Ten tools to solve Ten tools to solve problems problems

in a more powerful way in a more powerful way

Chapter 2 of Chapter 2 of The Idea Generator : Tools for Business GrowthThe Idea Generator : Tools for Business Growth by by Ken HudsonKen Hudson

Tool 1/1:Tool 1/1: think in threesthink in threes

break down binary break down binary thinking by thinking by “forcing” three “forcing” three solutionssolutions

use triangle as the use triangle as the framework…framework…

Application: Application: “problem” in the “problem” in the middle of triangle; middle of triangle; develop three develop three solutions one at solutions one at each cornereach corner

Problem Problem StatementStatement

Solution

Solution Solution

Tool 1/2:Tool 1/2: restate in emotional restate in emotional languagelanguage

framed in rational way: framed in rational way: How to grow X by 2%?How to grow X by 2%? will net small will net small incremental gainsincremental gains

restate goal with words restate goal with words that get at passion, that get at passion, energy, fun, excitement energy, fun, excitement and engagement this and engagement this nets imaginative nets imaginative solutionssolutions

Application: Application: list 5 list 5 original solutions for original solutions for original problem (P1); original problem (P1); then get five solutions for then get five solutions for new emotional languagenew emotional language

Tool 1/3:Tool 1/3: find new find new measurementsmeasurements

we can become a we can become a prisoner of our current prisoner of our current measuresmeasures

when we look i.e. at when we look i.e. at market share, reactive market share, reactive because it ends to limit because it ends to limit solutions based on past solutions based on past versus future measuresversus future measures

Application: Application: write how write how you measure currently, you measure currently, write down new write down new measures and ideate measures and ideate around what new ideas around what new ideas can implemented form can implemented form the listthe list

Tool 1/4:Tool 1/4: create new eyescreate new eyes

look at the problem from a look at the problem from a number of different perspectivesnumber of different perspectives

can never truly know what can never truly know what another’s beliefs, values or another’s beliefs, values or assumptions are so imagine assumptions are so imagine what other “roles” might be what other “roles” might be thinkingthinking– i.e. pitching product to a new i.e. pitching product to a new

client; ask who might be in the client; ask who might be in the meeting and what they might meeting and what they might want from the meeting; want from the meeting; Managing Director (long-term Managing Director (long-term growth) and Sales Manager growth) and Sales Manager (short term sales)(short term sales)

Application: Application: select letter of select letter of alphabet and pick a person, role alphabet and pick a person, role or animal that starts with that or animal that starts with that letterletter– i.e. “A” = angel (uplifting) i.e. “A” = angel (uplifting)

accountant (give them the facts) accountant (give them the facts) artist (colorful) architect artist (colorful) architect (structure) agent (real estate (structure) agent (real estate agent) (sell)agent) (sell)

Tool 1/5:Tool 1/5: develop a range of develop a range of business as usual, different, radical business as usual, different, radical solutionssolutions nets greater range of solutionsnets greater range of solutions business as usual, traditionalbusiness as usual, traditional different, departure from different, departure from

what’s been done beforewhat’s been done before radical solutions, departure radical solutions, departure

from what’s been suggested from what’s been suggested before; before; THINK BIGTHINK BIG

Application: Application: use triangle as use triangle as the framework…the framework…– i.e. How to retain most i.e. How to retain most

talented managers?talented managers? business as usual solutions at business as usual solutions at

one corner (5 solutions) Pay one corner (5 solutions) Pay more + (at least 4 others)more + (at least 4 others)

different solutions (3 different solutions (3 solutions) expand their solutions) expand their responsibilities + (at least 2 responsibilities + (at least 2 others)others)

radical solutions (1 solutions) radical solutions (1 solutions) provide them with a 6-month provide them with a 6-month sabbaticalsabbatical

Radical departure from departure from what’s been suggested what’s been suggested beforebefore

BusinessAs Usualtraditionaltraditional

Differentdeparture from departure from what’s been done what’s been done beforebefore

Tool 1/6:Tool 1/6: solve a bigger problemsolve a bigger problem

make the problem more make the problem more encompassingencompassing

tendency to focus on bite-sized tendency to focus on bite-sized problemsproblems– how to improve customer how to improve customer

service? becomes how to service? becomes how to enhance my customer’s life?enhance my customer’s life?

concentrating on larger concentrating on larger problem, opens up solutions problem, opens up solutions possibilitypossibility

by broadening the focus; it by broadening the focus; it allow a much stronger place to allow a much stronger place to develop solutionsdevelop solutions

