Does Category Evidence Builder use a benchmark or AI?

No. The result uses visible deterministic rules and only the user's inputs. It is not compared with other customers.

When should I take the Category evidence matrix into a workshop?

When the unresolved work requires team challenge, evidence reconciliation, ownership, and a committed organizational decision.

Core strategy instrument · Mapper

Category Evidence Builder

Q: What does Category Evidence Builder produce?

A versioned Category evidence matrix with visible reasoning, evidence status, next action, review date, and structured exports.

Name the exact evidence supporting, blocking, or contradicting a category claim.

Start with my inputs

No account. No email gate. The primary result and exports are free.

Work locally. Strategic working text stays in this browser by default. Do not enter confidential, regulated, privileged, customer-identifying, or personal information.

Definition and worked example

See the method before entering your own evidence.

Who should use it: Test whether a proposed category exists beyond your own language.

Decision basis: The category evidence matrix separates buyer and market evidence from company assertion. A confirmed category row requires a buyer problem, budget owner, multiple plausible members, and at least one independent use of the term.

Read the complete versioned method · Read the highest-intent answer

Clearly fictional input

Buyer problem: Senior teams cannot tell which market assumptions have expired.
Actual buyer search phrase: strategy assumption audit
Budget owner: Chief Strategy Officer
Named alternatives: Consulting review, planning offsite
Plausible category members: Strategy firms, research platforms, planning teams
Independent use of the term: Two industry newsletters use the term

This sample runs through the same method and artifact structure as your own work.

Structured work

Build the category evidence matrix

Every field affects the result or the working artifact. Add up to 12 records.

Ungated result

Your category evidence matrix

Method 1.0.0 · Input schema 1.0.0
Artifact · Due · Review

Decision state

Input confidence

Strongest evidence

Riskiest input

Do within seven days

Where the free tool stops

The artifact makes the issue visible. The engagement resolves the organizational decision.

Petrichor helps the team reconcile disagreement, challenge evidence, assign ownership, and leave with a committed decision. You will not be asked to recreate this artifact.

Take this into the matching Petrichor work

Limits

Import a prior JSON Download blank template Watch the 90-second walkthrough

Carry the work forward

Create a Workshop Pre-Read

The default pre-read includes versions, result, open questions, and requested outcome. Your raw working text stays out unless you deliberately include it.

Include my strategic working text

Transparent method

How this instrument reaches a result

The category evidence matrix separates buyer and market evidence from company assertion. A confirmed category row requires a buyer problem, budget owner, multiple plausible members, and at least one independent use of the term.

See the fields and decision basis

Buyer problem: required input used in the result and artifact.
Actual buyer search phrase: optional input used in the result and artifact.
Budget owner: required input used in the result and artifact.
Named alternatives: optional input used in the result and artifact.
Plausible category members: required input used in the result and artifact.
Independent use of the term: required input used in the result and artifact.
Evidence status: required input used in the result and artifact.
Evidence date: optional input used in the result and artifact.
Placement note or contradiction: optional input used in the result and artifact.

Questions about Category Evidence Builder

What do I leave with?

A versioned category evidence matrix with visible reasoning, evidence status, next action, review date, and structured exports.

Does the result use a benchmark or AI?

No. The result uses the visible deterministic rules for this instrument and only the inputs you provide. It is not compared with other customers.

When does the paid work begin?

After the artifact. Petrichor helps the team challenge evidence, reconcile disagreement, assign ownership, and commit to the organizational decision without making you repeat the free work.

The method is versioned. No cross-customer benchmark is used. Review the full method and change history, the relevant plain-language answer, or the permanent Tool Trust Charter.

Related decision instruments: Competitive Reality · Customer Truth · Market Memory and Permission