OUTCOMES
A range of ideas that tackle your issue in alternative ways, providing inspiration, new approaches and strategies or solutions.
USING THE TOOL
A great way to create new ideas is to think about the issue from new perspectives. This tool asks you to do this by identifying different organisations or people and then embodying their ways of thinking and doing as you ideate new solutions in this 'alternative world'. Adopting these radically different perspectives can uncover breakthrough ideas.
Concisely write out what problem you are trying to solve.
Consider whose perspective you would like to embody by choosing a mixture of people or organisations that exist in very different domains to your own. Select organisations that have a distinctive approach to what they do and avoid choosing direct competitors.
If you can, spend a little time detailing some of the characteristics of the ways they think or work.
For each 'alternative world' ask yourself: 'How would they solve this issue?', and then answer by rapidly creating six ideas in each world, spending no more than 30 seconds on each idea. As you create these ideas explore the different ways their culture, practice or procedures can be appropriated for your own.
Continue and repeat this for as long as you wish. Then merge, select and prioritise the ideas that offer a new and valuable perspective to your approach.
good sequence
Problem Definition Tools> Alternative Worlds> Concept Capture > 2x2 Matrix
Tips
Try and work with a group of diverse collaborators
Create a safe, fun environment where participants don't fear making mistakes and are encouraged to create lots of wild ideas
Be visual wherever possible
Build on ideas rather than criticise
Stay focussed on the topic
Choose other organisations or people where you have a clear perspective of their culture, practices or procedures
Avoid choosing direct competitors as references
If you find a strong synergy with a particular world it may be worth interviewing and investigating their ways of doing things in more depth to discover other crossover opportunities
To move forward, prioritise the best ideas and see what elements can be merged together
If you need ways to prioritise your statements, try voting or using the evaluation matrix
