Jeremy Worrell, managing consultant at Fujitsu Services, has developed a set of MyCreativity rules for use with Southbeach Modeller. They help with the structured exploration of problems and opportunities according to Edward de Bono's TOLOPOSOGO stages. Jeremy has kindly agreed to share them with the community. Feedback is welcome to the address given below.
// Jeremy Worrell's Creativity at Work MyCreativity Library
#JeremyWorrell.Create.1TO
focus "Might the real focus be broader or narrower than [this]?"
focus "What is it about [this] which really demands some new thinking?"
focus "Would strong thinkers consider [this] is the best focus?"
goal "Might the real focus be broader or narrower than [this]?"
goal "What is it about [this] which really demands some new thinking?"
goal "Would strong thinkers consider [this] is the best goal?"
goal "Could we be more ambitious than [this]?"
#JeremyWorrell.Create.2LO
agent "What else do we know about [this]?"
agent "Does [this] have any unique features?"
potential+useful "How can we get more of [this]?"
potential+useful "What else is needed to produce [this]?"
potential+harmful "What can counteract [this] so we don't get as much?"
*(, harmful) "What intermediaries lie between [from] and [to]?"
* "Who else knows about {this}? What light can they shed?"
* "Where is {this} used? What does that tell us?"
* "What is the life-cycle of {this}? What did it come from? What does it turn into?"
questionable(,) "How can we verify {this}?"
* "How can we quantify what we know about {this}?"
questionable(,) "What disagreement is there about {this}? How can we be more objective?"
#JeremyWorrell.Create.3PO
agent "How could we re-state [this]?"
agent "What synonyms are there for [this]?"
harmful "What's the very worst form [this] could take?"
useful "What would be a perfect extreme of [this]?"
agent "What analogies are there to [this] in related worlds?"
agent "What are the fixed features of [this]?"
harmful "Who might think [this] is actually beneficial?"
produces(&a=agent, useful) "What other benefits could [&a] bring?"
agent "How would my thnking heros handle [this]?"
harmful "Counteract [this] with a magic agent?"
useful "Create or boost [this] with a magic agent?"
#JeremyWorrell.Create.4SO
produces(, harmful) "What could change about [from] to reduce [to]?"
produces+insufficient(, useful+goal) "Could we add more [from], or a different sort of [from]?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces(&a, &c=harmful) "Could we change [&a] to get [&b] without [&c]?"
action "What else might happen if we [this]?"
useful "Who might seek to oppose [this], and why?"
goal "Will [this] meet legal and compliance constraints? If not, how could we adapt it?"
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Monday, 8 November 2010
Questions for thinking about simple contradictions
Simple contradictions arise in many models, many times over. A simple contradiction is when something produces something useful, but also something harmful. Everything has pros and cons, so contradictions are everywhere in the world and in your models. If your models don't contain contradictions, you are not thinking hard enough. Extracting contradictions from a model, and thinking through all the possible ways to improve the system is hard work. By adding rules that recognize contradictions anywhere where they appear in a model, and linking these to creative suggestions, can help you to work rigorously and quickly through options for improving any situation.
Here is a set of rules you can use. They are not the only rules possible, but they have been found to be useful. Before are two screen shots, showing the rules working in practice in Southbeach Modeller.
//A useful set of questions to ask about any contradictory situation, for example, A produces useful B but A also produces harmful C
#contradictions.brainstorming
//introduction
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "What solutions come to mind if we ask: How can we have the benefits of {&b} without {&c}?"
//right problem?
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Does {&a} really produce {&c}? Are we looking at the right problem? Is {&c} produced by something else?"
// incremental
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Is there a way to intervene and limit the ability of {&a} to produce {&c}?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Is there a way to completely prevent {&a} from producing {&c}?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Find a way to remove {&c} while it is being produced by {&a}."
//coping
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "How much of a problem is {&c}? Can we find a way to cope with {&c}?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Can we put off the harmful effects of {&c} for the time being? How will we cope with {&c} in the future?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Could {&c} be converted into something less harmful?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "What can we introduce to counteract the harmful effects of {&c} produced by {&a}?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Assuming we cannot remove {&c} or its effects, can we find a positive use for {&c}?"
// re-design
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "What does the next generation of {&a} look like?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Can {&a} be modified so that as to produce less {&c}."
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Find the part of {&a} that produces {&c} and remove that part without impacting the ability of {&a} to provide {&b}."
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Combine {&a} with something else so that the {&c} is no longer a problem."
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Combine {&b} with something else so that the {&c} is no longer a problem."
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Change the design of {&a} so that it produces no {&c} at all."
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Find an alternative to {&a} that does not produce {&c} yet still produces {&b}."
// the system
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "In what way could the system be changed so that the production of {&c} by {&a} is insufficient to have harmful effects?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Is {&c} a problem for {&b}. Can we separate {&a} or {&b} from {&c} into different systems?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "If the production of {&c} is unavoidable can we find a way to isolate the {&c} so that it cannot harm the system?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Can we add something to the system that reduces or eliminates {&c}?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Can we add something to the system that makes {&b} more useful so that {&c} is peceived as less of a problem"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Add something to the system that mininises the need for {&b} so that less {&a} is needed so that less {&c} is produced."
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Do we need {&a} for reasons other than {&b}? If not we can remove {&a} and avoid {&c}."
