Behavioral Strategy Discipline Charter

This charter defines the discipline as you are building it: Fit‑first, field‑validated, and measured in behaviors, not proxies, not press‑release science.

Tenets

Fit Order: Problem → Behavior → Solution → Product. Never skip gates.
Immediate Objective: Achieve Behavior Market Fit (BMF) for a clearly defined behavior in a defined segment.
Field Before Theory: Prioritize observed behavior in real contexts over lab generalities.
Measurement: Report Δ‑B, TTFB, and behavior retention (with denominators and windows). Avoid proxy KPIs.
Evidence Discipline: Link claims to sources or label numbers as illustrative. Maintain an Evidence Ledger.
Ethical Transparency: Defaults are configuration. Preserve autonomy, explain recommendations, and keep change paths reversible.
Practical Creativity: Favor situation‑specific designs informed by behavioral science. Avoid “one‑size‑fits‑all” nudges.
Replication Awareness: Treat contested effects with caution (e.g., broad loss‑aversion claims). Test in your context.

Practitioner Code

Publish stage‑gate thresholds (pre‑registered where feasible).
Tie outcomes to behaviors; avoid attitudinal metrics as endpoints.
Report denominators, windows, assignment, and cohorting for every claim.
Distinguish illustrative examples from measured results.
Document limiting BSM components and how the solution addresses them.
Avoid nudge theater and proxy wins (clicks, toggles) masquerading as behavior.

Fit‑First Workflow (Four‑Fit)

1) Problem Market Fit → evidence users seek solutions to a meaningful problem.
2) Behavior Market Fit → users can and will perform the selected behavior in context (exciting, feasible, rewarding).
3) Solution Market Fit → the solution measurably enables that behavior with low friction (TTFB/completion thresholds).
4) Product Market Fit → behavior sustains in the market with viable economics.

See: Behavioral Research, Behavior Ranking & Selection, Designing Products.

What We Reject

“Nudges” as a strategy. Use them as finishing tools only after fit is proven.
Attitudinal claims without behavioral evidence.
Priming/”magic words” theater and unreplicated lab effects as prescriptions.
Overstated “defaults did it” narratives (e.g., organ donation) that ignore system design.

Reporting Template (Behavioral Outcome)

Project: [Name]
Target behavior: [Operational definition]
Segment: [Defined audience]
Window: [e.g., 30 days]
Denominator: [e.g., all exposed]
Baseline completion: [pp]
Post completion: [pp]
Δ‑B: [pp]
TTFB: [median mm:ss]
Retention: [D30, D180]
Notes: limitations, confounders, turnback rules
Evidence: Ledger IDs and links