How do you modify solutions to meet changing needs? This is a common challenge for creative problem solvers, who need to adapt to changing situations, feedback, and constraints. In this article, you will learn some tools and techniques for modifying solutions in a creative and effective way.
Sometimes, you may think you have found the best solution for a problem, only to realize that it does not work as expected, or that the problem has changed, or that there are new opportunities or risks. Modifying solutions is not a sign of failure, but a sign of learning and improvement. By modifying solutions, you can make them more relevant, feasible, desirable, and impactful for your target audience and context.
Modyfying solutions to changed needs I like to classify as: EXPERIMENTING. Did you know that the inventor James Dyson had made 5,127 prototypes of his famous Dual Cyclone bag-less vacuum cleaner before settling on the model that would make him a billionaire? Experimenting means testing your new concept to learn if it really delivers value to your customer and if the business model you came up with is valid. By doing so, you validate the future business potential of your new concept. The goal of experimentation at the start of innovation is simply to learn and improve. I totally agree with Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn who said, 'If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.'
There is no one-size-fits-all method for modifying solutions, but there are some general steps you can follow to guide your process. First, you need to evaluate your current solution and identify what works and what does not work, based on your criteria, feedback, and data. Second, you need to generate alternative or improved solutions, using divergent thinking techniques such as brainstorming, SCAMPER, or morphological analysis. Third, you need to select and test the most promising solutions, using convergent thinking techniques such as prioritization matrices, prototyping, or experiments.
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An already implemented solution can be used to create different versions of it through reiteration based on tests that measure efficiency and effectiveness at the time needed. In this case, all the versions contribute to a long term testing that offers insights into a trend that makes sense and can be considered in the process of further modifications.
There are many tools and techniques you can use to modify solutions, depending on your needs and preferences. For instance, SWOT analysis can help you evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of your current solution; SCAMPER can generate new or improved solutions by asking seven questions; a prioritization matrix can select the best solution among several options; and prototyping can test your solution in a low-fidelity or high-fidelity way. All of these tools are useful for evaluating, generating, selecting, and testing solutions.
Modifying solutions can be a daunting task, but also rewarding. To make the process more effective and enjoyable, you should remain flexible and open-minded, not getting attached to your initial solution or idea. Additionally, be curious and creative when exploring different possibilities and perspectives. Collaboration and empathy are essential when involving users, stakeholders, and team members in the process. Lastly, be iterative and experimental when working on the solution, expecting neither perfection nor failure. Learn from each success and each mistake.
My most important tip for you is to adapt your offering to SOLVE A RELEVANT ISSUE for potential customers. When you introduce a new offering, your customers will have to change their behaviour to buy it. Why should they? Mostly because your new offering is a new solution for a problem they’re experiencing. As your innovation must be relevant for them, you must first understand their pain points. Five so called voice-of-customer (VOC) methods constitute the top five best-rated methods: - Ethnographic research, involving camping out with and observing customers while they use products or services. - Customer-visit teams. - Customer focus groups. - Lead User analysis. - Customer or user designs. Check them out via AI how to use them
Modifying solutions is not a one-time activity, but a continuous cycle. You can apply modifying solutions in any stage of your creative problem solving process, from defining the problem, to finding solutions, to implementing solutions. You can also apply modifying solutions in any domain or context, from personal to professional, from simple to complex. The key is to be aware of your changing needs and opportunities, and to use the tools and techniques that suit your situation.