For efficiency opportunities

Critical questions:

- Who are you really serving and what jobs are they hiring you for?
- How do you create, deliver, and capture value today?
- What's your defensible competitive advantage (be honest)?
- Where is your model vulnerable to disruption?
- What assumptions underpin your model that might be wrong?

<template-output>current_business_model</template-output>
<template-output>value_proposition</template-output>
<template-output>revenue_cost_structure</template-output>
<template-output>model_weaknesses</template-output> </step>

<step n="4" goal="Identify disruption opportunities">
Hunt for disruption vectors and strategic openings. Explain in your own voice what makes disruption different from incremental innovation.

Review disruption frameworks from {innovation_frameworks} (category: disruption) and select 2-3 most
applicable. Consider:

- Industry disruption potential
- Customer job analysis needs
- Platform opportunity existence

Offer selected frameworks with context. Common options:

- **Disruptive Innovation Theory** - For finding overlooked segments
- **Jobs to be Done** - For unmet needs analysis
- **Blue Ocean Strategy** - For uncontested market space
- **Platform Revolution** - For network effect plays

Provocative questions:

- Who are the NON-consumers you could serve?
- What customer jobs are massively underserved?
- What would be "good enough" for a new segment?
- What technology enablers create sudden strategic openings?
- Where could you make the competition irrelevant?

<template-output>disruption_vectors</template-output> <template-output>unmet_jobs</template-output>
<template-output>technology_enablers</template-output>
<template-output>strategic_whitespace</template-output> </step>

<step n="5" goal="Generate innovation opportunities">
<energy-checkpoint>
Check in: "We've identified disruption vectors. How are you feeling? Ready to generate concrete innovation opportunities?"
</energy-checkpoint>

Develop concrete innovation options across multiple vectors. Explain in your own voice the
importance of exploring multiple innovation paths before committing.

Review strategic and value_chain frameworks from {innovation_frameworks} (categories: strategic,
value_chain) and select 2-4 that fit the strategic context. Consider:

- Innovation ambition (core vs transformational)
- Value chain position
- Partnership opportunities

Offer selected frameworks. Common options:

- **Three Horizons Framework** - For portfolio balance
- **Value Chain Analysis** - For activity selection
- **Partnership Strategy** - For ecosystem thinking
- **Business Model Patterns** - For proven approaches

Generate 5-10 specific innovation opportunities addressing:

- Business model innovations (how you create/capture value)
- Value chain innovations (what activities you own)
- Partnership and ecosystem opportunities
- Technology-enabled transformations

<template-output>innovation_initiatives</template-output>
<template-output>business_model_innovation</template-output>
<template-output>value_chain_opportunities</template-output>
<template-output>partnership_opportunities</template-output> </step>

<step n="6" goal="Develop and evaluate strategic options">
Synthesize insights into 3 distinct strategic options.

For each option:

- Clear description of strategic direction
- Business model implications
- Competitive positioning
- Resource requirements
- Key risks and dependencies
- Expected outcomes and timeline

Evaluate each option against:

- Strategic fit with capabilities
- Market timing and readiness
- Competitive defensibility
- Resource feasibility
- Risk vs reward profile

<template-output>option_a_name</template-output>
<template-output>option_a_description</template-output>
<template-output>option_a_pros</template-output> <template-output>option_a_cons</template-output>
<template-output>option_b_name</template-output>
<template-output>option_b_description</template-output>
<template-output>option_b_pros</template-output> <template-output>option_b_cons</template-output>
<template-output>option_c_name</template-output>
<template-output>option_c_description</template-output>
<template-output>option_c_pros</template-output> <template-output>option_c_cons</template-output>
</step>

<step n="7" goal="Recommend strategic direction">
Make bold recommendation with clear rationale.

Synthesize into recommended strategy:

- Which option (or combination) is recommended?
- Why this direction over alternatives?
- What makes you confident (and what scares you)?
- What hypotheses MUST be validated first?
- What would cause you to pivot or abandon?

Define critical success factors:

- What capabilities must be built or acquired?
- What partnerships are essential?
- What market conditions must hold?
- What execution excellence is required?

<template-output>recommended_strategy</template-output>
<template-output>key_hypotheses</template-output> <template-output>success_factors</template-output>
</step>

<step n="8" goal="Build execution roadmap">
<energy-checkpoint>
Check in: "We've got the strategy direction. How's your energy for the execution planning - turning strategy into actionable roadmap?"
</energy-checkpoint>

Create phased roadmap with clear milestones.

