OODA System Quick Reference¶

Purpose: Fast lookup guide for the complete OODA workflow system
Version: 2.0.0
Last Updated: 2025-12-19
Print: This page for quick reference during OODA workflows

🎯 Getting Started (First Time)¶

Read These Files (5 minutes): 1. AGENTS.md - Navigation index (you are here mentally) 2. README.md - Project overview 3. This file - Quick reference for workflow execution

Start Your First Capability:

Say: "I want to capture a new capability"
Then: Follow the phase-specific quick references below

📊 OODA Phases Overview¶

CAPTURE → OBSERVE → ORIENT → RECOMMEND → ALIGN
  (5m)     (45m)     (35m)      (40m)      (25m)

Phase	Duration	Steps	Key Output	Gate
CAPTURE	5 min	3	idea.md	None
OBSERVE	45 min	8	job-definition.md	Validation ≥8.0/10
ORIENT	35 min	9	problem-statement.md	Validation ≥8.0/10
RECOMMEND	40 min	8	recommendation.md	Validation ≥8.0/10
ALIGN	25 min	4	capability-thesis.md	Validation ≥8.0/10

Total Time: ~2.5 hours (150 minutes)
Total Steps: 32 steps across 5 phases

💬 Commands¶

Command	When to Use	What It Does
`/capture`	Starting new capability	Creates folder, writes idea.md
`/observe`	After capture	Conducts JTBD research (8 steps)
`/orient`	After observe	Frames problem statement (9 steps)
`/recommend`	After orient	Generates solution recommendation (8 steps)
`/align`	After recommend	Creates capability thesis (4 steps)
`/status`	Anytime	Shows current stage and progress
`/next-step`	Anytime	Suggests next action

📚 Phase-Specific Quick References¶

For detailed step-by-step instructions, see:

CAPTURE: .contributing/workflows/QUICK-REFERENCE-CAPTURE.md
OBSERVE: .contributing/workflows/QUICK-REFERENCE-OBSERVE.md
ORIENT: .contributing/workflows/QUICK-REFERENCE-ORIENT.md
RECOMMEND: .contributing/workflows/QUICK-REFERENCE-RECOMMEND.md
ALIGN: .contributing/workflows/QUICK-REFERENCE-ALIGN.md

Each quick reference includes: - Step-by-step checklist - Key inputs/outputs - Common pitfalls - Time estimates per step - Example artifacts

👥 Agent Roles (Quick Lookup)¶

Agent	Phase	Accountable For
@analyst	OBSERVE	job-definition.md
@ux-researcher	OBSERVE	Interviews
@problem-framer	ORIENT	problem-statement.md
@strategic-planner	RECOMMEND	Solution strategy
@creative-solutions	RECOMMEND	Hypotheses generation
@evaluator	RECOMMEND	Prioritization
@strategic-recommender	RECOMMEND	recommendation.md
@senior-product-manager	ALIGN	capability-thesis.md
@execution-planner	ALIGN	execution-plan.md
@alignment-facilitator	ALIGN	Alignment process
@workflow-manager	ALL	version.json, memory
@quality-assurance	ALL	Validation

Full details: AGENTS.md

🧠 Memory System (3 Levels)¶

Level 1: Step Memory (50-300 tokens) - Created after EACH step (32 total) - Used by next step in same phase - Compression: 10-40×

Level 2: Phase Summary (~850 tokens) - Created at end of each phase (5 total) - Used by next phase - Compression: 20-35×

Level 3: Workflow Summary (~3,000 tokens) - Created at end of Align phase (1 total) - Used by development team - Compression: 100× (80,000 → 3,000 tokens)

Rule: Read previous phase summary, NOT full artifacts

🚦 Validation Gates¶

Gate Checks Before Phase Transitions:

CAPTURE → OBSERVE: idea.md exists
OBSERVE → ORIENT: 7 artifacts + 8 step memories + validation ≥8.0/10
ORIENT → RECOMMEND: 8 artifacts + 9 step memories + validation ≥8.0/10
RECOMMEND → ALIGN: 7 artifacts + 8 step memories + validation ≥8.0/10
ALIGN → DONE: 3 artifacts + 4 step memories + workflow summary

See: docs/VALIDATION-GATES.md

📋 Artifact Checklist¶

CAPTURE (1 artifact): - ✅ idea.md

OBSERVE (7 required + interviews): - ✅ initial-jtbd-frame.md - ✅ 6+ executor interviews - ✅ 4+ beneficiary interviews - ✅ job-definition.md - ✅ job-journey.md - ✅ outcome-gaps.md - ✅ observe-validation.md

ORIENT (8 required): - ✅ symptoms-analysis.md - ✅ diagnosis.md - ✅ prognosis.md - ✅ problem-statement.md - ✅ kano-classification.md - ✅ rice-prioritization.md - ✅ problem-prioritization.md - ✅ orient-validation.md

