How Might We
A problem turned into an open question
- PhaseFrame
- Group3 to 15 people
- Time30 minutes
- SettingRoom or remote
- ExecutivesYes
What it is
How Might We turns a problem into an open question that starts with the words How might we. A good question is narrow enough to act on and broad enough to leave room for different answers.
When to use it
After Understand, to turn what you learned into questions the group can answer with ideas. It is one of several ways to frame; pick it when the aim is to open possibilities.
When to skip it
When the group already agrees on one narrow problem, or when the question would name a technology. Use a Problem Statement.
How to run it
- 5 minRead back the pains, quotes and findings from the Understand phase.
- 10 minAlone, turn each finding into "How might we...?" questions on notes. Aim for several each.
- 5 minTest each against the checklist: no technology named, not too broad, not too narrow.
- 10 minPost, cluster, and vote for the two or three to take into ideation.
About 30 minutes of method time. Add ten to fifteen minutes to open and close the session.
What to watch for
Questions that name the answer ("How might we use a chatbot to..."). Questions too broad to act on, or so narrow they have one answer.
The AI lens
Keep AI out of the question. Frame the outcome for the person or the work, so that AI is one possible answer and not the assumed one.
What you leave with
Two or three well-formed questions, ready for ideation.
An example
'How might we improve customer service?' is too broad. 'How might we help a customer get a clear answer in the first reply, without having to repeat themselves?' is a question a team can generate ideas for. Keep the AI out of the question, because AI is one possible answer.
How it compares
A Problem Statement says who needs what and why. A How Might We question is the open form of the same problem, ready for ideas.
Related methods
Questions
What is How Might We?
How Might We turns a problem into an open question that starts with the words How might we. A good question is narrow enough to act on and broad enough to leave room for different answers.
When should I use How Might We?
After Understand, to turn what you learned into questions the group can answer with ideas. It is one of several ways to frame; pick it when the aim is to open possibilities.
How long does How Might We take and how many people do I need?
How Might We takes about 30 minutes and suits 3 to 15 people, plus a facilitator. Add ten to fifteen minutes to open and close the session.
How is How Might We different from other methods?
A Problem Statement says who needs what and why. A How Might We question is the open form of the same problem, ready for ideas.
Can I run How Might We remotely or with executives?
Yes. How Might We 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.