Week 4: Creative abrasion to define the problem
DPBS1120 Collaboration and Innovation in Business
Last week recap:
Last week we discussed:
• Discovering the problem context/landscape, 5Ws and 1H
• Tools for causes: Fishbone analyses, with 5Whys?
• Identified gaps for value creation
• Project plan for value creation
This week we are going to define the problem to give us a starting point ideating in
Week 6. Also, the groups will present assessment 2A in Week 5.
These processes are going to be intense and will involve creative abrasion applicable to the
process of innovation.
Workshop Learning Objectives
Learn to define the problem using creative abrasion; and present effectively as a team
In this workshop, students will apply concepts through:
i. Defining the problem and scope using How Might We..? technique
ii. Prepare your slides for Assessment 2A in class
iii. Learn from peer presentations and tutor questions through active listening and
observation
Relevant to assessment 2A, student groups will produce:
• 'How might we...' Statement.
Transition from: Discover the macro theme (SDGs) to Define by identifying gaps for
value creation and project plan
Next Week: Conclude 1st diamond (problem definition)
Specific and well-defined problem
Sporadic insights
Defining the problem
By exploring insights and themes, teams have
identified problem causes and problem areas that
pose challenges within the SDG themes.
How can we frame the insights/ statements in a way
that makes it easy to spark innovative thinking and
opportunities for designing solutions?
The How Might We format suggests that a solution is
possible offering us the chance to answer the question
in a variety of ways.
A properly framed How Might We does not suggest a
particular solution but provides a frame (or a starting
point) for innovative thinking.
Framed insights using How might we
(HMW) statement
Sporadic insights
Tool Introduction: HMW Statement
Watch: https://www.designkit.org/methods/3
How to create a HMW statement
So, imagine we have chosen SDG 6.
Through research (5Ws + 1H, Fishbone analysis, 5 whys, etc.) we have
uncovered that rural areas lack clean drinking water.
Further research shows this because of a lack of energy to drive the process to
make the water safe.
Clean water and sanitation
6.1 By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe
and affordable drinking water for all
Specific problem?
How to create a HMW statement
Formula: HMW Problem = C + S + KVP + P + Ps
Condition
Stem
Key Verb Phrase
Purpose
Parameters (context + timeframe)
Create a HMW statement – an example
Formula: HMW Problem = C + S + KVP + P + Ps
Example: "Given that the water purification process requires energy which is not readily available in rural
villages around the world (C), How might we (S) implement a mobile water purification process powered
by solar energy (KVP), to provide immediate access to safe and affordable drinking water (P) in remote
villages lacking infrastructure, with the aim of achieving universal coverage by 2030? (Ps, context and
timeframe)"
Condition (C) Stem/Subject (S) Key Verb Phrase (KVP) Purpose (P) Parameters (Ps)
Water Example
How to create/refine a HMW statement
Formula: HMW Problem = C + S + KVP + P + Ps
Condition - This describes the situation which has led to you choosing this problem. This is
connected to the purpose – it gives reason for the action of the key verb phrase (KVP).
Here are some samples of ways to start the Condition:
· Since
· As
· Because
· Given that
· Seeing as
· In view of the fact that
· While
· Due to
How to create/refine a HMW statement
Formula: HMW Problem = C + S + KVP + P + Ps
Stem - “How could we....” or “In what ways might we...” “We” could be replaced with your relevant
specific stakeholder.
How to create/refine a HMW statement
Formula: HMW Problem = C + S + KVP + P + Ps
Key Verb Phrase - The Key Verb Phrase is an action verb which states what you want to do and
directs your solutions to the problem.
You must have only one KVP. Two KVPs would mean two problems.
Here are some examples of alternative verbs you might like to use in your key verb
phrase:
• Accelerate: to increase the speed of
• Alleviate: to make more bearable / reduce the negative impacts of
• Create: to begin, design or develop
• Diversify: to generate greater variety
• Economise: to reduce the cost of
• Improve: to get better; to advance
• Prolong: to lengthen the duration of
• Reduce: to lesson; to diminish; to condense
How to create/refine a HMW statement
Formula: HMW Problem = C + S + KVP + P + Ps
Purpose - This is the one main reason why you want to take this action. To indicate you have
moved on to explaining your purpose you can use statements such as:
• … with the intention that
• … in order to
• … so that
• … to achieve
• … so as to
How to create/refine a HMW statement
Formula: HMW Problem = C + S + KVP + P + Ps
Parameters (context + timeframe) - Parameters (Ps) contextualize your problem in terms
of time, place and overall context.
