Market Research Step 5: Competitive Analysis

MANDATORY EXECUTION RULES (READ FIRST):

• 🛑 NEVER generate content without web search verification

• 📖 CRITICAL: ALWAYS read the complete step file before taking any action - partial understanding leads to incomplete decisions

• 🔄 CRITICAL: When loading next step with 'C', ensure the entire file is read and understood before proceeding

• ✅ Search the web to verify and supplement your knowledge with current facts

• 📋 YOU ARE A COMPETITIVE ANALYST, not content generator

• 💬 FOCUS on competitive landscape and market positioning

• 🔍 WEB SEARCH REQUIRED - verify current facts against live sources

• ✅ YOU MUST ALWAYS SPEAK OUTPUT In your Agent communication style with the config {communication_language}

EXECUTION PROTOCOLS:

• 🎯 Show web search analysis before presenting findings
• ⚠️ Present [C] complete option after competitive analysis content generation
• 💾 ONLY save when user chooses C (Complete)
• 📖 Update frontmatter stepsCompleted: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] before completing workflow
• 🚫 FORBIDDEN to complete workflow until C is selected

CONTEXT BOUNDARIES:

• Current document and frontmatter from previous steps are available
• Focus on competitive landscape and market positioning analysis
• Web search capabilities with source verification are enabled
• May need to search for specific competitor information

YOUR TASK:

Conduct comprehensive competitive analysis with emphasis on market positioning.

COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS SEQUENCE:

1. Begin Competitive Analysis

Start with competitive research approach: "Now I'll conduct competitive analysis to understand the competitive landscape.

Competitive Analysis Focus:

• Key players and market share
• Competitive positioning strategies
• Strengths and weaknesses analysis
• Market differentiation opportunities
• Competitive threats and challenges

Let me search for current competitive information."

2. Generate Competitive Analysis Content

Prepare competitive analysis with web search citations:

Content Structure:

When saving to document, append these Level 2 and Level 3 sections:

## Competitive Landscape

### Key Market Players

[Key players analysis with market share data]
_Source: [URL]_

### Market Share Analysis

[Market share analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

### Competitive Positioning

[Positioning analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

### Strengths and Weaknesses

[SWOT analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

### Market Differentiation

[Differentiation analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

### Competitive Threats

[Threats analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

### Opportunities

[Competitive opportunities analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

3. Present Analysis and Complete Option

Show the generated competitive analysis and present complete option: "I've completed the competitive analysis for the competitive landscape.

Key Competitive Findings:

• Key market players and market share identified
• Competitive positioning strategies mapped
• Strengths and weaknesses thoroughly analyzed
• Market differentiation opportunities identified
• Competitive threats and challenges documented

Ready to complete the market research? [C] Complete Research - Save competitive analysis and proceed to research completion

HALT — wait for user response before proceeding.

4. Handle Complete Selection

If 'C' (Complete Research):

• Append the final content to the research document
• Update frontmatter: stepsCompleted: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• Load: ./step-06-research-completion.md

APPEND TO DOCUMENT:

When user selects 'C', append the content directly to the research document using the structure from step 2.

SUCCESS METRICS:

✅ Key market players identified ✅ Market share analysis completed with source verification ✅ Competitive positioning strategies clearly mapped ✅ Strengths and weaknesses thoroughly analyzed ✅ Market differentiation opportunities identified ✅ [C] complete option presented and handled correctly ✅ Content properly appended to document when C selected ✅ Market research workflow completed successfully

FAILURE MODES:

❌ Relying solely on training data without web verification for current facts

❌ Missing key market players or market share data ❌ Incomplete competitive positioning analysis ❌ Not identifying market differentiation opportunities ❌ Not presenting completion option for research workflow ❌ Appending content without user selecting 'C'

❌ CRITICAL: Reading only partial step file - leads to incomplete understanding and poor decisions ❌ CRITICAL: Proceeding with 'C' without fully reading and understanding the next step file ❌ CRITICAL: Making decisions without complete understanding of step requirements and protocols

COMPETITIVE RESEARCH PROTOCOLS:

• Search for industry reports and competitive intelligence
• Use competitor company websites and annual reports
• Research market research firm competitive analyses
• Note competitive advantages and disadvantages
• Search for recent market developments and disruptions

MARKET RESEARCH COMPLETION:

When 'C' is selected:

• All market research steps completed
• Comprehensive market research document generated
• All sections appended with source citations
• Market research workflow status updated
• Final recommendations provided to user

NEXT STEP:

After user selects 'C', load ./step-06-research-completion.md to produce the final comprehensive market research document with strategic synthesis, executive summary, and complete document structure.