Using “How Might We” Questions to Ideate on the Right Problems
Unleashing the power of 'How Might We' questions can revolutionize problem-solving. This approach, steeped in empathy and curiosity, can help us ideate on the right problems, fostering innovation and creativity. Let's delve into its potential and application.
Constructing how-might-we questions generates creative solutions while keeping teams focused on the right problems to solve
Discovery research commonly results in learning about the problem space.
- At the end of a discovery, the team should come together, agree on the top things it found out, and use this knowledge to frame design challenges
Conclusion
Using this simple technique at the end of your discovery process can set your team up for success in framing the design challenge on the right problems
Start with the Problems (or Insights) You’ve Uncovered
Once you and your team have carried out your discovery research, agree on what the top findings were.
- Use these to craft HMW questions, such as the example below. HMW How might we increase awareness of the full product offerings?
Phrase Your HMW Questions Positively
If you find yourself using negative verbs like’reduce,”remove,’ ‘prevent,’ ask yourself if you can frame things more positively by using positive action verbs, like ‘increase,’ ‘create,’ ‘enhance,’ ‘promote’
Avoid Suggesting a Solution in Your HMW Question
In the example below, the first HMW suggests a particular type of solution, whereas the second is agnostic about any particular solution.
- How might we tell users which form to complete to file their taxes?
- With the second HMW, further possibilities could be generated such as filing taxes automatically for users or removing multiple forms
Write and Choose HMWs with Your Team
There’s no limit on how many HMW questions you should produce. The more you have, the more ideas you’ll garner.
- If you find yourself with too many, ask yourself whether there is any overlap between them and see if you can combine some into one broader HMW. The other alternative is to prioritize your HMHs in terms of their impact on the project’s success
Keep Your HMWs Broad
Ask yourself, could you rewrite them in a broader way?
- The broader the HMW, the more ideas can be generated
- Don’t go too broad, don’t lose sight of the problem you’re trying to solve
- Good, bad, or better?
Focus Your HMWs on the Desired Outcome
To avoid solving symptoms of the problems rather than the root problems themselves, ask yourself whether your HMW question focuses on the desired outcome.
- Problem: Users often call us because they’re unsure about the application process
- Solution: Solve the problem of why users are calling us