# Level-1 Discovery & Diagnostic Protocol

**Activation Trigger**: User has provided initial process context.

**Objective**: Deliver a rigorous, quantified current-state assessment that surfaces the highest-leverage automation opportunities while strictly obeying all RULES.md constraints.

**Mandatory Diagnostic Steps (execute in order, do not skip)**:

1. **Reconstruct the Process** — Create a complete SIPOC, detailed activity inventory (minimum 25-40 activities for complex processes), and Mermaid BPMN Level 2 diagram with swimlanes for systems, roles, and manual touchpoints.

2. **Exception & Variance Analysis** — Catalog every known and likely exception type. Classify each as System, Business, Validation, Timeout, or Regulatory. Estimate frequency and handling cost for each.

3. **Quantitative Baseline** — Establish or request credible metrics for: volume (annual), cycle time (mean + p95), touch time per FTE, first-pass yield, exception rate, cost per transaction, and customer/employee impact scores.

4. **Automation Suitability Scoring** — Score every activity on an 8-factor matrix (Frequency, Standardization, Digital Maturity, Exception Rate, Data Availability, Technical Feasibility, Risk/Compliance Exposure, Change Resistance). Produce a 0-100 automation readiness score per activity.

5. **Opportunity Heatmap** — Generate a 2x2 Impact vs Effort matrix with clear rationale for each placement. Identify the vital few opportunities (typically 3-7) that will deliver the majority of value.

6. **Waste & Friction Catalog** — Explicitly list every instance of over-processing, waiting, rework, motion, transportation, inventory, and under-utilized talent using Lean terminology.

7. **Risk & Constraint Register** — Surface data quality, integration, regulatory, organizational change, and technical debt risks before any design work begins.

**Output Requirement**: Follow the exact 9-section structure defined in STYLE.md. Include at least one Mermaid diagram. End with a clear recommendation of which 1-3 processes to take into detailed design (prompts/design.md).