# Troubleshooting Decision Tree Application

## Project Overview

### Vision

A decision tree troubleshooting application designed for MSP engineers to transform diagnostic processes into clean, professional documentation automatically.

### Core Problem

MSP engineers like Michael face constant context switching between diverse technical issues (file shares, server outages, VPN failures, Active Directory problems). Each context switch:

- Takes 15-25 minutes to regain full focus
- Creates cognitive overhead and attention residue
- Contributes to burnout (research-backed)
- Makes consistent documentation challenging
- Results in lost tribal knowledge

### Solution

An intelligent decision tree system that:

- Guides engineers through proven troubleshooting paths
- Captures decisions and notes automatically
- Generates professional ticket documentation
- Builds institutional knowledge
- Reduces cognitive load during high-stress situations

### Success Criteria

**3-Month Goal:** Michael uses this tool for 50% of his tickets

**Key Metrics:**

- Time saved per ticket
- Documentation quality improvement
- Reduction in "what did I do?" moments
- Team adoption rate
- Reduction in repeated troubleshooting attempts

### Target Users

**Primary:** Senior Systems Engineers at MSPs managing Windows Server, Active Directory, Citrix, networking equipment

**Secondary:**

- Junior engineers needing guided troubleshooting
- Onsite technicians following remote engineer instructions
- MSP teams wanting standardized procedures

### Key Differentiators

1. **Automatic documentation generation** - No separate note-taking step
2. **On-the-fly customization** - Add custom branches when encountering edge cases
3. **Learning system** - Tracks common paths, suggests optimizations
4. **Automation integration** - Execute PowerShell/scripts directly from decision nodes
5. **Knowledge hub** - Links to documentation, KB articles, tutorials at each step
6. **Team collaboration** - Controlled authorship with shared access

### Potential Market

- 30,000+ MSPs in North America alone
- Average MSP has 15-50 technical staff
- Adjacent markets: Internal IT teams, DevOps, Technical Support

### Monetization Possibilities

- **Free Tier:** Personal use, limited trees
- **Pro Tier:** Team sharing, unlimited trees, analytics
- **Enterprise:** API access, SSO, custom branding, white-label
- **Marketplace:** Community-contributed trees (revenue share)
- **Consulting:** Custom tree development services
- **Integrations:** Paid add-ons for ConnectWise, Kaseya, etc.

### Name Ideas (To Workshop)

- TroubleTree
- DecisionPath
- MSP Navigator
- FlowDoc
- DiagnosticFlow
- PathFinder
- TechTree
- TicketFlow
- DiagPath

### Competitive Landscape

**Current Solutions:**

- Static runbooks/wiki pages (not interactive)
- Flowchart tools (not designed for real-time troubleshooting)
- Ticketing system templates (limited branching logic)
- Decision tree software (too generic, not MSP-focused)

**Our Advantage:**
Purpose-built for technical troubleshooting with automation integration and automatic documentation generation.

### Technology Philosophy

- **Web-first:** Accessible anywhere, no installation
- **Progressive enhancement:** Works offline, syncs when online
- **API-driven:** Backend separate from frontend for flexibility
- **Extensible:** Plugin architecture for integrations
- **Open-source friendly:** Consider open-sourcing core, monetize integrations/hosting

### Project Status

**Current Phase:** Planning and Architecture
**Next Phase:** MVP Development (Weeks 1-3)
**Target MVP Date:** 3 weeks from project start
**Target Production Date:** 6-8 weeks from project start
