Solution Definition

• Define the whole product, not just what you produce, but everything the value network needs to deliver to meet customer requirements, as a structured element tree.
• Tie every element to the customer requirements it serves, so scope is justified by need.
• See which elements are most critical, computed from requirement importance and impact.
• Set target performance per requirement and carry it into delivery decisions.

• Build a hierarchical tree of solution elements (physical, operational, IP, subsystem, capital).
• Rate each element's impact on each associated requirement; the tool computes a criticality score.
• Define production and sales models that feed the revenue forecast (common with the Market Sizing Tool).
• Set target solution performance per requirement.
• AI Discovery Assistants can propose solution elements from your requirements, needs, and strategy.
• Analyze and prioritize solution elements by type, journey phase, value creation, and differentiation.

1. Start from requirements. Make sure your requirements are defined (in the Requirements tool).
2. Describe the solution. Name the product and category, and define production and sales models (if they weren't already defined in the Market Sizing Tool).
3. Build the element tree. Use the AI Discovery Assistants or build manually, linking each element to the requirements it serves.
4. Rate impact. Score how much each element contributes to each requirement, this drives criticality.
5. Set targets. Define target performance per requirement.
6. Analyze and hand off. Spot gaps and overlaps, then carry the elements into build/buy/partner planning, and evaluate the evidence for the criteria this tool influences.

What is Solution Definition in Growth Forge?

It's the tool for defining your whole product as a structured tree of solution elements, each tied to the customer requirements it serves. Because scope is justified by need and impact, the most critical elements surface automatically instead of getting lost in a flat feature list.

What is a "whole product, " and why does it matter?

The whole product is everything the customer needs to get full value across the whole customer/product relationship journey, not just the part you produce and sell, but distribution, local or value-added sales channels, complementary products or services, and more. Defining it prevents the classic failure of building a great core and missing what makes it usable and adoptable.

How do I scope a solution or an MVP against real customer needs?

Build the element tree, link each element to the requirements it serves, and rate its impact. Growth Forge computes a criticality score per element, so you can scope confidently, keeping the elements that drive the highest-opportunity requirements and deferring the rest.

How is solution-element criticality determined?

It's computed from each associated requirement's opportunity and the element's relative impact on that requirement's performance, so the most important elements surface automatically as importance and impact change.

Does it use AI?

Yes, AI Discovery Assistants can propose solution elements from your requirements, needs, and strategy for you to review, edit, and build on.

What does it connect to?

It draws on Requirements and Jobs to Be Done and feeds the Implementation Planning tool and the Market Sizing Tool (via production and sales models); its element evidence also contributes to your Strategy Evaluation.