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DECISION & PROBLEM SOLVING
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INNOVATION & DESIGN
FRAMEWORK
THINK
| Step | Action | |
|---|---|---|
1 T | Terminology | List and clarify the key terms involved in the problem. Align with stakeholders on definitions, even if they diverge from standard dictionaries. |
2 H | Higher-level concepts | Elevate each term to its higher-level concept or category. Build ontologies, mind maps, or concept maps to extract the core abstractions. Keep it as simple as possible. |
3 I | Inspirations | Identify and explore analogous problems and their solutions from diverse disciplines. Consider biomimicry, opposite concepts, and fundamental principles from unrelated fields. |
4 N | New solutions | Tailor the inspirations to fit the specific problem or goal. Evaluate acceptability and feasibility of each candidate solution. |
5 K | Kickstart | Plan and initiate implementation. Favour agile approaches and quick prototyping to test assumptions early. |
EXAMPLE
WHY IT MATTERS
When describing a problem or goal, people often use vague terms without a precise understanding of their meanings and implications, which can hinder effective collaboration and conceptual thinking, ultimately limiting the ability to create innovative solutions.
The THINK framework relies on straightforward steps designed to enhance clarity and promote explicit conceptualization.
By fostering analogical thinking, it supports idea generation for the design of solutions specific to the problem under consideration.
WHAT TO DO
Start by aligning with stakeholders, if any, to establish a problem statement. Define each key term, even if the definitions diverge from standard dictionaries (T).
Create ontologies, mind maps, or concept maps to extract core concepts (H). Keep it as simple as possible.
Draw inspiration (I) from diverse disciplines. Consider biomimicry, opposite concepts, general and fundamental principles.
Tailor your inspirations to fit the specific problem or goal under consideration (N). Evaluate acceptability and feasibility.
Consider agile approaches and quick prototyping (K).
NOTES
Seesoc & Co’s THINK framework can be used in reverse by exploring use cases (I) of a solution generalized at step 2 (H).
GenAI tools and models like ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini or Mistral can be used with adequate prompting techniques to leverage the THINK framework. These tools can help generating definitions, efficiently exploring analogies, proposing solutions and supporting the creation of actionable plans
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Newell, A., & Simon, H. A. (1972). Human Problem Solving. Prentice-Hall.
Altshuller, G. S. (1984). Creativity as an Exact Science: The Theory of the Solution of Inventive Problems. Gordon and Breach Science Publishers.
Gentner, D., Holyoak, K. J., & Kokinov, B. N. (2001). The Analogical Mind: Perspectives from Cognitive Science. MIT Press.
Dahl, D. W., & Moreau, P. (2002). The influence and value of analogical thinking during new product ideation. Journal of Marketing Research, 39(1), 47-60.
CITE
Sissoko, T. (2024). Innovate and solve problems with the THINK framework. Seesoc & Co.
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