Opportunity solution tree template
Map challenges, explore solutions, and pinpoint the best path forward
Use template
About the opportunity solution tree template
Product teams constantly weigh different strategies to solve customer challenges and achieve business goals. But without a structured approach, it is easy to get stuck debating ideas rather than testing the right ones. An opportunity solution tree provides a clear way to evaluate options. This framework helps you map a product goal, break it down into challenges, and identify potential solutions — so you can focus on the most promising experiments. Use this template (which was inspired by the work of Teresa Torres) to guide decision-making and prioritize efforts that will drive the greatest impact.
Included in the opportunity solution tree template
This opportunity solution tree template includes built-in capabilities such as:
A menu of classic whiteboard features (including shapes, sticky notes, grids, and emojis)
Quick access to best practices and a pre-filled opportunity solution tree for guidance
A rich text editor to help you format content clearly
Inline comments to gather feedback, questions, and ideas
Overview of the opportunity solution tree template
The opportunity solution tree template provides a structured way to explore and evaluate product opportunities. Begin by defining your goal — this is the starting point of your tree. From there, map out key customer challenges that stand in the way of achieving that goal. Each challenge branches into potential solutions and experiments, which helps you compare different approaches, find themes, and identify the most viable path forward.
Involve UX researchers and designers, engineers, and other teammates in product discovery to get a well-rounded perspective on unmet needs. Working through ideas together helps refine solutions and spot gaps early. Once you align on the most promising experiments, seamlessly convert whiteboard concepts into actionable records in Aha! Roadmaps — so you can move from discovery to delivery with clarity.
Best practices
Break down customer challenges, explore possible solutions, and test the most promising ideas.
Define success: Start with a clear, measurable goal that aligns with both customer needs and business objectives. Add this as the foundation of your tree to guide decision-making.
Map challenges: Identify key pain points and themes through customer research. Structure them logically, grouping related challenges and adding subchallenges where you need deeper context.
Explore solutions: Work with the team to generate potential solutions and review ideas for each challenge. Think beyond immediate fixes to long-term opportunities that will create lasting value.
Prioritize and test: Focus on the ideas most likely to deliver impact. Run experiments, refine your thinking, and update your tree as new insights emerge.
FAQs about the opportunity solution tree template
Why is an opportunity solution tree important?
An opportunity solution tree is a valuable product discovery tool — it helps you visually explore solutions that deliver both customer and business value. This prevents misalignment, like investing in features that drive revenue but frustrate users, or delighting customers with solutions that do not sustain the business.
What do I need before creating an opportunity solution tree?
Start with a clear understanding of who your customers are and the value you aim to provide. Define a measurable goal, whether that is improving a specific user behavior, addressing a recurring pain point, strengthening customer sentiment, or something else entirely. Then, ground your tree in real insights. Gather qualitative data from recent customer interviews and behavioral data from product analytics to ensure the challenges you map out reflect actual user needs — not just assumptions.
Who is the opportunity solution tree template for?
This template is for anyone shaping product decisions: product managers, UX researchers, engineers, and customer-facing teams that influence discovery work. It provides a structured way to evaluate potential solutions and align the team on what is worth testing. Use it to balance creativity with strategic focus so you are not just brainstorming, but building with intent.
Is this template free to use?
Yes. To use this opportunity solution tree template, sign up for a free 30-day trial of Aha! Whiteboards. (You can also try this template in Aha! Roadmaps if you need a complete product management solution.) Easily customize the template to suit your needs, then share it with as many people as you want (for free) to streamline collaboration.
