The "How might we" (HMW) question format originated in 1971 from Procter & Gamble and was popularized by IDEO, becoming a fundamental part of Design Thinking. HMW is designed to reframe complex problems into collaborative opportunities, focusing on user needs and facilitating diverse solution generation. However, its effectiveness hinges on a solid understanding of the context. In agile environments, HMW can be viewed as a smaller unit of a larger problem, mirroring the structure of user stories within epics. Attention to foundational elements is critical, as any misalignment can lead to ineffective problem-solving efforts.
"How might we (HMW) is a human-centered question format that reframes problems as opportunities for innovation, focusing on user needs and collaboration."
"HMW fosters collaboration and focus on user needs, generating a broad range of potential solutions instead of jumping to favorite solutions."
"When the foundation is shaky, HMW can lead to wasted effort. It's not a magic bullet for poorly defined problems or organizational constraints."
"In an agile environment, HMW is like a story which is a subset of a bigger picture, allowing teams to understand and develop solutions more effectively."
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