// next generation of b
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Think about the future. Will we be obtaining {&b} in another way? Will {&a} therefore be less relevant, solving the problem of {&c}?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "How will the demand for {&b} change in the future? Will it still be obtained from {&a} and will {&c} therefore still be a problem?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "What does the next generation of {&b} look like?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Can we reduce the need for {&b}? If so we can reduce use of {&a} and therefore produce less {&c}."
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Find an alternative to {&b} that has the benefits of {&b} but is not dependent on {&a}."
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "What does the next generation of a system that contains {&b} look like?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Do we need {&b}? If not we can remove {&a} and avoid {&c}."
In the screen shot below (Example 1) showing a simple model to illustrate the principle, the user has clicked on the block labelled 'car' and the Modeller has found the contradiction and generated the suggestion list.
In the second screen shot (Example 2) the user has clicked on the block labelled 'economic growth and the tool has found two contradictions and generated the questions for them using the MyCreativity rules above. In each case, the user has set scope 'laser'. If the scope had been widened, clicking in one place on the diagram would have applied the rules recursively across the diagram. Using rules like this, it is easy to find all contradictions in any model. The simplest rule to find all contradictions in a model is:
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "{&a} produces useful {&b} and also produces harmful {&c}"
For the model below, it would produce:
1. [economic growth] produces useful [quality of life] and also produces harmful [pollution]
2. [economic growth] produces useful [quality of life] and also produces harmful [resource degradation]
3. [cars] produces useful [travel] and also produces harmful [pollution]
Here is a set of rules you can use. They are not the only rules possible, but they have been found to be useful. Before are two screen shots, showing the rules working in practice in Southbeach Modeller.
//A useful set of questions to ask about any contradictory situation, for example, A produces useful B but A also produces harmful C
#contradictions.brainstorming
//introduction
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "What solutions come to mind if we ask: How can we have the benefits of {&b} without {&c}?"
//right problem?
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Does {&a} really produce {&c}? Are we looking at the right problem? Is {&c} produced by something else?"
// incremental
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Is there a way to intervene and limit the ability of {&a} to produce {&c}?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Is there a way to completely prevent {&a} from producing {&c}?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Find a way to remove {&c} while it is being produced by {&a}."
//coping
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "How much of a problem is {&c}? Can we find a way to cope with {&c}?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Can we put off the harmful effects of {&c} for the time being? How will we cope with {&c} in the future?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Could {&c} be converted into something less harmful?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "What can we introduce to counteract the harmful effects of {&c} produced by {&a}?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Assuming we cannot remove {&c} or its effects, can we find a positive use for {&c}?"
// re-design
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "What does the next generation of {&a} look like?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Can {&a} be modified so that as to produce less {&c}."
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Find the part of {&a} that produces {&c} and remove that part without impacting the ability of {&a} to provide {&b}."
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Combine {&a} with something else so that the {&c} is no longer a problem."
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Combine {&b} with something else so that the {&c} is no longer a problem."
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Change the design of {&a} so that it produces no {&c} at all."
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Find an alternative to {&a} that does not produce {&c} yet still produces {&b}."
// the system
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "In what way could the system be changed so that the production of {&c} by {&a} is insufficient to have harmful effects?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Is {&c} a problem for {&b}. Can we separate {&a} or {&b} from {&c} into different systems?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "If the production of {&c} is unavoidable can we find a way to isolate the {&c} so that it cannot harm the system?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Can we add something to the system that reduces or eliminates {&c}?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Can we add something to the system that makes {&b} more useful so that {&c} is peceived as less of a problem"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Add something to the system that mininises the need for {&b} so that less {&a} is needed so that less {&c} is produced."
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Do we need {&a} for reasons other than {&b}? If not we can remove {&a} and avoid {&c}."
// next generation of b
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Think about the future. Will we be obtaining {&b} in another way? Will {&a} therefore be less relevant, solving the problem of {&c}?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "How will the demand for {&b} change in the future? Will it still be obtained from {&a} and will {&c} therefore still be a problem?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "What does the next generation of {&b} look like?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Can we reduce the need for {&b}? If so we can reduce use of {&a} and therefore produce less {&c}."
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Find an alternative to {&b} that has the benefits of {&b} but is not dependent on {&a}."
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "What does the next generation of a system that contains {&b} look like?"
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "Do we need {&b}? If not we can remove {&a} and avoid {&c}."
In the screen shot below (Example 1) showing a simple model to illustrate the principle, the user has clicked on the block labelled 'car' and the Modeller has found the contradiction and generated the suggestion list.
In the second screen shot (Example 2) the user has clicked on the block labelled 'economic growth and the tool has found two contradictions and generated the questions for them using the MyCreativity rules above. In each case, the user has set scope 'laser'. If the scope had been widened, clicking in one place on the diagram would have applied the rules recursively across the diagram. Using rules like this, it is easy to find all contradictions in any model. The simplest rule to find all contradictions in a model is:
produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces (&a, &c=harmful) "{&a} produces useful {&b} and also produces harmful {&c}"
For the model below, it would produce:
1. [economic growth] produces useful [quality of life] and also produces harmful [pollution]
2. [economic growth] produces useful [quality of life] and also produces harmful [resource degradation]
3. [cars] produces useful [travel] and also produces harmful [pollution]
 |
| Example 1 |
 |
| Example 2 |
Monday, 27 September 2010
5x5Whys - useful in root cause analysis (RCA)
This set of Southbeach | MyCreativity rules are an expansion of the simple 5Whys. A screen shot of Southbeach Modeller showing this RCA tool working is available here for an example model of a plane crash in Colombia.