RECOMMEND (7 required): - ✅ solution-hypotheses.md - ✅ blue-ocean-analysis.md - ✅ solution-evaluation.md - ✅ solution-prioritization.md - ✅ recommendation.md - ✅ recommend-validation.md - ✅ recommend-advisory-review.md (optional)

ALIGN (3 required): - ✅ capability-thesis.md - ✅ execution-plan.md - ✅ alignment-record.md

See: docs/PROCESS-STANDARDS.md

🗂️ Key Frameworks¶

JTBD (OBSERVE): - 8 stages: Define → Locate → Prepare → Confirm → Execute → Monitor → Modify → Conclude - Outcome format: "Minimize [time/risk/effort] to [action]"

Kano Model (ORIENT, RECOMMEND): - Must-Have: Basic expectations - Performance: Linear satisfaction - Delighter: Unexpected features

RICE Prioritization (ORIENT, RECOMMEND): - Score = (Reach × Impact × Confidence) / Effort

SCAMPER (RECOMMEND): - Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other use, Eliminate, Reverse

Blue Ocean (RECOMMEND): - ERRC Grid: Eliminate, Reduce, Raise, Create

Toulmin Method (RECOMMEND): - Claim, Grounds, Warrant, Backing, Qualifier, Rebuttal

RGRD (ALIGN): - Red → Green → Refactor → Document (development cycle)

See: .contributing/frameworks/

🎯 Success Checklist (Per Capability)¶

[ ] CAPTURE complete (5 min)
[ ] OBSERVE complete (45 min, 8 steps, validation ≥8.0/10)
[ ] ORIENT complete (35 min, 9 steps, validation ≥8.0/10)
[ ] RECOMMEND complete (40 min, 8 steps, validation ≥8.0/10)
[ ] ALIGN complete (25 min, 4 steps, validation ≥8.0/10)
[ ] All 32 step memories created
[ ] All 5 phase summaries created
[ ] Workflow summary created (~3,000 tokens)
[ ] All validation gates passed
[ ] Capability moved to .roadmap/ready/

Result: Ready for development! 🎉

🔧 Troubleshooting¶

Issue	Solution
Validation score <8.0	Review validation report, revise artifacts, re-validate
Missing artifacts	Check PROCESS-STANDARDS.md for required list
Context overflow	Ensure reading phase summaries, not full artifacts
Stuck between phases	Check version.json workflow_stage, run /status
Gate blocking transition	Review VALIDATION-GATES.md prerequisites

axiom/
├── AGENTS.md                    ← Primary navigation index
├── docs/
│   ├── QUICK-REFERENCE.md       ← This file (top-level)
│   ├── PROCESS-STANDARDS.md     ← Artifact requirements
│   ├── MEMORY-PROTOCOL.md       ← Memory management
│   └── VALIDATION-GATES.md      ← Phase transitions
│
├── .contributing/
│   ├── agent/                   ← 16 agent definitions
│   ├── agent-roles/             ← 12 quick reference cards
│   ├── workflows/               ← 5 phase workflows + 5 quick refs
│   ├── templates/               ← 15+ artifact templates
│   ├── frameworks/              ← 10 strategic frameworks
│   └── ceremonies/              ← Ceremony guides
│
└── .roadmap/
    ├── inbox/                   ← Captured capabilities
    ├── ready/                   ← Aligned capabilities
    ├── active/                  ← In development
    └── done/                    ← Completed

🎓 Learning Path¶

Day 1 (30 min): - Read AGENTS.md - Read this quick reference - Review one phase-specific quick reference

Day 2 (1 hour): - Run /capture on test idea - Complete OBSERVE phase (follow quick reference)

Day 3 (1 hour): - Complete ORIENT phase - Complete RECOMMEND phase

Day 4 (30 min): - Complete ALIGN phase - Review all artifacts created

Week 2: - Run full OODA cycle on real capability - Achieve <2.5 hours execution time

📞 Need Help?¶

Quick Lookups: - Agent role: See AGENTS.md Agent File Reference Matrix - Command details: See .contributing/command/<command>.md - Workflow steps: See .contributing/workflows/<phase>-workflow.md - Framework guide: See .contributing/frameworks/<framework>.md - Template: See .contributing/templates/<artifact>.md.template

Detailed Guides: - Phase-specific: See .contributing/workflows/QUICK-REFERENCE-<PHASE>.md - Process standards: See docs/PROCESS-STANDARDS.md - Memory protocol: See docs/MEMORY-PROTOCOL.md - Validation gates: See docs/VALIDATION-GATES.md

Version: 2.0.0
Status: ACTIVE
Print this page for quick reference during OODA workflows!