The Power of Problem Exploration

Innovation often requires a different approach to problem-solving, particularly if a radical solution is required. This article advocates for focusing on problem exploration, which involves differentiating between recognizing a problem (problem identification) and making it operational and workable (problem definition and redefinition). Exploring the nature and dimensions of a problem can lead to novel insights and valuable new directions for problem-solving. Trusting intuition, prototyping to explore, looking with new eyes, broadcast searching, and creating crisis conditions are some of the strategies that can help to develop a "discovery orientation." The article references key examples like the Apollo 13 mission and artists' creative process to illustrate the power of exploring problems.