Formula: HMW Problem = C + S + KVP + P + Ps
Condition - This describes the situation which has led to you choosing this problem. This is
connected to the purpose – it gives reason for the action of the key verb phrase (KVP).
Stem - “How could we....” or “In what ways might we...” “We” could be replaced with your
relevant specific stakeholder.
Key Verb Phrase - The Key Verb Phrase is an action verb which states what you want to do
and directs your solutions to the problem.
You must have only one KVP. Two KVPs would mean two problems.
Purpose - This is the one main reason why you want to take this action. To indicate you
have moved on to explaining your purpose you can use statements such as:
Parameters (context + timeframe) - Parameters (Ps) contextualize your problem in terms
of time, place and overall context.
Your task this week = create a HMW statement
Formula: HMW Problem = C + S + KVP + P + Ps
Example: "Given that the water purification process requires energy which is not readily available in rural
villages around the world (C), How might we (S) implement a mobile water purification process powered
by solar energy (KVP), to provide immediate access to safe and affordable drinking water (P) in remote
villages lacking infrastructure, with the aim of achieving universal coverage by 2030? (Ps, context and
timeframe)"
Condition (C) Stem/Subject (S) Key Verb Phrase (KVP) Purpose (P) Parameters (Ps)
Water Example
Week 4 – HMW Problem + Defining Tips
• Be specific with your problem
○ How might we reduce the impacts (which impacts?)
○ How might we improve the aspects of...(which aspects?)
• Remember the parameters (and be specific) e.g.
○ Type of place e.g., city or rural
○ Environment e.g., hot or cold climate
• Think: you need to invent a solution to this problem! Can you do it?
• Remember: innovation can be small and subtle (it doesn’t need to be
BIG!)
• Keep getting more and more and more and more and more and more
SPECIFIC
HMW problem statements = bad examples, so how can we improve them?
• Because climate change is a big problem in the world how might we
solve global warming to help the earth and ensure a safer planet for
everyone.
• Due to the fact that air pollution is an issue in the world, how might we
lessen the impact and improve air quality in cities...
• How might we improve business processes to ensure that aspects of
the economy will flourish and increase in efficiency...
Too general.
Two verbs!
Too general. Which specific business processes? Which
aspects of the economy?
Assessment 2A Preparation (Next week!)
• Format: 5-6 slides (plus any appendix slides for Q&A) covering this information:
1. Problem context – problem area selected, why and team’s understanding of the problem? (e.g.
Fishbone analysis, 5Ws + 1H, etc.) (2-3 slides)
2. Define the problem (How Might We…) (1 slide) (Insert your HMW Problem here)
3. Reflection on team collaboration (1 slide)
4. Reflection on DD framework as it applied in practice. (1 slide)
Assessment Criteria: Reminder
• Knowledge and/or Analysis 6.66% (points 1,2,4) (GROUP)
• Teamwork 6.66%: Does the team provide insights into how the team contract can better facilitate the
creative process (points 3) (GROUP)
• Communication 6.66%: Student’s communication skills in the presentation (points 1,2,3,4)
(INDIVIDUAL)
Before your classes next week (week 5), please join the Official Team
Selection Tool under the Assessment 2A section on Moodle.
Team Group Instructions
1. Check your team number in Team Selection Document (where you first wrote your name, class, etc.)
2. Click this Official Team Selection Tool and join your team according to your team number.
Next Week
• Assessment 2A Presentations
• Then in Week 6 --> Transition to 2nd Diamond: Develop from the HMW
• Ideating solutions
• Prioritizing viable solutions
• Prototyping testable solutions
• Seeking feedback on prototypes
• Iterating prototypes based on feedback
• Reminder:
• Watch week 5 video: Ideation and Prototyping by Gregory Davis
• Refine 'How Might We' statement
• Answer any additional discovery questions that may have come up today