Problem Solving using Reframing

To be successful, you need to find solutions to every day and some not-so-routine problems. Problem solving requires innovative thinking to come up with effective solutions. One way of problem solving using innovative thinking is advocated by Tina Seelig – a professor at Stanford University who teaches creativity and innovation. She suggests using reframing – rethinking the question – to solve problems in a unique, interesting and innovative fashion…

Reframing starts by questioning the question – or rewording the
the question you’re asking in the first place. Let’s assume the problem we are encountering is not getting enough customers. So the standard question we would ask in such a case would be “how can we get more customers?”

If we now reframe the question to – for example – “how can we give more value to our customers?” or “who  exactly are our customers?“, we start to get a more diverse set of new ideas. Reframing the question is a way of changing the lens we see with and opens up new possibilities.

Another kind of reframing that goes deeper than simply rewording the problem/question is to challenge the conventional assumptions.

A good way to start is to list all the assumptions then assume exactly the opposite of each.  An example might be an education institute making an assumption that its students want classes. The opposite assumption would be that the students don’t want classes. This opens up all kinds of possibilities such as e-learning, blended learning, web coaching, etc.