In the realm of modern business challenges, unstructured problems reign supreme. Whether you’re aiming to grow a fledgling enterprise or expand an existing one, the crux lies in identifying the problem or opportunity area. This is where frameworks come into play – they provide a fresh perspective, helping you comprehend your predicament in a novel way.
Before you can unleash a torrent of brilliant ideas, prototypes, tests, and launches, you must first understand and frame your problem in an approachable manner. At gravitytank, we meticulously craft one or more frameworks during the initial phase of every project we undertake. Remarkably, these frameworks often outlive the projects themselves, serving as enduring guideposts.
Demystifying Frameworks and Their Necessity
A framework, at its core, is the fundamental structure that underpins something. It’s a constellation of ideas or facts that lend support to a particular endeavor. In the context of business problems, a framework establishes the basic structure that lends focus and reinforcement to the challenge you’re striving to overcome.
But why is this necessary? Doesn’t the project’s goal inherently provide a frame for solving it? In a word, no.
Business problems are inherently unstructured, often referred to as “wicked problems.” They encompass a multitude of variables and interdependent factors. Solutions aren’t neatly categorized as right or wrong – they exist on a spectrum ranging from bad to good to better.
Escaping the Textbook Trap
From our formative years, we’ve been conditioned to solve textbook problems. Our educational system, for the most part, presents problems in a structured manner. A textbook chapter introduces one or two new concepts, illustrates their applications, and provides a set of similar problems for practice.
Little did we know how easy we had it!
Granted, some business problems are indeed textbook problems. Operating an existing business, for instance – you gather data, identify the levers to pull, and make the necessary adjustments.
However, business problems aimed at innovation, growth, or serving customers in novel ways are undoubtedly wicked problems. This is precisely why you need a framework – it provides the structure and guidance to navigate these intricate challenges.
Conducting Research: The Cornerstone of Your Framework
A framework is a compendium of ideas and facts pertaining to your project. But where do these ideas and facts originate? They emerge from the research and immersion you undertake within your problem domain. Here’s how to approach this crucial step:
- Interview leaders within your organization to grasp their capabilities, the company’s direction, and their perspectives on the problem at hand.
- Spend time with your customers, understanding their experiences, what works well for them, and what doesn’t.
- Delve into the context of the problem: explore other solutions, technologies, industry dynamics, and trends.
The information and data collected through research serve as the raw materials for crafting a meaningful and useful framework. Don’t skip this step! Generating new insights about your problem is crucial for developing relevant and powerful frameworks.
Identifying Categories: The Foundation of Your Framework
So, what constitutes the basic content of a framework? In its simplest form, the foundation is a list of important categories.
You create these categories by analyzing the data you collected during your research phase.
Often, your framework will revolve around the customer and their needs. However, it could also focus on industry structure, the structure of an existing service, or a major trend like the sharing economy.
