Opportunity Solution Tree Template

It is useful for teams that generate many ideas but struggle with prioritizing which ideas are valuable. By assessing opportunities based on user needs, the tree helps teams prioritize solutions that truly deliver value.

What is an opportunity?

An opportunity represents customer needs that align solutions with real user problems, guiding product teams to develop ideas that genuinely address those needs.

What is product discovery?

Product discovery is a framework that guides teams to create user-centered products. Using the Opportunity Solution Tree template supports effective product discovery by aligning solutions with customer needs.

How do I create an Opportunity Solution Tree?

Creating an opportunity solution tree is straightforward with diagram maker or template. Here’s how to get started:

Step 1: Define your outcome or measurable result
Start by identifying what success looks like for your team. This might be a Key Result from your OKRs or another metric you want to improve. Your team should agree on this goal before moving forward to ensure alignment.

Step 2: Identify possible opportunities
Rather than jumping straight to solutions, pause to research your customers’ needs and the problems they’re trying to solve. Based on these insights, identify opportunities that align with your desired outcome. Remember, each stage of the tree builds on the previous one, so strong research here is crucial.

Step 3: Generate solutions
Next, brainstorm potential solutions that address the identified opportunities. Involve cross-functional team members for diverse perspectives and keep the ideas within the scope of the tree. This collaborative approach fosters a shared understanding and ownership of the solutions.

Step 4: Iterate and experiment
Choose a solution to test and start planning experiments to validate it. Add an “experiments” branch to the tree to record your ideas for testing. This stage is where you’ll experiment, learn, and refine your approach based on results.

By following these steps, you can create a dynamic opportunity solution tree to guide your team’s problem-solving and product development efforts.

How do you use a solution tree?

An opportunity solution tree lets you map out pathways to reach your desired outcome. Use it to identify potential opportunities that align with your goals and track actionable experiments for each solution. By visually mapping these options, you can keep your team focused on the steps needed to achieve the final result. This structured approach helps ensure that each experiment is purposefully connected to the broader goal, allowing for systematic testing and refinement as you progress.