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Solution Discovery Guide

Solution Discovery Guide


Explore innovative solutions using the "How Might We" (HMW) framework with AI-powered ideation across 10 different perspectives.


Note: Solution Discovery is available exclusively with the Plus Plan. Upgrade here to unlock this feature.

🎯 What is Solution Discovery?


Solution Discovery uses the proven "How Might We" (HMW) design thinking framework to generate creative solutions to your identified problems. Instead of jumping to the first solution that comes to mind, this systematic approach explores multiple angles and perspectives to uncover innovative opportunities.


🧠 The HMW Framework


"How Might We" questions reframe problems as opportunities for innovation:


Instead of: "The problem is that working parents can't find childcare"

HMW Reframe: "How might we help working parents access reliable childcare when they need it most?"


This subtle shift opens up creative possibilities and encourages divergent thinking.


📊 10 Exploration Perspectives


Value Discovery generates solutions across 10 different HMW perspectives:


mindmap root((Solution Discovery)) How might we solve this differently? How might we eliminate the problem entirely? How might we break this into smaller parts? How might we combine this with other solutions? How might we reverse or invert our approach? How might we use existing resources differently? How might we leverage technology? How might we involve the community? How might we create a systemic solution? How might we make this scalable?

🔍 **Perspective 1: Different Approach**

Focus: Alternative ways to solve the core problem


Question Type: "How might we solve [problem] in a completely different way?"


Example Output:

Instead of finding individual babysitters, how might we create 
shared childcare pods where families rotate hosting duties, 
reducing cost and building community connections?

⚡ **Perspective 2: Problem Elimination**

Focus: Removing the root cause rather than treating symptoms


Question Type: "How might we eliminate the need for [current solution]?"


Example Output:

How might we redesign workplace policies so parents never 
need emergency childcare - through flexible hours, on-site 
care, or predictive scheduling that prevents last-minute changes?

🧩 **Perspective 3: Breaking Into Parts**

Focus: Decomposing the problem into smaller, manageable pieces


Question Type: "How might we address different aspects of [problem] separately?"


Example Output:

Break childcare into: 1) Finding caregivers, 2) Vetting safety, 
3) Booking/scheduling, 4) Payment, 5) Emergency backup. 
Each could be a separate service or solved by different providers.

🔗 **Perspective 4: Combination Solutions**

Focus: Merging with other services or problems


Question Type: "How might we combine this with [other solutions/problems]?"


Example Output:

Combine childcare with meal delivery - caregivers bring 
pre-prepared family dinners, solving two parent pain points 
simultaneously while creating a premium service offering.

🔄 **Perspective 5: Reverse Thinking**

Focus: Inverting assumptions or approaching from opposite direction


Question Type: "How might we reverse [current assumption] or approach this backwards?"


Example Output:

Instead of parents finding caregivers, what if qualified 
caregivers bid on childcare opportunities? Parents post needs, 
caregivers compete with offers, market dynamics drive quality up.

♻️ **Perspective 6: Resource Optimization**

Focus: Using existing resources more effectively


Question Type: "How might we use [existing resources] differently?"


Example Output:

Leverage retired teachers, empty nesters, and stay-at-home 
parents in the community who want part-time work but aren't 
professional nannies - create training/certification program.

🤖 **Perspective 7: Technology Integration**

Focus: Leveraging digital solutions and automation


Question Type: "How might we use [technology] to solve this?"


Example Output:

AI-powered matching that learns from successful bookings, 
IoT monitoring for child safety, blockchain for caregiver 
verification, or VR for parents to remotely check in.

🤝 **Perspective 8: Community Solutions**

Focus: Collective and social approaches


Question Type: "How might we involve the community in solving this?"


Example Output:

Create neighborhood childcare cooperatives where families 
earn credits by providing care and spend credits when they 
need care - builds trust through repeated interactions.

🏗️ **Perspective 9: Systemic Changes**

Focus: Addressing underlying systems and structures


Question Type: "How might we change the system that creates this problem?"


