6 Tips for writing effective opportunities
Writing effective opportunities is a fundamental aspect of solving complex challenges and fostering innovation. This guide will provide you with best practices for writing opportunities that inspire creative solutions and drive meaningful progress.
1. Frame your opportunities as "How Might We" questions
Using "How Might We" (HMW) questions in design thinking helps transform problems into opportunities that invite a range of solutions. These questions are open-ended, optimistic, and collaborative, promoting diverse and innovative responses.
Examples:
HMW help [target group] to [goal] when [context]?
HMW [how to improve] the [service/product/pain point/etc.] for [target group]?
For instance, instead of focusing on young people missing tax deadlines, you might ask, "How might we ensure more young people pay their taxes before the deadline?" This approach generates various creative solutions.
2. Focus on root problems
Identifying and addressing the root problems rather than symptoms or desired outcomes leads to more impactful solutions. To uncover root problems, ask "why" multiple times to delve deeper into underlying issues.
Example: Instead of targeting the number of help desk calls, focus on why users are calling the help desk. Addressing these root problems will lead to lasting solutions.
3. Avoid suggesting solutions in your opportunities
Keep opportunities free from specific solutions to encourage a wider range of potential responses. This broadens the scope of innovation.
Example: Rather than "HMW use a chatbot to help users file their taxes," ask "HMW help users to file their taxes?" This phrasing allows for diverse solutions like simplifying the process or improving instructions.
4. Balance broadness and specificity
Opportunities should be broad enough to inspire various solutions but specific enough to target the root problem. Striking this balance is crucial for generating effective solutions.
Example: Instead of "HMW help users check their tax submission for mistakes," try "HMW support users to create tax submissions they feel confident about." This approach is specific yet open to multiple solutions.
5. Phrase your opportunities positively
Positive phrasing fosters an optimistic and growth-oriented mindset, encouraging proactive problem-solving.
Example: Rephrase "HMW make the return process less difficult" to "HMW make the return process quick and intuitive." This positive approach inspires more creative solutions.
6. Ensure your opportunities are 'MECE'
Opportunities should be Mutually Exclusive and Collectively Exhaustive (MECE). This means each opportunity is distinct without overlapping with others, while collectively covering all critical root problems.
Creating MECE opportunities aids prioritization and ensures clarity about which opportunity addresses which problem. It also encourages the generation of diverse and distinct solutions.
Final tips
Check for duplicates: Avoid redundant opportunities.
Tag opportunities: For easy navigation and organization.
Limit opportunities: Aim for 5 to 8 opportunities per journey to maintain manageability.
By following these best practices, you can craft opportunities that inspire innovative solutions and drive significant progress for your customers and business. Use this guide as a checklist to ensure your opportunities are effective and impactful.