Opportunity Solution Tree

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An Opportunity Solution Tree is a visual tool from Teresa Torres that turns product discovery from a feature list into a decision map. The outcome sits at the top; under it, the opportunities customers have; under each opportunity, several solutions; under each solution, the experiments that test the hypothesis.

Why it matters

Most teams jump from a stakeholder request to a story. The tree forces you to ask: which business result does this move? What opportunity does the customer face on that path? And what cheap test would kill or confirm the idea before you build the whole thing?

How to build one

1. Pick one measurable outcome (for example, first-week activation).
2. Pull customer opportunities from interviews and data. An opportunity is an unmet job or pain, not a solution.
3. Write several solutions under each opportunity, not one.
4. Under each solution, put the smallest experiment that teaches you the most.

Keep the tree alive. Each week, prune or grow branches with new insight. Teams usually use this together with Continuous Discovery.

Further reading: Continuous Discovery Habits and assessing product opportunities.