Example Output:

Partner with employers to create industry-wide childcare 
benefits, lobby for policy changes, or create tax incentives 
for emergency childcare - address root causes, not symptoms.

📈 **Perspective 10: Scalable Solutions**

Focus: Building solutions that can grow and expand


Question Type: "How might we make this solution work at scale?"


Example Output:

Create franchise model for neighborhood childcare hubs, 
build platform for caregivers to run their own micro-businesses, 
or develop white-label solution for corporate partnerships.

🚀 Using Solution Discovery


Step 1: Access the Feature


  1. Ensure you have a Plus Plan subscription
  2. Navigate to your idea page with a completed Value Canvas
  3. Scroll to the Solution Discovery section
  4. Click "Discover Solution Ideas"

Step 2: AI Generation Process


The system will:

  1. Analyze your Value Canvas - Understanding your problem, user, and context
  2. Generate 10 HMW questions - One for each perspective
  3. Create detailed solutions - Specific, actionable ideas for each question
  4. Stream results in real-time - Watch as each perspective is explored

Step 3: Review and Refine


Each generated solution includes:

  • HMW question that frames the perspective
  • Detailed solution description with specific implementation ideas
  • Benefits and considerations for that approach
  • Next steps for validation or exploration

✏️ Editing and Iteration


Customizing Solutions


Edit Individual Perspectives:

  • Click on any solution section to edit
  • Modify generated ideas based on your insights
  • Add your own ideas inspired by the AI suggestions

Regenerate Specific Perspectives:

  • Use the regenerate button for individual sections
  • Get fresh ideas when one perspective isn't resonating
  • Combine the best elements from multiple generations

Building on Ideas


Combine Perspectives:

  • Look for connections between different HMW approaches
  • Merge complementary solutions from different perspectives
  • Create hybrid approaches that leverage multiple angles

Add Your Own Perspectives:

  • Use the framework to generate your own HMW questions
  • Explore industry-specific or domain-specific angles
  • Consider cultural or regional variations

💡 Best Practices


Getting High-Quality Solutions


Start with a Strong Value Canvas:

  • Clear problem definition leads to better HMW questions
  • Specific personas result in more targeted solutions
  • Detailed obstacles help identify solution opportunities

Consider Your Resources:

  • Some perspectives may be more feasible given your constraints
  • Technology solutions require different capabilities than community solutions
  • Scale solutions differently based on your stage and goals

Evaluation Framework


Assess Each Solution by:


Impact Potential

  • How effectively does this solve the core problem?
  • Does it address root causes or just symptoms?
  • What's the potential for meaningful improvement?

Feasibility

  • Do you have the resources/skills to implement this?
  • What would you need to make this work?
  • Are there significant barriers to execution?

Differentiation

  • How unique is this approach in your market?
  • Does this create competitive advantages?
  • Would this be hard for competitors to copy?

Scalability

  • Can this solution grow with your business?
  • Does it become more valuable with more users?
  • Are there network effects or economies of scale?

🎯 From Ideas to Action


Prioritization Framework


High Impact + High Feasibility = Immediate Focus

  • Start with solutions you can implement quickly
  • Build momentum with early wins
  • Validate approaches before moving to harder solutions

High Impact + Low Feasibility = Future Vision

  • Keep these as long-term strategic goals
  • Build capabilities needed to make them possible
  • Partner with others who have required resources

Low Impact + High Feasibility = Quick Experiments

  • Try these as low-risk learning opportunities
  • Use to validate assumptions or test markets
  • May discover unexpected value or connections

Validation Planning


For Each Promising Solution:


Create Validation Experiments:

  • How can you test core assumptions quickly?
  • What would prove or disprove this approach?
  • What's the minimum viable version you could try?

Identify Key Metrics:

  • What would success look like for this solution?
  • How would you measure user response?
  • What are the leading indicators of traction?

