What is the best way to prioritize problems for R&D design thinking?

1 Identify the core problem

The first step is to identify the core problem that you are trying to solve, not the symptoms or the solutions. A core problem is the root cause of the pain or frustration that your customers experience, and it is usually related to their goals, needs, or desires. To find the core problem, you need to ask why repeatedly until you reach the underlying reason. For example, if your customers complain that your product is too slow, you need to ask why it is slow, why that matters to them, and what they are trying to achieve with your product.

2 Evaluate the problem

The next step is to evaluate the problem based on its impact, feasibility, and alignment. Impact refers to how much the problem affects your customers and your business, and how much value you can create by solving it. Feasibility refers to how realistic and achievable it is to solve the problem with your available resources, skills, and technology. Alignment refers to how well the problem fits with your vision, mission, and strategy, and how it supports your long-term goals. You can use a simple matrix or a scoring system to rank the problems based on these criteria.

3 Involve stakeholders

The third step is to involve your stakeholders in the prioritization process. Stakeholders are the people who have a direct or indirect interest in the problem and the solution, such as your customers, users, employees, partners, investors, or competitors. You can use various methods to gather their input, such as interviews, surveys, focus groups, workshops, or feedback sessions. By involving stakeholders, you can gain different perspectives, insights, and opinions, as well as validate your assumptions and hypotheses.

4 Define the scope

The final step is to define the scope of the problem that you want to address with R&D design thinking. The scope is the boundary or the limit of the problem, and it helps you to focus on the most essential and relevant aspects of it. To define the scope, you need to specify what is included and what is excluded from the problem, as well as the assumptions and constraints that you have. You can use tools like problem statements, problem frames, or how might we questions to articulate the scope clearly and concisely.

By following these steps, you can prioritize problems for R&D design thinking more effectively and efficiently. You can also revisit and revise your priorities as you learn more about the problem and the solution through the design thinking process.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?