#5x5whys
//matching on agents
* "What proof do I have that this cause exists? (Is {this} concrete? Is {this} measurable?)"
* "What proof do I have that the cause: {this} could lead to the stated effect? (Am I merely asserting causation?)"
* "What proof do I have that this cause actually contributed to the system problem I am looking at? (Even given that it exists and could lead to this problem, how do I know {this} wasn't actually something else?)"
* "Is anything else needed, along with this cause, for the stated effect to occur? (Is {this} self-sufficient? Is something needed to help {this} along?)"
* "Can anything else, besides this cause, lead to the stated effect? (Are there alternative explanations to {this} that fit better? What other risks are there?)"
//matching on effects
*(,) "What proof do I have that this effect/process exists? (Is {this} concrete? Is the effect measurable?)"
*(,) "What proof do I have that this effect: {this} could lead to the stated outcome? (Am I merely asserting causation?)"
*(,) "What proof do I have that this effect actually contributed to the system problem I am looking at? (Even given that it exists and could lead to this problem, how do I know {this} wasn't actually something else?)"
*(,) "Is anything else needed, along with this effect, for the stated effect to occur? (Is {this} self-sufficient? Is something needed to help {this} along?)"
*(,) "Can anything else, besides this effect, lead to the stated effect? (Are there alternative explanations to {this} that fit better? What other risks are there?)"
#5x5whys
//matching on agents
* "What proof do I have that this cause exists? (Is {this} concrete? Is {this} measurable?)"
* "What proof do I have that the cause: {this} could lead to the stated effect? (Am I merely asserting causation?)"
* "What proof do I have that this cause actually contributed to the system problem I am looking at? (Even given that it exists and could lead to this problem, how do I know {this} wasn't actually something else?)"
* "Is anything else needed, along with this cause, for the stated effect to occur? (Is {this} self-sufficient? Is something needed to help {this} along?)"
* "Can anything else, besides this cause, lead to the stated effect? (Are there alternative explanations to {this} that fit better? What other risks are there?)"
//matching on effects
*(,) "What proof do I have that this effect/process exists? (Is {this} concrete? Is the effect measurable?)"
*(,) "What proof do I have that this effect: {this} could lead to the stated outcome? (Am I merely asserting causation?)"
*(,) "What proof do I have that this effect actually contributed to the system problem I am looking at? (Even given that it exists and could lead to this problem, how do I know {this} wasn't actually something else?)"
*(,) "Is anything else needed, along with this effect, for the stated effect to occur? (Is {this} self-sufficient? Is something needed to help {this} along?)"
*(,) "Can anything else, besides this effect, lead to the stated effect? (Are there alternative explanations to {this} that fit better? What other risks are there?)"
Thursday, 24 June 2010
Mark Burnett's 'consulting toolkit' Creativity
Mark Burnett (BearingPoint) is developing a general purpose consulting toolkit based on Southbeach Modeller. The kit is a set of Southbeach models and templates, designed for various different types of consulting work. As part of this kit, Mark has developed a simple MyCreativity rule set that helps to bring such models to life by guiding improvement, problem solving and innovation. He has kindly shared this Southbeach application here. See below for a screen shot image of this working in practice.
Copy the following rules into a .txt file, place it in your creativity folder and try it out on your own models. (Like all rule sets on this blog this requires you to have upgraded your free Modeller to Southbeach|MyCreativity)
#Mark Burnett.Elaboration
produces(*, useful) "What (additional) resources does the {source} need in order to produce the {destination}?"
produces(*,useful) "What qualities should the {source} exhibit in producing the {destination}?"
consumes(&a=*,&r=resource) produces(&a,&o=useful) "Where is the resource of {&r} used by the {&a} to produce the {&o} obtained from?"
specifies(quality,*) "What is the {source} quality related to?"
produces(,useful) "What is the {destination} used for?"
produces(&a=useful,&o=useful) produces(&o,&r=useful) "What other than the {&a} and {&o} is necessary to produce the {&r}?"
#Mark Burnett.Improve.IncreaseUseful
increases(useful,useful) "Intensify or get more of the {source} so you can have more of the {destination}."
increases(*,useful) "How can you get more of {destination} from {source}?"
increases(*,useful) "How can you increase the ability of {source} to create {destination}?"
increases(*,useful) "How can you intensify the {destination} without relying on the {source}?"
increases(harmful,useful) "Try and work out what part of the {source} is producing the {destination} and minimise the unnecessary parts that are producing the harm"
decreases(*,useful) "Prevent the {source} from impacting the {destination}."
decreases(*,useful) "Isolate the part of the {source} that is impacting the {destination} and remove it."
decreases(harmful,useful) "Convert the {source} into something useful before it has a chance to impact the {destination}"
decreases(*,useful) "Protect the {destination} from the {source}."
increases(useful,useful+potential) "How can you ensure that the {destination} will be an outcome of the {source}?"
increases(&a=*,&c=useful+potential) increases(&b=*,&a) "How can you create the {&c} without the {&b}?"
increases(&a=*,&c=useful+!potential) increases(&b=*,&a) "How can you intensify the {&c} without the {&b}?"
useful+goal "What else is needed to achieve {this}? What are the pre-requisites or necessary pre-steps?"
harmful "What's the root cause of {this}? How can we avoid that?"
