Cross-Domain Report

Input: $ARGUMENTS

Purpose

Most fields are siloed. Solutions that are standard practice in one domain are unknown in another. This skill systematically finds structural analogies between two fields and tests whether the insights actually transfer.

What this produces: A report of validated, transferable insights from Field B that Field A can apply, with concrete recommendations.

This is a compound skill — it chains 4 skills in sequence.

Depth Scaling

Default: 2x. Parse depth from $ARGUMENTS if specified (e.g., “/cdr 4x [input]”).

These are floors. Go deeper where insight is dense. Compress where it’s not.

The Chain

Step 1: /cda      -- Find structural matches between fields
Step 2: /aex     -- What does Field A assume that Field B doesn't?
Step 3: /araw                      -- Test each analogy: structural or just surface similarity?
Step 4: /ins         -- Combine into actionable recommendations

Execution Procedure

Step 1: Find Cross-Domain Analogies

-> INVOKE: /cda $ARGUMENTS

Identify structural similarities between the two fields:

• What problems do both fields face?
• What solutions has Field B developed that Field A hasn’t?
• Where are the structural parallels (not just surface)?
• What shared constraints or dynamics exist?

Structural vs Surface test:

• STRUCTURAL: Same underlying mechanism (aviation checklists -> surgical checklists = both manage human error in high-stakes sequential tasks)
• SURFACE: Same words but different mechanism (computer “virus” -> biological virus = metaphor, not transferable mechanism)

Target: 8-15 candidate analogies, clearly labeled structural vs surface.

Output: Candidate analogies with structural analysis.

Step 2: Extract Assumption Differences

-> INVOKE: /aex [Field A’s approach to problems identified in Step 1]

For each structural analogy, what does Field A assume that Field B doesn’t?

• What does Field A take for granted that Field B explicitly addresses?
• Where has Field B solved a problem that Field A still struggles with?
• What hidden beliefs prevent Field A from adopting Field B’s approach?

Output: Assumption gaps between the fields, linked to specific analogies.

Step 3: Test Transferability

-> INVOKE: /araw [each candidate analogy + assumption gaps]

For each analogy, test with ARAW:

ASSUME RIGHT (analogy transfers):

• What would Field A gain by adopting this?
• What adaptation is needed?
• What evidence supports transfer?

ASSUME WRONG (analogy doesn’t transfer):

• What makes Field A fundamentally different here?
• What would go wrong if Field A copied Field B?
• What context-dependent factors break the analogy?

Verdict for each: TRANSFERS / PARTIALLY TRANSFERS / DOESN’T TRANSFER

Output: Each analogy with transfer verdict and reasoning.

Step 4: Synthesize Actionable Insights

-> INVOKE: /ins [all outputs from Steps 1-3]

Create the final report:

CROSS-DOMAIN REPORT: What [Field A] Can Learn From [Field B]
=============================================================

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- [Field B] has [N] practices that [Field A] could benefit from
- Top 3 transferable insights
- Key barriers to adoption

VALIDATED TRANSFERS (high confidence):
For each:
  - THE INSIGHT: What Field B does
  - WHY IT WORKS: The structural mechanism
  - HOW IT APPLIES: What Field A would do differently
  - ADAPTATION NEEDED: What changes for Field A's context
  - EXPECTED IMPACT: What would improve

PARTIAL TRANSFERS (needs adaptation):
For each:
  - What transfers and what doesn't
  - Required adaptations
  - Risks of naive adoption

NON-TRANSFERS (look similar but don't apply):
For each:
  - Why it looks like it would transfer
  - Why it actually doesn't
  - What's fundamentally different

IMPLEMENTATION ROADMAP:
  - Where to start (lowest risk, highest impact)
  - What to try next
  - What requires deeper investigation

-> COMPLETE

Output Standards

• Readable by practitioners in EITHER field (no assumption of expertise in the other)
• Every claimed transfer includes the structural mechanism (not just “Field B does X, so should Field A”)
• Non-transfers are explicitly identified (prevents naive copying)
• Implementation is concrete and actionable
• Validation status: “These analogies have not been validated by practitioners in either field”

Quality Gates

After Step 1: If fewer than 3 structural analogies found, the fields may be too dissimilar. Consider a different Field B.

After Step 3: If most analogies are surface-only, the report should say so honestly rather than force transfers that don’t exist.

Example Usage

/cdr what software engineering can learn from aviation safety
/cdr what healthcare can learn from manufacturing quality control
/cdr what education can learn from game design
/cdr what business strategy can learn from evolutionary biology
/cdr what urban planning can learn from network engineering