How can you identify the most important benefits when scoping a problem?

1 The benefits framework

A useful framework for identifying the most important benefits when scoping a problem is the SMART criteria. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These criteria help you define the benefits in a clear, quantifiable, and realistic way. For example, instead of saying "I want to increase sales", you can say "I want to increase sales by 10% in the next quarter by launching a new product line". This way, you can easily track your progress, assess your feasibility, and align your benefit with your overall goal.

2 The benefits hierarchy

Another way to identify the most important benefits when scoping a problem is to use a benefits hierarchy. A benefits hierarchy is a visual tool that shows the relationship between different levels of benefits, from the most general to the most specific. For example, you can start with a high-level benefit, such as "improve customer satisfaction", and then break it down into more specific benefits, such as "reduce waiting time", "enhance product quality", or "offer more options". This way, you can see how each benefit contributes to the higher-level benefit and prioritize the ones that have the most impact.

4 The benefits statement

Once you have identified the most important benefits when scoping a problem, you need to communicate them effectively to your audience, whether it is your boss, your client, your team, or your stakeholders. A good way to do this is to write a benefits statement that summarizes the main benefits of your solution and how they address the problem. A benefits statement should be concise, clear, and compelling. For example, you can say "By implementing solution X, we can increase customer satisfaction by 20%, reduce costs by 15%, and improve our competitive advantage in the market".