useful+potential "How can we realise the {this} more quickly?"
harmful+potential "How can we avoid, prevent, or delay the {this}?"
replaces(&a=*,&b=*) increases(&b,&c=useful) "Ensure the {&a} also leads to {&c} before the {&b} is replaced"
increases(&a=*,&b=useful) "Find ways for {&b} to make more use of {&a}"
#Mark Burnett.Improve.ReduceHarmful
increases(*,harmful) "How can you prevent the {source} from producing the {destination}."
increases(*,harmful) "Put measures in place to deal with the {destination}."
increases(*,harmful) "Isolate the part of the {source} that is producing the {destination} and remove it."
increases(useful,harmful) "How else could the {source} be accomplished that would not result in the {destination}?"
increases(useful,harmful) "What else could give the benefits of the {source} that would not result in the {destination}?"
decreases+potential(&a=*,&b=useful) "How can the proportion of the {&a} impacting the {&b} be reduced?"
#Mark Burnett.Improve.Simplify
increases(&a=*,&b=useful) increases(&a,&c=harmful) "How can you get the {&a} to intensify the {&b} without causing the {&c}?"
Copy the following rules into a .txt file, place it in your creativity folder and try it out on your own models. (Like all rule sets on this blog this requires you to have upgraded your free Modeller to Southbeach|MyCreativity)
#Mark Burnett.Elaboration
produces(*, useful) "What (additional) resources does the {source} need in order to produce the {destination}?"
produces(*,useful) "What qualities should the {source} exhibit in producing the {destination}?"
consumes(&a=*,&r=resource) produces(&a,&o=useful) "Where is the resource of {&r} used by the {&a} to produce the {&o} obtained from?"
specifies(quality,*) "What is the {source} quality related to?"
produces(,useful) "What is the {destination} used for?"
produces(&a=useful,&o=useful) produces(&o,&r=useful) "What other than the {&a} and {&o} is necessary to produce the {&r}?"
#Mark Burnett.Improve.IncreaseUseful
increases(useful,useful) "Intensify or get more of the {source} so you can have more of the {destination}."
increases(*,useful) "How can you get more of {destination} from {source}?"
increases(*,useful) "How can you increase the ability of {source} to create {destination}?"
increases(*,useful) "How can you intensify the {destination} without relying on the {source}?"
increases(harmful,useful) "Try and work out what part of the {source} is producing the {destination} and minimise the unnecessary parts that are producing the harm"
decreases(*,useful) "Prevent the {source} from impacting the {destination}."
decreases(*,useful) "Isolate the part of the {source} that is impacting the {destination} and remove it."
decreases(harmful,useful) "Convert the {source} into something useful before it has a chance to impact the {destination}"
decreases(*,useful) "Protect the {destination} from the {source}."
increases(useful,useful+potential) "How can you ensure that the {destination} will be an outcome of the {source}?"
increases(&a=*,&c=useful+potential) increases(&b=*,&a) "How can you create the {&c} without the {&b}?"
increases(&a=*,&c=useful+!potential) increases(&b=*,&a) "How can you intensify the {&c} without the {&b}?"
useful+goal "What else is needed to achieve {this}? What are the pre-requisites or necessary pre-steps?"
harmful "What's the root cause of {this}? How can we avoid that?"
useful+potential "How can we realise the {this} more quickly?"
harmful+potential "How can we avoid, prevent, or delay the {this}?"
replaces(&a=*,&b=*) increases(&b,&c=useful) "Ensure the {&a} also leads to {&c} before the {&b} is replaced"
increases(&a=*,&b=useful) "Find ways for {&b} to make more use of {&a}"
#Mark Burnett.Improve.ReduceHarmful
increases(*,harmful) "How can you prevent the {source} from producing the {destination}."
increases(*,harmful) "Put measures in place to deal with the {destination}."
increases(*,harmful) "Isolate the part of the {source} that is producing the {destination} and remove it."
increases(useful,harmful) "How else could the {source} be accomplished that would not result in the {destination}?"
increases(useful,harmful) "What else could give the benefits of the {source} that would not result in the {destination}?"
decreases+potential(&a=*,&b=useful) "How can the proportion of the {&a} impacting the {&b} be reduced?"
#Mark Burnett.Improve.Simplify
increases(&a=*,&b=useful) increases(&a,&c=harmful) "How can you get the {&a} to intensify the {&b} without causing the {&c}?"
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Simple service blueprinting
The grid tool in Southbeach can be used to create swimlanes for simple process mapping, in this case a service blueprint. This allows for the definition of creativity rules associated with swimlanes. Here is a simple set of rules to guide a service blueprinting workshop:
#service blueprint.simple
@evidence "Model the customer action associated with {this}?"
@customer "What does the customer come into contact with as a result of {this}?"
@customer "What happens on-stage (visible to the customer) when the customer action is {this}?"
@customer "After {this} what does the customer do next?"
@onstage "Model the customer action associated with {this}"
@onstage "What happens back-stage (invisibile to the customer) in support of {this}?"
@onstage "What materials or information are needed to achieve {this}?"
@onstage "After {this} what next is visible to the customer?"
@backstage "Model the on-stage activity associated with {this}"
@backstage "What support activities are carried out by other functions - employees & systems - that are necessary for {this}?"
@backstage "After {this} what next is invisible to the customer?"
@support "What does {this} enable us to achieve back-stage?"
@support "What does {this} enable us to achieve on-stage?"
