How can you make problem-solving frameworks more inclusive?

1 What is inclusivity?

Inclusivity is the practice of ensuring that everyone feels valued, respected, and involved in a process or outcome. It means recognizing and addressing the barriers that may prevent some people from participating fully or benefiting equally. Inclusivity also means inviting and listening to feedback, creating a safe and supportive environment, and adapting to changing circumstances and expectations.

3 How can you assess the inclusivity of your problem-solving framework?

Before you choose or apply a problem-solving framework, you should assess how inclusive it is. You can ask yourself questions such as whether the framework acknowledges and addresses the diversity of the problem and people involved, provides clear and accessible guidelines, language, and resources for each step, encourages and enables participation from stakeholders and beneficiaries, accounts for potential impacts and outcomes of the solution for different groups, and allows for flexibility, adaptation, and evaluation based on changing needs and contexts.

4 How can you improve the inclusivity of your problem-solving framework?

If you find that your problem-solving framework is not very inclusive, you can take some steps to improve it. Review and revise the framework to make it more relevant, responsive, and respectful to the problem and the people involved. Additionally, seek out diverse perspectives, opinions, and experiences throughout the process. Utilize inclusive communication methods and tools to share information, ask questions, and solicit feedback. Furthermore, provide opportunities and support for learning, development, and empowerment among your stakeholders and beneficiaries. Lastly, monitor and measure the effects and impacts of your solution and make adjustments as needed.

5 What are some examples of inclusive problem-solving frameworks?

There are several problem-solving frameworks that you can use or modify to make them more inclusive. The Design Thinking framework, for instance, uses empathy, ideation, prototyping, and testing to create human-centered solutions. Appreciative Inquiry focuses on the strengths, opportunities, and aspirations of the people and the system. The STAR framework stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result and assists in describing and evaluating problem-solving skills and achievements. The 5 Whys framework helps to identify the root cause of a problem by asking why repeatedly. Additionally, the Six Thinking Hats framework helps explore different aspects and perspectives of the problem and the solution.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?