Research Playbook Generation

Transform extracted insights into actionable, operational playbooks.

Type Signature

PlaybookGeneration : [Insights] × Domain × Audience → Playbook

Where:
  Insights   : research/sources/{source}/insights.md (one or more)
  Domain     : Topic area (e.g., "network effects", "pricing")
  Audience   : founder | operator | executive | technical
  Playbook   : Principles × Framework × Steps × Checklist × Warnings

When to Use

• After source processing, to create operational guide
• When multiple sources on same topic need consolidation
• Client deliverable requiring actionable framework
• Building reusable knowledge assets

Input Requirements

Process

Stage 1: Insight Aggregation

From source insights.md file(s):

aggregation:
  sources: [{source_name, insight_count}]
  total_insights: N
  frameworks_found: [list]
  principles_found: [list]
  tactics_found: [list]
  warnings_found: [list]

Stage 2: Framework Selection

Choose primary framework for playbook structure:

framework_selection:
  primary_framework: "{name}"
  rationale: "Why this framework organizes the playbook"
  secondary_frameworks: [integrated as subsections]
  excluded: [{framework, reason}]

Selection criteria:

1. Most comprehensive (covers most insights)
2. Most actionable (leads to clear steps)
3. Most memorable (easy to recall/apply)

Stage 3: Principle Extraction

Extract 3-7 core principles:

principles:
  - id: P1
    name: "Short memorable name"
    statement: "One sentence principle"
    evidence: "From {source}: {quote}"
    application: "How to apply this"
    common_mistake: "What people get wrong"

Principle quality:

• Specific enough to guide action
• General enough to apply broadly
• Memorable (can recall without notes)
• Evidence-backed (not opinion)

Stage 4: Step Sequencing

Convert tactics into ordered steps:

steps:
  phase_1:
    name: "Phase name"
    goal: "What this phase achieves"
    steps:
      - step: 1
        action: "Specific action"
        why: "Why this matters"
        how: "How to do it"
        output: "What you produce"
        signals: "How you know it's working"

  phase_2:
    name: "Phase name"
    ...

Sequencing logic:

1. Dependencies (what must come first)
2. Risk reduction (validate before investing)
3. Value delivery (show progress early)
4. Natural progression (one thing leads to next)

Stage 5: Warning Integration

Place warnings at decision points:

warnings:
  - at_step: 3
    warning: "Common mistake at this stage"
    consequence: "What happens if ignored"
    prevention: "How to avoid"

  - general:
    warning: "Overall anti-pattern"
    applies_when: "Context"

Stage 6: Checklist Creation

Synthesize into actionable checklist:

checklist:
  pre_start:
    - "[ ] Prerequisite 1"
    - "[ ] Prerequisite 2"

  phase_1:
    - "[ ] Step 1 complete"
    - "[ ] Output 1 produced"

  quality_gates:
    - "[ ] Gate 1 passed before phase 2"

Output Structure

Create file in research/playbooks/{domain}.md:

# {Domain} Playbook

**Sources:** {List of source authors}
**Last Updated:** {YYYY-MM-DD}
**Audience:** {founder | operator | executive}

---

## Overview

{2-3 paragraphs explaining what this playbook covers and why it matters}

---

## Core Principles

### P1: {Principle Name}

**Principle:** {One sentence statement}

**Why:** {Why this matters}

**Evidence:**
> "{Quote from source}" — {Author}

**Application:** {How to apply}

**Common Mistake:** {What people get wrong}

---

### P2: {Principle Name}
...

---

## The Framework

### {Framework Name}

{Visual representation if applicable}

[Stage 1] → [Stage 2] → [Stage 3] → [Outcome]

**Stage 1: {Name}**
- Goal: {What this achieves}
- Activities: {What you do}
- Output: {What you produce}

**Stage 2: {Name}**
...

---

## Step-by-Step Execution

### Phase 1: {Phase Name}

**Goal:** {What this phase achieves}

**Duration:** {Typical timeframe}

#### Step 1: {Action Name}

**What:** {Specific action to take}

**Why:** {Why this matters}

**How:**
1. {Substep 1}
2. {Substep 2}
3. {Substep 3}

**Output:** {What you produce}

**Signals:** {How you know it's working}

> **Warning:** {Common mistake at this step}
>
> {What happens if ignored. How to prevent.}

#### Step 2: {Action Name}
...

---

### Phase 2: {Phase Name}
...

---

## Warnings & Anti-Patterns

### W1: {Warning Name}

**The Mistake:** {What people do wrong}

**Why It Happens:** {Root cause}

**Consequence:** {What goes wrong}

**Instead:** {What to do}

**Signs You're Making This Mistake:**
- {Signal 1}
- {Signal 2}

---

## Metrics & Benchmarks

| Metric | Target | Warning | Source |
|--------|--------|---------|--------|
| {metric} | {good} | {bad} | {author} |

---

## Checklists

### Pre-Start Checklist

[ ] {Prerequisite 1} [ ] {Prerequisite 2} [ ] {Prerequisite 3}

### Phase 1 Checklist

[ ] Step 1 complete: {output} [ ] Step 2 complete: {output} [ ] Quality gate: {criteria}

### Phase 2 Checklist
...

### Completion Checklist

[ ] All phases complete [ ] Metrics in target range [ ] No warning signs present

---

## Quick Reference

### The 3 Most Important Things

1. **{Thing 1}** — {Why}
2. **{Thing 2}** — {Why}
3. **{Thing 3}** — {Why}

### Decision Framework

IF {condition} → {action A} ELSE IF {condition} → {action B} ELSE → {action C}

---

## Sources

| Author | Source | Key Contribution |
|--------|--------|------------------|
| {name} | {source} | {what they contributed} |

---

## Related Playbooks

- [{Related playbook 1}](link)
- [{Related playbook 2}](link)

---

## Tags

`{tag1}` `{tag2}` `{tag3}`

Quality Checklist

[ ] 3-7 core principles defined
[ ] Primary framework selected and explained
[ ] Steps are sequenced logically
[ ] Each step has what/why/how/output
[ ] Warnings placed at decision points
[ ] Metrics include targets and warning levels
[ ] Checklists are actionable
[ ] Sources properly attributed
[ ] Tags added for discoverability

Integration

From research-source-processing

• Receives insights.md as input
• Frameworks become playbook structure
• Tactics become playbook steps
• Warnings become anti-pattern section

To reasoning-inductive (via knowledge-builder)

• Playbooks feed into cross-domain synthesis
• Patterns connect across playbooks
• Contradictions surface for resolution

With Index

• Update research/playbooks/index.md
• Add to domain sections
• Cross-link related playbooks

Example

Input:

insights_sources:
  - research/sources/andrew-chen-network-effects/insights.md
domain: "network-effects"
audience: "founder"

Output:

research/playbooks/network-effects.md
├── Principles (5): Cold start, Density, Hard side, Atomic network, Engagement loop
├── Framework: The Cold Start Theory
├── Phases: Atomic → Tipping → Escape → Ceiling
├── Steps: 12 detailed steps with outputs
├── Warnings: 6 anti-patterns
├── Metrics: Network density targets, activation rates
└── Checklists: Pre-start, per-phase, completion

Constraints

• Actionable over theoretical - Every section leads to action
• Specific over vague - Numbers, examples, concrete steps
• Sequenced over random - Clear order of operations
• Attributed - Credit sources for insights
• Audience-appropriate - Match complexity to reader