@support "Is there more than {this} required?"
#service blueprint.simple
@evidence "Model the customer action associated with {this}?"
@customer "What does the customer come into contact with as a result of {this}?"
@customer "What happens on-stage (visible to the customer) when the customer action is {this}?"
@customer "After {this} what does the customer do next?"
@onstage "Model the customer action associated with {this}"
@onstage "What happens back-stage (invisibile to the customer) in support of {this}?"
@onstage "What materials or information are needed to achieve {this}?"
@onstage "After {this} what next is visible to the customer?"
@backstage "Model the on-stage activity associated with {this}"
@backstage "What support activities are carried out by other functions - employees & systems - that are necessary for {this}?"
@backstage "After {this} what next is invisible to the customer?"
@support "What does {this} enable us to achieve back-stage?"
@support "What does {this} enable us to achieve on-stage?"
@support "Is there more than {this} required?"
Friday, 16 April 2010
5 Whys +
Here is a simple set of creativity you can use to improve on results from 5 Whys. It works because of the additional questions that examine the necessary and sufficient conditions for a root cause.
#5whys+
* "{this}. Why?"
* "How could we verify that {this} is a root cause?"
*(,) "How sure are we that the cause of {to} is {from}?"
*(,) "Is {from} necessary for {to} to occur?"
*(,) "What else other than {from} could cause {to}?"
*(,) "Is {from} sufficient for {to} to occur?"
*(,) "Ask yourself: If {from} had not been, could {to} have happened?"
* "Will {this} always happen if all attributed causes happen: {inputs}?"
Here is the output generated when you click on block 2, using Laser Extent (MyCreativity):
1. [The alternator is not functioning]. Why?
2. How could we verify that [The alternator is not functioning] is a root cause?
3. Will [The alternator is not functioning] always happen if all attributed causes happen: [The alternator belt is broken]?
4. How sure are we that the cause of [The battery is dead] is [The alternator is not functioning]?
5. Is [The alternator is not functioning] necessary for [The battery is dead] to occur?
6. What else other than [The alternator is not functioning] could cause [The battery is dead]?
7. Is [The alternator is not functioning] sufficient for [The battery is dead] to occur?
8. Ask yourself: If [The alternator is not functioning] had not been, could [The battery is dead] have happened?
9. How sure are we that the cause of [The alternator is not functioning] is [The alternator belt is broken]?
10. Is [The alternator belt is broken] necessary for [The alternator is not functioning] to occur?
11. What else other than [The alternator belt is broken] could cause [The alternator is not functioning]?
12. Is [The alternator belt is broken] sufficient for [The alternator is not functioning] to occur?
13. Ask yourself: If [The alternator belt is broken] had not been, could [The alternator is not functioning] have happened?
#5whys+
* "{this}. Why?"
* "How could we verify that {this} is a root cause?"
*(,) "How sure are we that the cause of {to} is {from}?"
*(,) "Is {from} necessary for {to} to occur?"
*(,) "What else other than {from} could cause {to}?"
*(,) "Is {from} sufficient for {to} to occur?"
*(,) "Ask yourself: If {from} had not been, could {to} have happened?"
* "Will {this} always happen if all attributed causes happen: {inputs}?"
Here is the output generated when you click on block 2, using Laser Extent (MyCreativity):
1. [The alternator is not functioning]. Why?
2. How could we verify that [The alternator is not functioning] is a root cause?
3. Will [The alternator is not functioning] always happen if all attributed causes happen: [The alternator belt is broken]?
4. How sure are we that the cause of [The battery is dead] is [The alternator is not functioning]?
5. Is [The alternator is not functioning] necessary for [The battery is dead] to occur?
6. What else other than [The alternator is not functioning] could cause [The battery is dead]?
7. Is [The alternator is not functioning] sufficient for [The battery is dead] to occur?
8. Ask yourself: If [The alternator is not functioning] had not been, could [The battery is dead] have happened?
9. How sure are we that the cause of [The alternator is not functioning] is [The alternator belt is broken]?
10. Is [The alternator belt is broken] necessary for [The alternator is not functioning] to occur?
11. What else other than [The alternator belt is broken] could cause [The alternator is not functioning]?
12. Is [The alternator belt is broken] sufficient for [The alternator is not functioning] to occur?
13. Ask yourself: If [The alternator belt is broken] had not been, could [The alternator is not functioning] have happened?
Requirements Analysis
Sometimes the simplest creative script can really enhance a workshop. Here, five simple rules are being used to guide the development of a requirements model. The power of this is that by taking the words and inserting them into the questions, there is a far greater response from the workshop attendees. As the model develops, and new questions are asked, new requirements come to light.
#requirements.simple
// simple requirements questions
* "What requirements come to mind when considering {this}?"
* "What assumptions are we making when we say {this}?"
produces(,) "How will we convert {from} into {to}?"
produces(,) "Is {to} sufficient to achieve {from}?"
* "Do we now have all of the information we need? To learn more about {this} who do we need to speak to next?"
#requirements.simple
// simple requirements questions
* "What requirements come to mind when considering {this}?"
* "What assumptions are we making when we say {this}?"
produces(,) "How will we convert {from} into {to}?"
produces(,) "Is {to} sufficient to achieve {from}?"
* "Do we now have all of the information we need? To learn more about {this} who do we need to speak to next?"
