Validator — Report Synthesis Skill

Validator — Report Synthesis

Transforms raw validation analysis into a structured, actionable 8-section report. The report provides an unambiguous verdict and specific guidance.

Report Structure

Section 1: Verdict

Purpose: Unambiguous assessment with confidence level.

Options:

GOOD: Ready for implementation (may have minor suggestions)
NEEDS MAJOR WORK: Fundamentally sound but has significant gaps
BAD: Should not proceed without fundamental rethinking

Include: Clear verdict, confidence level (High/Medium/Low), one-sentence rationale.

Section 2: What You Got Right

Purpose: Acknowledge genuine strengths (builds trust for criticism).

2-3 specific things done well, with why each matters
What to preserve in revisions
No generic praise — everything must be specific

Section 3: Critical Flaws

Purpose: Expose fatal or near-fatal weaknesses.

For each flaw:

Flaw: What's wrong
Why It Matters: Business/technical impact
Consequence: What happens if not addressed

Prioritized list, most critical first. Specific evidence, not vague concerns.

Section 4: What You're Not Considering

Purpose: Surface blindspots and hidden assumptions.

Types to check:

Unstated assumptions treated as facts
Ignored failure modes
Missing stakeholders
External dependencies not accounted for
Scale implications not considered

Section 5: The Real Question

Purpose: Reframe if solving wrong problem.

Use when:

Problem definition is too narrow or broad
Symptoms treated instead of root cause
Constraint accepted that should be challenged
Solution in search of a problem

Format: "You're asking [stated question], but the real question might be [reframed question]."

Skip if problem is correctly framed — state this explicitly.

Section 6: What Bulletproof Looks Like

Purpose: Define measurable success criteria for revision.

For this to be ready:
- [ ] [Criterion 1]
- [ ] [Criterion 2]
- [ ] [Criterion 3]

Section 7: Recommended Path Forward

Purpose: Concrete next steps based on verdict.

If GOOD: Minor improvements, what to monitor, validation checkpoints
If NEEDS MAJOR WORK: Specific areas to revise, suggested approach for each
If BAD: Alternative approaches, what fundamental rethinking is needed

Section 8: Questions to Answer First

Purpose: Information gaps blocking progress.

| Question | Who Can Answer | What It Blocks | |----------|---------------|----------------| | [Question] | [Person/Team] | [Decision] |

Verdict Criteria

GOOD if:

Core assumptions are valid or validated
Timeline is realistic (includes buffer)
Resources are adequate or plan accounts for gaps
Risks are identified and manageable
No fundamental anti-patterns
Team can execute with current capabilities

NEEDS MAJOR WORK if:

Core approach is sound but...
Significant gaps exist in 2+ areas
Timeline or budget needs adjustment
Some assumptions need validation before proceeding
Addressable anti-patterns detected

BAD if:

Core assumptions are invalid
Fundamental anti-pattern detected (e.g., Startup Death Spiral)
Timeline is fantasy (off by >2x)
Budget is unrealistic by >50%
Team cannot execute even with adjustments
Wrong problem being solved

Tone Calibration

| Verdict | Tone | |---------|------| | GOOD | Affirming with constructive suggestions | | NEEDS MAJOR WORK | Direct and constructive — "here's what to fix" | | BAD | Brutally honest but respectful — "here's why to stop" |

Be direct. Be specific. Be constructive. No sugarcoating, no hedging.

Quality Checklist

Before delivering the report, verify:

[ ] Verdict is clear and justified with evidence
[ ] Strengths are genuine, not inflated
[ ] Flaws are specific with concrete evidence
[ ] Blindspots go beyond surface-level issues
[ ] Reframe is warranted (or explicitly skipped with reason)
[ ] Success criteria are measurable, not vague
[ ] Path forward is actionable with specific steps
[ ] Questions are answerable and necessary
[ ] Tone matches verdict severity
[ ] Every point is specific — zero generic feedback

Output Format

# Validation Report: [Title]

**Subject**: [What was validated]
**Date**: [Date]

---

## 1. Verdict

### VERDICT: [GOOD / NEEDS MAJOR WORK / BAD]
**Confidence**: [High / Medium / Low]

[One-sentence summary]

---

## 2. What You Got Right

[2-3 specific strengths with why they matter]

---

## 3. Critical Flaws

### Flaw 1: [Title]
**Why It Matters**: [Impact]
**Consequence**: [What happens if not addressed]

---

## 4. What You're Not Considering

[Blindspots, hidden assumptions, ignored scenarios]

---

## 5. The Real Question

[Reframe or "Problem is correctly framed because..."]

---

## 6. What Bulletproof Looks Like

For this to be ready:
- [ ] [Criterion 1]
- [ ] [Criterion 2]
- [ ] [Criterion 3]

---

## 7. Recommended Path Forward

[Specific next steps based on verdict]

---

## 8. Questions to Answer First

| Question | Who Can Answer | What It Blocks |
|----------|---------------|----------------|
| [Question] | [Person/Team] | [Decision] |

Agent Skills: Validator — Report Synthesis

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