CMDS Playbook
The CMDS Playbook is your comprehensive guide to implementing the Connect-Merge-Develop-Share methodology in your research and knowledge work.
The Four Stages
🔗 Connect
Purpose: Theme discovery and idea linking
Connect is about finding patterns and relationships across diverse knowledge domains. It's where raw observations transform into structured themes and research questions.
🔀 Merge
Purpose: Literature synthesis and theoretical grounding
Merge builds on discovered connections by synthesizing existing knowledge into coherent frameworks. This is where scattered insights become structured understanding.
⚙️ Develop
Purpose: Data, methods, and productization
Develop transforms theoretical understanding into practical tools and methodologies. Here, insights become data-driven solutions and deployable products.
📤 Share
Purpose: Outputs and dissemination
Share ensures that developed insights, tools, and products reach their intended audiences effectively. Knowledge has value only when it reaches those who need it.
Stage Mappings
Each stage connects to CMDSPACE's knowledge architecture:
| Stage | Knowledge Domains |
|---|---|
| Connect | 100 Themes |
| Merge | 200 Literature |
| Develop | 300 Data, 400 Methodologies, 500 Products, 600 Specialties |
| Share | 700 Creatives, 800 Outputs, 900 Divisions |
Getting Started
- Assess your starting point - Which stage best describes your current state?
- Read the stage overview - Understand the objectives and activities
- Apply the templates - Use provided structures for your work
- Document your progress - Maintain records for iteration and sharing
Best Practices
- Don't skip stages - Even brief engagement with each stage adds value
- Iterate freely - Return to earlier stages when new insights emerge
- Document everything - Your future self will thank you
- Connect outputs - Link deliverables across stages