Method
A simplified OST session that maps strategic outcome to opportunity areas and candidate solutions, then identifies where evidence is needed next.
Artifact preview
Opportunity-solution tree
Prioritise · Moderate
Decide fit before you spend session time.
The core facilitation flow, with enough structure to run the method confidently in the room.
Standard variant for Mixed in remote delivery. Waypoint is adapting timing, facilitation emphasis, prep, and recovery guidance here, but the room still needs final tailoring to the exact stakes and participants.
Total planned time: 120 min
What happens
Define one measurable outcome for the tree.
Facilitator does
Keep the standard cadence and protect the decision point at the end of the step. Balance sponsor framing with practical delivery detail so the room stays aligned. Use a visible shared board, explicit turn-taking, and shorter bursts before reconvening. Translate between sponsor goals and delivery reality as you move. Pause after each move to confirm people can see the current board state before continuing.
Participants do
Work from the prompt, keep contributions concrete, and let the shared artifact carry the discussion.
Output / signal of success
Opportunity-solution tree
Watch for
Branches too broad to act on.
Recovery tip
Branches too broad to act on.
What happens
Translate insight themes into opportunity statements.
Facilitator does
Use the map as the discussion anchor and stop the room whenever the visual stops matching the conversation.
Participants do
Place the inputs against one visible structure so the group can compare them in context.
Output / signal of success
The shared structure now makes dependencies, relationships, or evidence gaps visible.
Watch for
Branches too broad to act on.
Recovery tip
If the map becomes messy, walk the room through the flow end to end and rebuild the missing links on one visible surface.
What happens
Attach candidate ideas to each opportunity.
Facilitator does
Keep the standard cadence and protect the decision point at the end of the step. Balance sponsor framing with practical delivery detail so the room stays aligned. Use a visible shared board, explicit turn-taking, and shorter bursts before reconvening. Translate between sponsor goals and delivery reality as you move. Pause after each move to confirm people can see the current board state before continuing.
Participants do
Work from the prompt, keep contributions concrete, and let the shared artifact carry the discussion.
Output / signal of success
Evidence gaps
Watch for
Branches too broad to act on.
Recovery tip
Branches too broad to act on.
What happens
Mark branches by confidence and next tests.
Facilitator does
Force explicit trade-offs. Ask what should change next because of the shortlist and what does not make the cut right now.
Participants do
Turn raw quotes or observations into one-note evidence fragments so the room is sorting signals, not debating source documents.
Output / signal of success
The room has a clear shortlist and can explain why those choices matter more than the alternatives.
Watch for
Branches too broad to act on.
Recovery tip
If everything feels equally important, force a top choice by asking what would most change the next decision or action.
Tune the method to the room without changing the core synthesis move.
Standard variant for Mixed in remote delivery. Waypoint is adapting timing, facilitation emphasis, prep, and recovery guidance here, but the room still needs final tailoring to the exact stakes and participants.
Prepare the room, the evidence, and the working surface so the session can stay focused on synthesis.
Standard variant for Mixed in remote delivery. Waypoint is adapting timing, facilitation emphasis, prep, and recovery guidance here, but the room still needs final tailoring to the exact stakes and participants.
Target outcome metric
Optional
Opportunity themes
Optional
Tree canvas
Optional
Confidence markers
Optional
Operational context note
Optional
Bring examples, pain points, or service evidence the room can point to quickly.
Remote facilitation choreography
Required
Pre-plan handoffs, breakout usage, and how people rejoin the main board.
Shared digital board with timer and voting
Required
Keep instructions and voting visible at all times.
OST canvas
Use this to judge whether the session produced something clear enough to act on tomorrow.
Read these like live facilitation coaching, not a reference table.
Standard variant for Mixed in remote delivery. Waypoint is adapting timing, facilitation emphasis, prep, and recovery guidance here, but the room still needs final tailoring to the exact stakes and participants.
Failure mode
Why it happens
Common facilitation blind spot.
Recover now
If this happens, pause, restate objective, and re-anchor the group.
Prevent next time
Next time, keep outcome metric visible throughout.
Failure mode
Why it happens
Common facilitation blind spot.
Recover now
If this happens, pause, restate objective, and re-anchor the group.
Prevent next time
Next time, avoid jumping directly from outcome to solution.
Failure mode
Why it happens
Facilitation cues and visual state changes are not made explicit enough online.
Recover now
If this happens, pause, restate the current decision point, and narrate exactly what changed on the shared board before moving on.
Prevent next time
Next time, assign one visible working board, one timer, and one facilitator voice for transitions.
Use this only after you understand the flow and have checked the method fits the room.
Open the facilitator pack when you need a one-session version you can run now. Move into Workspace when this method needs broader coordination, decision tracking, or follow-through.
Sources and references used in this recipe.
Torres, T. Continuous Discovery Habits.
LUMA method library for collaborative prioritization practices.
Reviewed 2026-02-27 by Discovery Waypoint Editorial Team