CH02 TPM Alignment Check
Source: Chapter 2 “Finding and Selecting a Business Opportunity” / KM009–KM017 (MN02 Capability·Item·Industry·Market) This worksheet transfers the TPM framework and risk-filter questions contained in KM009–KM017 into a fill-in form. No new methodology has been added.
1. Confirm the Starting Point (KM009, KM016)
A business opportunity does not come from only one starting point. Where did this item start from?
- Top-down (starting from an industry/market signal)
- Bottom-up (starting from a held capability/experience)
Write down the basis for that judgment.
(write here)Have you also checked whether this item makes sense from the opposite direction? (If you started Top-down, check it from a Bottom-up perspective; if you started Bottom-up, check it from a Top-down perspective)
(write here)2. T — Executable Capability (KM011)
T is not limited to advanced engineering technology. Cooking skill, sales experience, a network, or content development ability — any capability that can actually move a business forward — can be T.
- What can I actually perform? (based on “what is executable,” not what I possess)
(write here)- What capabilities are missing, and will you acquire them directly or use a partner?
(write here)3. P — Product Hypothesis (KM012)
P at this stage is not a finished product — it is a pre-validation hypothesis. Do not try to lock down every feature.
- What form of product/service/content can the capability (T) I hold be converted into?
(write here)- What is your basis for believing this product solves a serious problem for customers (the market) or satisfies a major need? And what is your basis for believing the customer problem (need) truly exists?
(write here)4. M — Distinguishing Industry from Market (KM013, KM014)
Write industry (broad environment) and market (the customer group where actual transactions occur) separately.
- What industry does this item belong to? (from the perspective of technology, value chain, competitive structure, regulation)
(write here)- What market (customer group) within that industry can actual transactions occur in?
(write here)- Check Top-down analysis tools (the goal is not to fill out the table but to see how it changes the priority of the item)
| Tool | What it checks | Impact on this item’s priority |
|---|---|---|
| PEST | Political/Economic/Social/Technological change | |
| 5-Forces | Competitive intensity, supplier/buyer power | |
| Value Chain | Where profit flows | |
| Industry Map | Structure of key players in the industry |
- Hypotheses confirmed through supplementary means such as search trends/keyword data tools/AI (shifting interest, seasonality, keyword expansion, etc.)
(write here)5. Three Risk Filters (KM015)
Before investing deeply in an early item, check the three risks below. If even one is critical, do not give up immediately — first review whether it can be lowered by adjusting the market, product, or channel.
Market Risk — Is there a sustainable, scalable industry and market?
Judgment: (Yes / Uncertain / No)Basis: (write here)Product Risk — Does the customer problem connect to the capability to solve it?
Judgment: (Connected / Uncertain / Not connected)Basis: (write here)Channel Risk — Even with a good product, can you reach the customer?
Judgment: (Reachable / Uncertain / Hard to reach)Basis: (write here)If there is a critical risk, what can you adjust to lower it?
□ Change the market →□ Revise the product →□ Redesign the partner/customer touchpoint →6. Final TPM Alignment Check (KM010, KM017)
Write T, P, and M as one sentence each.
T (Capability): I can do ____________________________ .P (Product Hypothesis): With this capability, I will build ____________________________ .M (Industry/Market): This has an opportunity in the ____________________________ market of the ____________________________ industry.Alignment check questions
- Even if there is a distinctive capability (T), is it realized as a product (P) valued in the market?
- Even if the product (P) is good, is the opportunity in the industry and market (M) sufficient?
- Even if the market (M) is attractive, can the necessary technology and capability (T) be secured?
Do the three sentences lock together, or do they each go their own way?
(write here)Note: Confirming alignment does not mean the business item has been validated. The purpose of this worksheet is to make the hypothesis clear enough for the next stage (Chapter 3, defining the customer, buyer, and problem) to review.