Plan Resources:

  • What would you need to implement this?
  • Who would you need to partner with?
  • What capabilities would you need to build?

🔍 Advanced Techniques


Cross-Perspective Analysis


Look for Patterns:

  • Which themes appear across multiple perspectives?
  • What underlying principles drive the best solutions?
  • Are there common success factors?

Identify Gaps:

  • What aspects of the problem aren't addressed by any perspective?
  • Are there user needs not covered by current solutions?
  • What assumptions are consistent across all approaches?

Industry-Specific Applications


B2B Solutions:

  • Focus on perspectives that address organizational constraints
  • Consider compliance and integration requirements
  • Emphasize ROI and efficiency gains

Consumer Solutions:

  • Highlight perspectives that improve user experience
  • Consider emotional and social factors
  • Focus on convenience and value perception

Healthcare/Education:

  • Prioritize safety and trust perspectives
  • Consider regulatory and ethical constraints
  • Focus on outcomes and evidence-based approaches

Solution Hybridization


Combine Complementary Approaches:

  • Use technology to enable community solutions
  • Apply systematic thinking to resource optimization
  • Scale successful reverse-thinking approaches

Layer Solutions:

  • Create immediate solutions for urgent needs
  • Build longer-term systemic changes
  • Provide multiple options for different user segments

📊 Measuring Solution Quality


Strong Solution Indicators


Comprehensive Coverage:

  • Solutions address multiple aspects of the problem
  • Different user segments are considered
  • Various implementation approaches are explored

Innovation Level:

  • Ideas go beyond obvious or existing solutions
  • Creative combinations and new approaches emerge
  • Potential for competitive differentiation exists

Actionability:

  • Solutions are specific enough to implement
  • Clear next steps are identified
  • Resource requirements are realistic

Red Flags


Too Generic:

  • Solutions could apply to any problem
  • Lack of specificity to your user or context
  • No unique insight or differentiation

Overly Complex:

  • Solutions require too many components to work
  • Dependencies on external factors you can't control
  • Implementation timeline is unrealistic

Misaligned:

  • Solutions don't actually address the core problem
  • Target different user segments than your canvas
  • Create new problems without solving original ones

🔄 Iterative Improvement


Solution Evolution


First Round: Broad Exploration

  • Generate ideas across all 10 perspectives
  • Focus on quantity and diversity
  • Suspend judgment and embrace wild ideas

Second Round: Focused Development

  • Select 3-5 most promising directions
  • Regenerate with more specific constraints
  • Add detail and implementation specifics

Third Round: Validation Planning

  • Design experiments for top solutions
  • Create prototypes or test scenarios
  • Plan resource requirements and timelines

Learning Integration


Update Your Canvas:

  • New solution insights may reveal additional problems
  • Better understanding of user needs may refine personas
  • Feasibility analysis may uncover new obstacles

Refine Your Strategy:

  • Solution approaches may suggest different business models
  • Implementation requirements may change resource needs
  • Market positioning may shift based on unique approaches

🛠️ Integration with Other Features


With Business Model Canvas


Revenue Model Insights:

  • Different solutions suggest different monetization approaches
  • Community solutions may favor subscription models
  • Technology solutions may enable transaction-based revenue

Channel Strategy:

  • Solution approaches often suggest distribution channels
  • Community solutions may require different marketing approaches
  • Systemic solutions may need policy or partnership channels

With AI Agents


Expert Validation:

  • Use agents to evaluate solution feasibility
  • Get expert perspective on implementation challenges
  • Validate market potential of different approaches

Deep Dive Analysis:

  • Discuss specific solutions with relevant agents
  • Get tactical advice on implementation
  • Identify risks and mitigation strategies

With Next Actions


Implementation Planning:

  • Use solution insights to inform validation activities
  • Create specific prompts for testing solution concepts
  • Plan user interviews around solution preferences


Next Steps:


Last updated: January 2025

Source: Value Discovery Platform