Files
deep_research/.agents/skills/method-selection/SKILL.md
T

158 lines
4.0 KiB
Markdown

---
name: method-selection
description: Selects the appropriate research framework and analytical tools for biomedical, market, investment, CMC/GMP, clinical, R&D, BD, and management consulting topics instead of defaulting to MECE or McKinsey-style framing.
---
# Method Selection
Use this skill before Phase 0-1 framing and whenever the user changes the report purpose.
## Principle
Do not default to McKinsey/MECE. MECE, SCQA, and pyramid writing are useful communication tools, not universal research methods.
Select the method based on:
- report purpose
- audience
- decision to support
- available materials
- evidence type
- regulatory or scientific risk
- output format
## Method Router
### Market, investment, or commercial strategy
Use when the user asks about market opportunity, competition, investment thesis, BD opportunity, pricing, or commercialization.
Methods and tools:
- market sizing: TAM/SAM/SOM, bottom-up demand model, volume-price bridge
- competitive landscape: segmentation, product differentiation, launch timing, share shifts
- value chain: upstream supply, manufacturing bottlenecks, channel economics
- investment: thesis tree, scenario analysis, sensitivity analysis, risk-adjusted NPV where feasible
- transaction/BD: deal comps, licensing terms, patent cliff, strategic fit
Outputs:
- market map
- competitor table
- assumptions ledger
- upside/base/downside scenarios
### Clinical, translational, or evidence review
Use when the topic is efficacy, safety, trial design, disease area, standard of care, biomarker, or clinical development.
Methods and tools:
- PICO or PICOTS framing
- evidence hierarchy
- endpoint and comparator analysis
- trial design critique
- TPP and go/no-go criteria
- benefit-risk assessment
Outputs:
- clinical evidence matrix
- trial landscape
- endpoint comparability table
- evidence gaps and patient-selection risks
### CMC, GMP, quality, or manufacturing operations
Use when the topic involves process development, tech transfer, validation, inspection readiness, deviations, CAPA, sterility assurance, supply chain, or manufacturing risk.
Methods and tools:
- ICH / FDA / EMA / NMPA regulatory baseline mapping
- gap assessment
- FMEA or risk matrix
- process validation lifecycle
- control strategy mapping
- deviation/CAPA effectiveness review
- data integrity assessment
Outputs:
- gap register
- risk heatmap
- CAPA prioritization
- control strategy map
- readiness scorecard
### R&D feasibility or technology assessment
Use when the topic asks whether a technology, target, modality, platform, assay, or process is feasible.
Methods and tools:
- technology readiness level
- critical path analysis
- mechanism and modality fit
- experiment roadmap
- scale-up risk assessment
- IP and freedom-to-operate screening
Outputs:
- feasibility scorecard
- key experiments
- kill criteria
- technical risk register
### Management, organization, or operating model
Use when the topic involves organization, governance, operating cadence, capability building, performance management, or transformation.
Methods and tools:
- issue tree
- operating model design
- RACI / decision rights
- KPI tree
- process maturity assessment
- change management roadmap
Outputs:
- operating model options
- capability gap assessment
- implementation roadmap
- KPI and governance model
### Policy, regulation, or access environment
Use when the topic asks about policy, reimbursement, regulatory pathways, pricing access, or regional rules.
Methods and tools:
- policy timeline
- stakeholder map
- regulatory pathway comparison
- access and reimbursement framework
- scenario analysis by jurisdiction
Outputs:
- jurisdiction comparison
- policy impact map
- regulatory milestone table
- access risks
## Phase 0-1 Output Requirements
Write a method decision note in `phase1/research_brief.md`:
- selected method
- why it fits
- methods rejected and why
- evidence types needed
- search routes
- expected output artifacts
If the topic spans multiple scenarios, combine methods explicitly and define which chapters use which method.