Application:Application: write down your write down your current problem and then try to current problem and then try to make it progressively bigger make it progressively bigger every two minutes; at the end every two minutes; at the end of ten minutes you should have of ten minutes you should have at least ten new problem at least ten new problem statements; select the one the statements; select the one the one that is most intriguing and one that is most intriguing and create new solutions for itcreate new solutions for it

Tool 1/7:Tool 1/7: ask new questionsask new questions

range of new questions; ones to range of new questions; ones to which you genuinely don’t know which you genuinely don’t know the answers; difficult because the answers; difficult because we’ve been taught to concentrate we’ve been taught to concentrate on the existing problemson the existing problems

opens us up to seeing problems opens us up to seeing problems in new lightin new light– i.e. new products for target i.e. new products for target

market; try What customer market; try What customer experience would have my experience would have my customer raving about this new customer raving about this new product?product?

Application: Application: list the existing list the existing problem and then list all the problem and then list all the existing questions; go through existing questions; go through the drill again listing at least 5 the drill again listing at least 5 new and varied question (avoid new and varied question (avoid answers to these questions at this answers to these questions at this stage); Have a partner run the stage); Have a partner run the same drill and then compare the same drill and then compare the lists; select the three most lists; select the three most intriguing from your lists and intriguing from your lists and produce solution to them; produce solution to them; Possible headings: State the Possible headings: State the Problem: Existing questions + Problem: Existing questions + solutions New questions + solutions New questions + solutions.solutions.

Tool 1/8:Tool 1/8: find a solution that find a solution that initially won’t workinitially won’t work

counter-intuitive, escape from counter-intuitive, escape from the usualthe usual– i.e. too much work; adding i.e. too much work; adding

more work could lead you to be more work could lead you to be more priority focused, sharing more priority focused, sharing workload or learning to think workload or learning to think fasterfaster

making a problem worse can making a problem worse can lead to more original solutionslead to more original solutions– i.e. How to improve product i.e. How to improve product

quality? Instead of looking at quality? Instead of looking at data on defects deliberately data on defects deliberately limit product quality which limit product quality which could lead to cheaper prices could lead to cheaper prices and/or new marketsand/or new markets

Application: Application: Do this with Do this with partner; list problem; spend partner; list problem; spend five minutes working five minutes working separately on solutions to the separately on solutions to the problems; then spend more problems; then spend more time on problem identifying at time on problem identifying at least 5 unworkable least 5 unworkable

Tool 1/9:Tool 1/9: use a new simileuse a new simile business is like a well-oiled business is like a well-oiled

machine implies efficiency; machine implies efficiency; however this simile may limit however this simile may limit experimentation or risk-taking; experimentation or risk-taking; so break the mindset with so break the mindset with another simile (i.e. runs like a another simile (i.e. runs like a red Lamborghini)red Lamborghini)

i.e. getting new client interview i.e. getting new client interview blocked by personal assistant; blocked by personal assistant; use the simile of flying a kite; use the simile of flying a kite; strings (emotional) engage the strings (emotional) engage the PA in conversation to discover PA in conversation to discover their personal interest; flying a their personal interest; flying a kite together could net having a kite together could net having a lunch together with PA and bosslunch together with PA and boss

Application: Application: state the state the problem; then spend several problem; then spend several minutes listing different similes; minutes listing different similes; use one or two of these similes use one or two of these similes to drive to new solutions; (i.e. to drive to new solutions; (i.e. this problem is like the circus: this problem is like the circus: colorful, music used, drama; colorful, music used, drama; this problem is like an this problem is like an orchestra: diverse instruments , orchestra: diverse instruments , new conductor, other new conductor, other departments to helpdepartments to help

Tool 1/10:Tool 1/10: find a paradoxfind a paradox often we try to avoid paradoxes often we try to avoid paradoxes

with difficult problemswith difficult problems– i.e. less is more in architecture; i.e. less is more in architecture;

has given us new furniture has given us new furniture design and space saving design and space saving capabilitycapability

search for and try to uncover search for and try to uncover paradoxes within the problem paradoxes within the problem itselfitself– i.e. breakfast brand is slipping; i.e. breakfast brand is slipping;

busy people are too busy to eat busy people are too busy to eat breakfast; more convenient breakfast; more convenient (breakfast bars), mobile (office (breakfast bars), mobile (office breakfast cart, office breakfast breakfast cart, office breakfast services)services)

successful companies are more successful companies are more likely to become unsuccessful; likely to become unsuccessful; owners become complacent owners become complacent and or more resistant to and or more resistant to changechange

Application: Application: select problem; select problem; generate at least 3 paradoxes generate at least 3 paradoxes that correspond with the that correspond with the problem; create five solutions problem; create five solutions for each of these paradoxes; for each of these paradoxes; select the most effective select the most effective solution form this list and testsolution form this list and test