Borrowed Ideas
Ideas from other industries
- PhaseIdeate
- Group3 to 12 people
- Time30 minutes
- SettingRoom or remote
- ExecutivesYes
What it is
Borrowed Ideas starts by describing the problem in general terms, then lists other fields that have solved something similar and how they did it. It brings in solutions the team would never find in its own industry.
When to use it
When the group keeps coming back to the habits of its own sector, and wants fresh answers.
When to skip it
When the problem depends on a rule specific to your sector. Borrow the mechanism only after the rule is stated.
How to run it
- 5 minDescribe the core of the problem in general terms, such as triage or routing.
- 10 minList other fields that solve it, such as airlines, hospitals, logistics or retail.
- 10 minFor each, describe how they solve it and what makes it work.
- 5 minNote what could carry over and what could not.
About 30 minutes of method time. Add ten to fifteen minutes to open and close the session.
What to watch for
Copying the surface of what another field does and not how it works. Picking glamorous examples over relevant ones.
The AI lens
Look at how other fields keep a person in charge when a system helps, and what they do when it is wrong.
What you leave with
Ideas from other fields, each with the mechanism behind it.
An example
A claims team facing a flood of urgent cases looks at how emergency departments sort patients on arrival, and borrows the idea of a quick sort by urgency before detailed assessment.
How it compares
Borrowed Ideas looks outward for analogies. SCAMPER looks inward at what already exists.
Related methods
Questions
What is Borrowed Ideas?
Borrowed Ideas starts by describing the problem in general terms, then lists other fields that have solved something similar and how they did it. It brings in solutions the team would never find in its own industry.
When should I use Borrowed Ideas?
When the group keeps coming back to the habits of its own sector, and wants fresh answers.
How long does Borrowed Ideas take and how many people do I need?
Borrowed Ideas takes about 30 minutes and suits 3 to 12 people, plus a facilitator. Add ten to fifteen minutes to open and close the session.
How is Borrowed Ideas different from other methods?
Borrowed Ideas looks outward for analogies. SCAMPER looks inward at what already exists.
Can I run Borrowed Ideas remotely or with executives?
Yes. Borrowed Ideas works in the room or remotely. Remotely, put the canvas on a shared board in advance and write silently in the board, not in chat. Executives: Yes, works with executives present.