FRMAING QUESTIONS
"If you can't find an answer, then your questions are wrong."
THE POWER OF FRAMING QUESTIONS
There’s a saying, “If you can’t find the right answer, then your question is wrong.” Finding the right solution starts with asking the right questions. My approach to problem-solving always begins with framing questions.
Framing questions helps uncover creative solutions by looking at problems from different angles and defining a clear scope of action. I learned this skill in graduate school in 2013 and have been honing it ever since.
Understanding the full context of a problem and redefining it in your own terms is key. Like Einstein, who often reframed problems to gain deeper insight, I focus on reshaping challenges to grasp their true nature.
SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES
Defining Research Boundaries
Framing questions begins at the ideation stage. By generating relevant questions and prioritizing them, you can define what needs to be researched. Since product or service development requires iterative processes of exploring and narrowing down ideas, framing questions becomes essential for setting boundaries and determining where to focus within the available time and resources.
VALUE-DRIVEN APPROACHES
Approaching a Problem from Different Perspectives
Framing questions enables me to explore problems from new perspectives, rather than relying on assumptions or existing knowledge, which may be flawed. It’s about digging deeper into the "why" behind a problem.
Framing questions are open-ended. By gaining insights from the answers, you can determine the next steps and develop further questions, allowing you to expand the research area and gradually narrow down toward the solution.
LEARNING STRUCTURE
Creating a Shared Learning Structure in a Team
Framing questions acts as a roadmap to ensure all team members are aligned. By collaborating to generate and prioritize questions, the team can collectively map out the path toward finding a solution. Each member shares their findings and develops further questions to explore.
Framing questions also helps team members bring relevant information to their tasks, fostering a shared goal and informed decision-making. Overall, it’s a crucial structure for aligning the team toward a common objective.