Research

---
name: research
description: Comprehensive business research for market analysis, competitor intelligence, trend detection, and idea validation. Triggers on research requests, market sizing questions, competitor analysis needs, idea validation, TAM/SAM/SOM calculations, SWOT analysis, and timing assessments. Use when building business cases, evaluating opportunities, or validating product ideas.
---

# Business Research Skill

Comprehensive research framework for market analysis, competitor intelligence, trend detection, and idea validation.

## When to Use

- Market sizing and TAM/SAM/SOM calculation
- Competitor landscape analysis
- Trend identification and timing assessment
- Business idea validation
- SWOT and Porter's Five Forces analysis
- Investment/opportunity evaluation

## Research Modes

### Quick Research (~15-20 minutes)
High-level overview with key metrics. Use for initial screening.

### Standard Research (~30-45 minutes)
Detailed market and competitor analysis. Use for informed decisions.

### Deep Research (~60+ minutes)
Comprehensive validation with all frameworks. Use for critical decisions.

## Available Agents

Delegate complex analysis to specialized agents:

| Agent | Model | When to Use |
|-------|-------|-------------|
| `market-researcher` | Opus | TAM/SAM/SOM, Porter's Five Forces, industry analysis |
| `idea-validator` | Opus | Business idea validation, scoring frameworks |
| `trend-analyzer` | Sonnet | Timing assessment, signal detection, trend mapping |

## Research Workflow

### 1. Scope Definition
Define research boundaries before starting:
- Industry/market segment
- Geographic scope
- Time horizon
- Key questions to answer

### 2. Data Collection
Gather information from multiple sources:
- Industry reports and statistics
- Competitor websites and materials
- News and press releases
- Social signals and discussions

### 3. Framework Application
Apply appropriate analysis frameworks. See [references/research-frameworks.md](references/research-frameworks.md) for details.

### 4. Synthesis
Connect findings into actionable insights:
- Key opportunities identified
- Risks and concerns
- Recommendations with rationale

### 5. Output Generation
Generate structured reports. See [references/analysis-templates.md](references/analysis-templates.md) for formats.

## Output Location

Reports are saved to: `.claude/research/[topic]-[YYYY-MM-DD].md`

## Quick Reference

### Market Sizing Formula
```
TAM = Total industry size
SAM = TAM × Addressable segment %
SOM = SAM × Realistic capture %
```

### Idea Validation Score
```
Score = (Problem-Solution × 0.25) + (Market × 0.20) +
        (Competitive × 0.20) + (Founder × 0.20) + (Execution × 0.15)
```

### Timing Verdicts
| Verdict | Score | Meaning |
|---------|-------|---------|
| Excellent | 8-10 | Optimal entry window |
| Good | 6-7 | Favorable timing |
| Neutral | 4-5 | Mixed signals |
| Poor | 1-3 | Unfavorable timing |

## Supporting References

- [Research Frameworks](references/research-frameworks.md) - Detailed methodology
- [Competitor Analysis Workflow](references/competitor-analysis-workflow.md) - Step-by-step guide
- [Data Sources](references/data-sources.md) - Where to find information
- [Analysis Templates](references/analysis-templates.md) - Report formats

## Tech Stack Context

This skill understands your tech stack for relevant analysis:
- **Laravel**: API/full-stack PHP market trends
- **Flutter**: Cross-platform mobile/desktop opportunities
- **Vue2/Nuxt.js v2**: Legacy modernization context
- **Vue3**: Modern frontend ecosystem
- **TailwindCSS**: Utility-first CSS adoption
- **Alpine.js**: Lightweight JavaScript alternatives