Choosing a target opportunity

In an opportunity solution tree, choosing a target opportunity is crucial for driving progress. Instead of focusing on too many opportunities, teams should concentrate on one small, actionable opportunity at a time. This approach allows teams to deliver value incrementally, following the Kanban principle of limiting work in progress.

Start by drafting a rough version of the opportunity space — don’t worry about perfection. The aim is to identify a target opportunity early, even if the opportunity space is still evolving. Choosing a focus area quickly helps teams explore solutions and test assumptions faster. This is where most learning and refinement take place, allowing teams to compare different solutions and iterate based on real-world feedback. This process encourages continuous improvement and speeds up decision-making, keeping teams moving forward.