Problems over Solutions

Pivot around amazing problems. Not solutions.

Problems are long term but solutions are short term

Falling in love with solutions will take away lot of energy from you and your team. When an innovator becomes obsessed with an idea or a solution, they will easily turn blind to the original problem that required this solution. Instead: Understand the main problems of your users by observing their behaviors in their natural environment. Understand the main problems of your business together with the priorities of your executives. Understand the main problems your sector might be creating for people or planet. Seek focused problem definitions that can lead to solutions for all of the above. Pivot around the problem with different solutions.

Example:

There is a romantic image of a typical innovation initiative that starts from a brilliant idea - which usually is a prescribed solution. Let's imagine a time machine. It will be very natural for the innovator to focus on this idea to such an extent that they would forget what problem it solves.

‹ Ethics as a Strategy

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