How might we Add/remove

Purpose:

The purpose of the method is to reformat the overall  problem into suggested solutions by asking “How might we”. 

The method will open up the solution space and help you to highlight which aspects of the problem are important to take into account for your development process. 

Tips to include participants who are not able to:

See

If participants are unable to see, make sure to have a partner to spar with that can do the writing. This could be a helper, documenter, facilitator or pair up with another group member.

Verbally let the participant with the limited sight know what HMWs the other participants are writing down, as well as how the template is forming.

Move

If participants are unable to move, pair up with another group member to spar with that can place the post-its. If a helper, documenter or facilitator is available, getting help from these is also an option.

Hold

If participants are unable to hold, pair up with another group member to spar with that can place the post-its. If a helper, documenter or facilitator is available, getting help from these is also an option.

Think

If the participant can not write it could be said out loud.

Speak

If participants are not able to speak, make sure all HMWs have a written explanation. Drawing ones ideas to further enhance communication is also possible. If presenting the HMWs, use sign language and a translator if present, or let the other group members read the explanations.

Hear

If participants are not able to hear, make sure all HMWs have a written explanation. Drawing ones ideas to further enhance communication is also possible. If presenting the HMWs, use sign language and a translator if present, or let all group members read the explanations.

Focus

If the ability to focus is limited because of time crunch, shorten down the time spent on brainstorming. If the ability is limited because of distractions, make sure facilitators keep a calm and attentive attitude, and prolong time for brainstorming.

Belong

If participants feel excluded from the group pair up the participants to have them brainstorm in pairs instead of individually.

If the brainstorming is from the perspective of a persona that resembles a participant, don't let them be pointed out as that can make a person uncomfortable. Make sure the group is fairly diverse and representative.

Overview

Input

A problem

Output

Ideas for how to encounter the overall problem.

Complexity

Moderate

Time

15 min+

Participants

2-10+

Activity

  • Can write 
  • Can reflect upon the problem 
  • Can communicate the questions formed

Step by step:

  1. Hand out post-its and pens to all participants (1 min).

  2. Explain the method by showing the template and go through a problem that does not resemble the overall problem of the workshop (2 min).

  3. Ask the participants to familiarize themselves with the overall problem and brainstorm individually on sentences starting with “How might we….” that can solve the problem – write it on a post-it (3 min).

  4. Ask the participants to hang the post-its on the template (1 min).

  5. Ask the participants to complete a second round of individual brainstorming (3 min).

  6. Participants should hang the post-its on the template again (1 min).

  7. Step 6 & 7 are repeated until you can tell the participants are out of ideas for HMW sentences. Each brainstorm round should be 3 minutes.

  8. Present the HMW sentences(1-2 min per. participant).

When doing this method you should consider:

It is important that the facilitator observes how the ‘How might we’ questions are stated as they can easily be too general. An example of a poor HMW question could be: 

How might we tell users which form to complete to file their taxes?

This question does not emphasize the root cause why it is poor. It is much stronger saying: 

How might we make users feel confident they are filing their taxes correctly?

Materials needed:

  • Pens
  • Post-its
  • Space 
  • Template