Thursday, 11 March 2010
Six Thinking Hats
// Thinking Hats rules for Southbeach Modeller
// Inspired by the work of Edward de Bono
// V05 March 2010
//
// Step 1: Get free Southbeach Modeller www.southbeachinc.com
// Step 2: Upgrade to MyCreativity www.southbeahcinc.com/shop.html
//
// Helps you to remember why a hats workshop is a good idea
#hats.uses
* "Discuss topics"
* "Solve problems"
* "Explore alternatives"
* "Reach decisions"
* "Research, organise and write reports"
* "Brainstorming"
// What does each hat mean?
#hats.definitions
* "White Hat - Information available and needed"
* "Red Hat - Intuition, feelings, and hunches"
* "Black Hat - Cautions and difficulties - Where things might go wrong"
* "Yellow Hat - Values and benefits - Why something might work"
* "Green Hat - Alternatives and creative ideas"
* "Blue Hat - Managing the thinking process"
// Walk around the room asking these questions
#hats.all hats
* "White - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - objective view"
* "Red - what is your gut reaction to {this}? - opinions and feelings"
* "Black - what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"
* "Yellow - what are the benefits of {this}? - positive view"
* "Green - where does {this} take us? are there creative alternatives to {this}? - off the wall ideas"
* "Blue - how should we think about {this}? where can {this} take us? does {this} suggest a big picture?"
// Focus on individual hats
// Turn on the hat you need in the Creativity toolbox of Southbeach Modeller
#hats.white
* "FACTS AND FIGURES - information available and needed"
* "What do we already know about {this}? What are the facts?"
* "Who else knows about {this}? What light can they shed?"
* "Where is {this} used? What does that tell us?"
* "What is the life-cycle of {this}? What did it come from? What does it turn into?"
* "How can we coroborate our hunches about {this}? What evidence is there?"
* "How can we quantify what we know about {this}?"
* "What disagreement is there about {this}? How can we be more objective?"
* "What more do we need to know about {this}?"
* "How can we get the new information about {this} that we need?"
#hats.red
* "FEELINGS - intuition and hunches"
* "What is your immediate reaction to {this}?"
* "Do you like {this}?"
* "What don't you like about {this}?"
* "What are your beliefs about {this}?"
* "How will you respond to {this}?"
#hats.black
* "JUDGEMENTS - cautions and difficulties"
* "Will {this} work for us?"
* "Why can't we do {this} NOW? What should we in preparation for {this}?"
* "What is wrong with {this}? What might cause {this} to break?"
* "What are the risks around {this}? Is {this} safe?"
* "What is {this} in conflict with? - ideals, standards, conventions"
* "How will {this} impact on other activities?"
* "What distractions does {this} create?"
* "Who will prevent, stop or derail {this}?"
#hats.yellow
* "BENEFITS - values and uses - Why something might work"
* "What are the benefits of {this}?"
* "Why should {this} be useful?"
* "How can we apply {this}?"
* "How can we make {this} work better?"
* "What else can we use {this} this for?
* "Where else can {this} be used?"
* "What opportunities does {this} create?"
* "How can we use {this} as a resource?"
* "What could replace {this}?"
#hats.green
* "CREATIVITY - alternatives and new ideas"
* "Who has a new perspective on {this}?"
* "What new ideas does {this} suggest?"
* "Who has a suggestion about {this}?"
* "How does {this} help us?"
* "Can we create something new from {this}?"
* "What resources can be combined with {this}?"
* "Are there alternatives for {this}?"
* "How can {this} be derived or arrived at in a better way?"
#hats.blue
* "MANAGING - thinking about and planning the process"
* "What kind of thinking is required around {this}?"
* "What are the useful and harmful consequences of {this}?"
* "What are the main parts of {this}? - how can we break it down?"
* "What are the inputs to {this}? What are the outputs of {this}?"
* "What resources does {this} require?"
* "Where are we with respect to {this}?"
* "Summarize our view(s) of {this}?"
* "What is the next step around {this}?"
* "How can we control {this} better? What governance or process is needed?
* "Who owns or is responsible for {this}"
* "What factors should be considered when making a decision about {this}?"
* "How can others be made to understand {this} better?"
* "How would your worst enemy view {this}?" Do they have a point?
* "What decision about {this} have we taken?"
* "What plan or actions does {this} prompt?"
// The next section relates to agents placed on a hats grid
// See template
#hats.grid
@white "FACTS AND FIGURES - information available and needed"
@red "FEELINGS - intuition, and hunches"
@black "JUDGEMENTS - cautions and difficulties"
@yellow "BENEFITS - values and uses - Why something might work"
@green "CREATIVITY - alternatives and new ideas"
@blue "MANAGING - thinking about and planning the process"
// Sequences of hats thinking
// Turn on the process you need in the Creativity toolbox in Southbeach Modeller
#hats.process.initial ideas
* "Blue - what are our initial ideas about {this}? does {this} suggest a big picture we need to consider?"
* "White - what are the objective facts and figures around {this}?"
* "Green - be creative - where could {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}?"
* "Repeat Blue - NOW how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} now suggest a NEW big picture we need to consider?"
#hats.process.choosing alternatives
* "Blue - how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} suggest a big picture we need to consider?"
* "White - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - be objective"
* "Yellow - what are the benefits/positives of {this}?"
* "Green - where does {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"
* "(Black) - what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"
* "(Red) - what is your gut reaction to {this}? - opinions and feelings"
#hats.process.identifying solutions
* "Blue - does {this} suggest a solution? does {this} suggest a big picture we need to consider?"