Structure in three phases:

- **Phase 1 - Immediate Impact**: Quick wins, hypothesis validation, initial momentum
- **Phase 2 - Foundation Building**: Capability development, market entry, systematic growth
- **Phase 3 - Scale & Optimization**: Market expansion, efficiency gains, competitive positioning

For each phase:

- Key initiatives and deliverables
- Resource requirements
- Success metrics
- Decision gates

<template-output>phase_1</template-output> <template-output>phase_2</template-output>
<template-output>phase_3</template-output> </step>

<step n="9" goal="Define metrics and risk mitigation">
Establish measurement framework and risk management.

Define success metrics:

- **Leading indicators** - Early signals of strategy working (engagement, adoption, efficiency)
- **Lagging indicators** - Business outcomes (revenue, market share, profitability)
- **Decision gates** - Go/no-go criteria at key milestones

Identify and mitigate key risks:

- What could kill this strategy?
- What assumptions might be wrong?
- What competitive responses could occur?
- How do we de-risk systematically?
- What's our backup plan?

<template-output>leading_indicators</template-output>
<template-output>lagging_indicators</template-output>
<template-output>decision_gates</template-output> <template-output>key_risks</template-output>
<template-output>risk_mitigation</template-output> </step>

</workflow>


## Output Template

# Innovation Strategy: {{company_name}}

**Date:** {{date}} **Strategist:** {{user_name}} **Strategic Focus:** {{strategic_focus}}

---

## 🎯 Strategic Context

### Current Situation

{{current_situation}}

### Strategic Challenge

{{strategic_challenge}}

---

## 📊 MARKET ANALYSIS

### Market Landscape

{{market_landscape}}

### Competitive Dynamics

{{competitive_dynamics}}

### Market Opportunities

{{market_opportunities}}

### Critical Insights

{{market_insights}}

---

## 💼 BUSINESS MODEL ANALYSIS

### Current Business Model

{{current_business_model}}

### Value Proposition Assessment

{{value_proposition}}

### Revenue and Cost Structure

{{revenue_cost_structure}}

### Business Model Weaknesses

{{model_weaknesses}}

---

## ⚡ DISRUPTION OPPORTUNITIES

### Disruption Vectors

{{disruption_vectors}}

### Unmet Customer Jobs

{{unmet_jobs}}

### Technology Enablers

{{technology_enablers}}

### Strategic White Space

{{strategic_whitespace}}

---

## 🚀 INNOVATION OPPORTUNITIES

### Innovation Initiatives

{{innovation_initiatives}}

### Business Model Innovation

{{business_model_innovation}}

### Value Chain Opportunities

{{value_chain_opportunities}}

### Partnership and Ecosystem Plays

{{partnership_opportunities}}

---

## 🎲 STRATEGIC OPTIONS

### Option A: {{option_a_name}}

{{option_a_description}}

**Pros:** {{option_a_pros}}

**Cons:** {{option_a_cons}}

### Option B: {{option_b_name}}

{{option_b_description}}

**Pros:** {{option_b_pros}}

**Cons:** {{option_b_cons}}

### Option C: {{option_c_name}}

{{option_c_description}}

**Pros:** {{option_c_pros}}

**Cons:** {{option_c_cons}}

---

## 🏆 RECOMMENDED STRATEGY

### Strategic Direction

{{recommended_strategy}}

### Key Hypotheses to Validate

{{key_hypotheses}}

### Critical Success Factors

{{success_factors}}

---

## 📋 EXECUTION ROADMAP

### Phase 1: Immediate Impact

{{phase_1}}

### Phase 2: Foundation Building

{{phase_2}}

### Phase 3: Scale & Optimization

{{phase_3}}

---

## 📈 SUCCESS METRICS

### Leading Indicators

{{leading_indicators}}

### Lagging Indicators

{{lagging_indicators}}

### Decision Gates

{{decision_gates}}

---

## ⚠️ RISKS AND MITIGATION

### Key Risks

{{key_risks}}

### Mitigation Strategies

{{risk_mitigation}}

---

_Generated using BMAD Creative Intelligence Suite - Innovation Strategy Workflow_

