Pattern Analysis — 5 Frameworks

This skill provides the analytical frameworks for analyzing patterns that appear across multiple needs and industries. Used conversationally when the user asks to find patterns across research.

Trigger

Activate when performing cross-need pattern analysis.

Context Building

Before analysis, gather all mechanism data across needs to find instances of the pattern:

• Read all mechanisms.json files across all needs
• Extract instances where the pattern appears (matching by coreMechanism, abstractPattern, or keyPrinciples)
• Build a context of pattern instances: - "ExpressionName" (NeedName): coreMechanism

The 5 Frameworks

Framework 1: Frequency & Distribution

Map where this pattern appears and identify concentration zones.

Output structure:

{
  "analysisType": "frequency-distribution",
  "patternName": "Pattern Name",
  "abstractDescription": "High-level pattern description",
  "occurrenceCount": 5,
  "distributionMap": {
    "needs": [{"needName": "Need", "count": 3, "dominance": 75}],
    "industries": [{"industryName": "Industry", "context": "How pattern manifests"}],
    "hotZones": ["Needs with high concentration"],
    "coldZones": ["Underutilized needs"],
    "densityScore": 65
  },
  "strengthScore": 75,
  "universalityScore": 80,
  "maturityLevel": 70,
  "adoptionRate": 65,
  "needCoverage": "broad|moderate|narrow",
  "stabilityRating": "stable|evolving|emerging",
  "combinationAffinity": "high|medium|low",
  "transferReadiness": "high|medium|low",
  "keyInsight": "Main insight about distribution",
  "strategicImplications": ["Implication 1"],
  "risks": ["Risk 1"]
}

Framework 2: Need-Mapping

Examine HOW this pattern serves different human needs.

Output structure:

{
  "analysisType": "need-mapping",
  "patternName": "Pattern Name",
  "abstractDescription": "High-level description",
  "occurrenceCount": 5,
  "needAdaptations": [
    {
      "needName": "Need",
      "adaptation": "How pattern serves this need",
      "effectiveness": "high|medium|low",
      "uniqueCharacteristics": "What makes it unique here",
      "examples": ["Example 1"]
    }
  ],
  "strengthScore": 70,
  "universalityScore": 85,
  "keyInsight": "Key insight about versatility",
  "strategicImplications": ["Implication 1"]
}

Framework 3: Evolution Trajectory

Trace how this pattern has evolved and predict its next stage.

Output structure:

{
  "analysisType": "evolution-trajectory",
  "patternName": "Pattern Name",
  "abstractDescription": "High-level description",
  "occurrenceCount": 5,
  "evolutionStages": {
    "earlyAdopters": [{"industry": "Pioneer", "innovation": "What they innovated", "era": "Period"}],
    "mainstreamPhase": {"description": "How it became mainstream", "timeframe": "When", "catalysts": ["Catalyst"]},
    "maturityIndicators": ["Indicator 1"],
    "nextEvolution": "Predicted next stage",
    "evolutionSpeed": "slow|moderate|rapid"
  },
  "keyInsight": "Key insight about evolution",
  "strategicImplications": ["Implication 1"]
}

Framework 4: Combination Synergies

Identify which other patterns work well (or poorly) with this one.

Output structure:

{
  "analysisType": "combination-synergies",
  "patternName": "Pattern Name",
  "abstractDescription": "High-level description",
  "occurrenceCount": 5,
  "synergyPatterns": {
    "strongPairings": [{"pattern": "Compatible pattern", "synergyType": "Type", "benefit": "What combining achieves", "examples": ["Example"]}],
    "antiPatterns": [{"pattern": "Conflicting pattern", "conflict": "Why they conflict", "mitigation": "How to resolve"}],
    "optimalStacks": [{"stackName": "Stack", "patterns": ["P1", "P2"], "useCase": "Best use case"}],
    "coOccurrenceRate": 70
  },
  "keyInsight": "Key insight about combinations",
  "strategicImplications": ["Implication 1"]
}

Framework 5: Transfer Potential

Evaluate how easily this pattern can be transferred to new domains.

Output structure:

{
  "analysisType": "transfer-potential",
  "patternName": "Pattern Name",
  "abstractDescription": "High-level description",
  "occurrenceCount": 5,
  "transferMetrics": {
    "abstractionLevel": "high|medium|low",
    "dependencyComplexity": "high|medium|low",
    "contextSensitivity": "high|medium|low",
    "transferBarriers": ["Barrier 1"],
    "successFactors": ["Factor 1"]
  },
  "promisingDomains": [
    {"domain": "Target domain", "transferFit": 85, "adaptationsNeeded": ["Adaptation"], "expectedImpact": "high|medium|low", "pioneersNeeded": "What expertise"}
  ],
  "keyInsight": "Key insight about transferability",
  "strategicImplications": ["Implication 1"]
}

Quality Guidelines

• Pattern analysis requires data from MULTIPLE needs — if only one need exists, note this limitation
• Frequency counts should be based on actual occurrences in the research data
• Evolution trajectories should cite real historical examples
• Transfer targets should be specific and actionable
• Combination synergies should reference other patterns found in the data