* "White - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - be objective"
* "Black - what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"
* "Green - where does {this} take us? Are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"
* "repeat Blue - NOW how do we need to think about {this}? where are the solutions? does {this} suggest a NEW solution we need to consider?"
#hats.process.quick feedback
* "Blue - how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} suggest a big picture we need to consider?"
* "Black - what are the flaws and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"
* "Green - where does {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"
* "repeat Blue - NOW how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} now suggest a NEW big picture we need to consider?"
#hats.process.stategic planning
* "Blue - how should we plan around {this}? does {this} suggest a strategy we need to consider?"
* "Yellow - what are the stategic advantages around {this}?"
* "Black - will the strategy work? what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"
* "(White) - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - be objective"
* "repeat Blue - NOW how does {this} change our strategy? does {this} now suggest a NEW strategy we need to consider?"
* "Green - where does a strategy around {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"
* "repeat Blue - how should we NOW think about {this} strategically? does {this} suggest a FUTURE strategy we need to consider?"
#hats.process.process improvement
* "Blue - how does {this} figure in the process? does {this} suggest a new process we need to consider?"
* "White (our view) - describe the process around {this}? - be objective"
* "White (other people's views) - how would others describe the process around {this}?"
* "Yellow - what are the benefits/positives of {this} to the process?"
* "Black - what are the flaw and barriers in {this} to the process? - devil's advocate view"
* "(Green) - where does {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"
* "(Red) - what is your gut reaction to {this}? - opinions and feelings"
* "repeat Blue - NOW how do we need to think about {this} in the process? does {this} now suggest a NEW process design?"
#hats.process.solving problems
* "Blue - how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} suggest a problem we need to consider?"
* "White - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - be objective"
* "Green - where does {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"
* "Red - what is your gut reaction to {this}? - opinions and feelings"
* "Yellow - what are the benefits/positives of {this}?"
* "Black - what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"
* "repeat Green - where does {this} take us NOW? are there NEW alternatives to {this}? find other creative ideas"
* "repeat Blue - how do we NOW need to think about {this}? does {this} now suggest a NEW problem we need to consider?"
#hats.process.performance review
* "Blue - how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} suggest a goal we need to consider?"
* "Red - what is your gut reaction to {this}? - opinions and feelings"
* "White - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - be objective"
* "Yellow - what are the benefits/positives of {this}?"
* "Black - what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"
* "(Green) - where does {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"
* "repeat Red - what is your gut reaction to {this} now? - new opinions and feelings"
* "repeat Blue - how do we NOW need to think about {this}? does {this} now suggest a NEW goal we need to consider?"
// Inspired by the work of Edward de Bono
// V05 March 2010
//
// Step 1: Get free Southbeach Modeller www.southbeachinc.com
// Step 2: Upgrade to MyCreativity www.southbeahcinc.com/shop.html
//
// Helps you to remember why a hats workshop is a good idea
#hats.uses
* "Discuss topics"
* "Solve problems"
* "Explore alternatives"
* "Reach decisions"
* "Research, organise and write reports"
* "Brainstorming"
// What does each hat mean?
#hats.definitions
* "White Hat - Information available and needed"
* "Red Hat - Intuition, feelings, and hunches"
* "Black Hat - Cautions and difficulties - Where things might go wrong"
* "Yellow Hat - Values and benefits - Why something might work"
* "Green Hat - Alternatives and creative ideas"
* "Blue Hat - Managing the thinking process"
// Walk around the room asking these questions
#hats.all hats
* "White - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - objective view"
* "Red - what is your gut reaction to {this}? - opinions and feelings"
* "Black - what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"
* "Yellow - what are the benefits of {this}? - positive view"
* "Green - where does {this} take us? are there creative alternatives to {this}? - off the wall ideas"
* "Blue - how should we think about {this}? where can {this} take us? does {this} suggest a big picture?"
// Focus on individual hats
// Turn on the hat you need in the Creativity toolbox of Southbeach Modeller
#hats.white
* "FACTS AND FIGURES - information available and needed"
* "What do we already know about {this}? What are the facts?"
* "Who else knows about {this}? What light can they shed?"
* "Where is {this} used? What does that tell us?"
* "What is the life-cycle of {this}? What did it come from? What does it turn into?"
* "How can we coroborate our hunches about {this}? What evidence is there?"
* "How can we quantify what we know about {this}?"
* "What disagreement is there about {this}? How can we be more objective?"
* "What more do we need to know about {this}?"
* "How can we get the new information about {this} that we need?"
#hats.red
* "FEELINGS - intuition and hunches"
* "What is your immediate reaction to {this}?"
* "Do you like {this}?"
* "What don't you like about {this}?"
* "What are your beliefs about {this}?"
* "How will you respond to {this}?"
#hats.black
* "JUDGEMENTS - cautions and difficulties"
* "Will {this} work for us?"
* "Why can't we do {this} NOW? What should we in preparation for {this}?"
* "What is wrong with {this}? What might cause {this} to break?"
* "What are the risks around {this}? Is {this} safe?"
* "What is {this} in conflict with? - ideals, standards, conventions"
* "How will {this} impact on other activities?"
* "What distractions does {this} create?"
* "Who will prevent, stop or derail {this}?"
#hats.yellow
* "BENEFITS - values and uses - Why something might work"
* "What are the benefits of {this}?"
* "Why should {this} be useful?"
* "How can we apply {this}?"
