Overcoming challenges and maximizing opportunities are the daily realities of your job

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We provide a systematic process to help you address them. To guide your thinking, we recommend using

the 5Q Framework.

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Q1: What challenge are you addressing? Describe the challenge that you are facing.

• Nature of the challenge or problem

  • At what level is the problem? Is it broad and strategic, or narrow and tactical?

  • Are you solving an existing problem or are you creating something new (e.g. new product development)?

• Are you tacking the “right” problem?

  • Is it defined broadly enough to avoid myopia and allow creativity?  ​    

  • Is it defined narrowly enough to be manageable?     

• Is the problem focused on the customer, or user, or stakeholder?

  • Is it “need-focused”?

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Q2: Where are you now? Why?​ Develop a challenge statement.

• ​Describe the problem

  • Utilize cross-functional insights

  • Involve internal and external stakeholders, including customers

• Frame the problem

  • Frame the problem in a way the invites creative solutions

  • “What if …?”

• Ideate the problem statement / challenge statement

  • Convene a creative session with sole purpose of defining the challenge statement

  • Employ brainstorming techniques.

• Understand the underlying context of the challenge by using a Root-Cause Analysis

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​Q3: Where do you want to be? When? Describe what success looks like.

• Visioning techniques to imagine future scenarios, a minimal viable product, and so forth.​

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Q4: How will you get there? Bridging the gap between the current situation and the desired future.

• ​Devise options (strategies and tactics) to address the challenge.

  • Employ any of several problem-solving techniques

  • For multi-faceted, systemic, multi-functional challenges, consider using Scenario Planning, and Business Simulations (also known as "war games")

• Use prioritization techniques to select the most promising option(s).​

• Use implementation techniques to put the solution in motion.
   

Q5: How are you progressing? Monitor the implementation and take any corrective action.​

• Decide which Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) you will use.

  • Monitor activities, deadlines, and deliverables.

  • Measure results.

  • Using the appropriate leading and lagging indicators.

• What lessons can be learned? How will these lessons impact future projects?​