📄 60 — Constraints‑First Planning
Definition
Designing a plan by identifying constraints first, then building solutions around them.
When to Use
• Project planning • System design • Resource‑limited environments • Strategic decisions
How It Improves Reasoning
It prevents unrealistic plans and focuses creativity on working within real limits.
Steps
- Identify constraints (time, budget, resources, rules).
- Prioritize constraints by severity.
- Design solutions around them.
- Validate feasibility.
Example
Planning a project around a fixed deadline and limited staff.
Prompts
• “Identify constraints and design a plan around them.” • “Which constraints shape the solution space?”