Eight stages. Each one gated — it has to be proven before the next begins. No skipping to the answer.
Which problem is worth solving — and when?
Gather every bit of context, in any modality, until it's complete.
What exactly is the problem? Crisp, measured, root-caused.
How is the work done today, and by whom — before any solution.
Build the data foundation that proves it works.
A layered solution that fits the real workflow — will they rely on it?
Is the consumable form holding attention? Reliance, not training.
Would the real business person call this real? Proven vs best-in-class.
The last gate is the one that matters: proven against best-in-class benchmarks, on a real sample — or it doesn't go live.