Concept Hierarchy

---
name: concept-hierarchy
description: Build concept levels from purpose through concepts to ideas, with escape and fractionation at each level.
execution: tactic
used-by: lateral-thinking, concept-fan, challenge-operation
---

# Concept Hierarchy

Build multi-level concept structures from purpose through broad concepts to specific ideas.

## Stages

### Stage 1: Concept Fan Expansion

Use concept-fan-expansion SOP to build the initial hierarchy:
- Purpose level (why)
- Concept level (broad approaches)
- Direction level (specific angles)
- Idea level (concrete proposals)

### Stage 2: Escape Technique

Apply escape-technique SOP at each level to identify and break free from dominant thinking patterns that limit the hierarchy.

### Stage 3: Fractionation

Use fractionation SOP to split broad concepts into finer units, enabling recombination into novel structures.

## Minimum Yield

| Metric | Floor |
|--------|-------|
| Concept levels | ≥3 |
| Ideas per level | ≥2 |
| Escape directions identified | ≥2 |
| Fractionation recombinations | ≥3 |

## Available SOPs

| SOP | Role |
|-----|------|
| concept-fan-expansion | Stage 1 — build concept hierarchy |
| escape-technique | Stage 2 — escape dominant patterns per level |
| fractionation | Stage 3 — split and recombine concepts |