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How to know if you’re solving a problem the right way
Note: this is a follow up article. Please ensure you are solving the right problem first! Read this: How to stop solving the wrong problems.
So, you wanna solve a problem.
Before you start building, I want you to ask yourself and your team some questions.
One of the reasons I share in the talk “Why we’re solving the wrong problems” is that we have a hammer in our hands. By that I mean, we are taught how to design, let’s say, an app interface. So when a problem is in front of us, we start designing interfaces. When you’re holding a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
If there’s only one thing you take away from my work, it is to PUT DOWN THE HAMMER. First, make sure you are solving the right problem. Then, make sure you are solving it the right way with the prompts below.
Teams often fall into the trap of focusing on outputs (features, deliverables, and artifacts). Instead, a mindset shift of working toward purposeful outcomes (problems solved, needs addressed, and real benefits) leads to better results.