* "How can we make {this} work better?"
* "What else can we use {this} this for?
* "Where else can {this} be used?"
* "What opportunities does {this} create?"
* "How can we use {this} as a resource?"
* "What could replace {this}?"
#hats.green
* "CREATIVITY - alternatives and new ideas"
* "Who has a new perspective on {this}?"
* "What new ideas does {this} suggest?"
* "Who has a suggestion about {this}?"
* "How does {this} help us?"
* "Can we create something new from {this}?"
* "What resources can be combined with {this}?"
* "Are there alternatives for {this}?"
* "How can {this} be derived or arrived at in a better way?"
#hats.blue
* "MANAGING - thinking about and planning the process"
* "What kind of thinking is required around {this}?"
* "What are the useful and harmful consequences of {this}?"
* "What are the main parts of {this}? - how can we break it down?"
* "What are the inputs to {this}? What are the outputs of {this}?"
* "What resources does {this} require?"
* "Where are we with respect to {this}?"
* "Summarize our view(s) of {this}?"
* "What is the next step around {this}?"
* "How can we control {this} better? What governance or process is needed?
* "Who owns or is responsible for {this}"
* "What factors should be considered when making a decision about {this}?"
* "How can others be made to understand {this} better?"
* "How would your worst enemy view {this}?" Do they have a point?
* "What decision about {this} have we taken?"
* "What plan or actions does {this} prompt?"
// The next section relates to agents placed on a hats grid
// See template
#hats.grid
@white "FACTS AND FIGURES - information available and needed"
@red "FEELINGS - intuition, and hunches"
@black "JUDGEMENTS - cautions and difficulties"
@yellow "BENEFITS - values and uses - Why something might work"
@green "CREATIVITY - alternatives and new ideas"
@blue "MANAGING - thinking about and planning the process"
// Sequences of hats thinking
// Turn on the process you need in the Creativity toolbox in Southbeach Modeller
#hats.process.initial ideas
* "Blue - what are our initial ideas about {this}? does {this} suggest a big picture we need to consider?"
* "White - what are the objective facts and figures around {this}?"
* "Green - be creative - where could {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}?"
* "Repeat Blue - NOW how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} now suggest a NEW big picture we need to consider?"
#hats.process.choosing alternatives
* "Blue - how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} suggest a big picture we need to consider?"
* "White - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - be objective"
* "Yellow - what are the benefits/positives of {this}?"
* "Green - where does {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"
* "(Black) - what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"
* "(Red) - what is your gut reaction to {this}? - opinions and feelings"
#hats.process.identifying solutions
* "Blue - does {this} suggest a solution? does {this} suggest a big picture we need to consider?"
* "White - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - be objective"
* "Black - what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"
* "Green - where does {this} take us? Are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"
* "repeat Blue - NOW how do we need to think about {this}? where are the solutions? does {this} suggest a NEW solution we need to consider?"
#hats.process.quick feedback
* "Blue - how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} suggest a big picture we need to consider?"
* "Black - what are the flaws and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"
* "Green - where does {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"
* "repeat Blue - NOW how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} now suggest a NEW big picture we need to consider?"
#hats.process.stategic planning
* "Blue - how should we plan around {this}? does {this} suggest a strategy we need to consider?"
* "Yellow - what are the stategic advantages around {this}?"
* "Black - will the strategy work? what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"
* "(White) - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - be objective"
* "repeat Blue - NOW how does {this} change our strategy? does {this} now suggest a NEW strategy we need to consider?"
* "Green - where does a strategy around {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"
* "repeat Blue - how should we NOW think about {this} strategically? does {this} suggest a FUTURE strategy we need to consider?"
#hats.process.process improvement
* "Blue - how does {this} figure in the process? does {this} suggest a new process we need to consider?"
* "White (our view) - describe the process around {this}? - be objective"
* "White (other people's views) - how would others describe the process around {this}?"
* "Yellow - what are the benefits/positives of {this} to the process?"
* "Black - what are the flaw and barriers in {this} to the process? - devil's advocate view"
* "(Green) - where does {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"
* "(Red) - what is your gut reaction to {this}? - opinions and feelings"
* "repeat Blue - NOW how do we need to think about {this} in the process? does {this} now suggest a NEW process design?"
#hats.process.solving problems
* "Blue - how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} suggest a problem we need to consider?"
* "White - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - be objective"
* "Green - where does {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"
* "Red - what is your gut reaction to {this}? - opinions and feelings"
* "Yellow - what are the benefits/positives of {this}?"
* "Black - what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"
* "repeat Green - where does {this} take us NOW? are there NEW alternatives to {this}? find other creative ideas"
* "repeat Blue - how do we NOW need to think about {this}? does {this} now suggest a NEW problem we need to consider?"
#hats.process.performance review
* "Blue - how do we need to think about {this}? does {this} suggest a goal we need to consider?"
* "Red - what is your gut reaction to {this}? - opinions and feelings"
* "White - what are the facts and figures around {this}? - be objective"
* "Yellow - what are the benefits/positives of {this}?"
* "Black - what are the flaw and barriers in {this}? - devil's advocate view"
* "(Green) - where does {this} take us? are there alternatives to {this}? be creative - off the wall ideas"
* "repeat Red - what is your gut reaction to {this} now? - new opinions and feelings"
* "repeat Blue - how do we NOW need to think about {this}? does {this} now suggest a NEW goal we need to consider?"
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