Understand Phase Question
Storming
A design and innovation technique that focuses on generating questions rather than ideas in the early phases of a project. The method turns your key facts into a series of HMW questions that enables the reimagining and reframing of the challenge.
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When would you use Question Storming?
Question storming is best used when a team is prematurely moving from problems to solutions. This happens at the outset of most projects / initiatives.
Here’s where Question Storming can be a difference maker:
- You are in the early stages of product development and you need to identify new perspectives and possibilities
- You need to build team alignment during a strategic planning session
- You need participants to question assumptions and risks behind a new concept
How does Question Storming work?
- 1
Select a relevant starter question or topic
- 2
Generate an expansive array of questions
- 3
Refine, group and share the questions
- 4
Discuss the questions within the group
- 5
Select the most compelling questions to deeper explore
Download the full Question Storming guide
Get access to instructions, templates, a case study, and more
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Deliberate Innovation Question Storming Tool Guide
Top Fact Finding Tips
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Quantity over Quality – Quantity begets quality in the long-run. Diverge on the questions. Focus on authoring and at a later point editing. -
Defer Judgment – Don’t judge the questions until later. -
Avoid Answering Questions – Our tendency is to try to answer questions as soon as we pose them. Hold off on trying to answer, or solve, the question now. -
Avoid Questions with Answers Embedded – Try to avoid asking questions that include the idea inside the question. (e.g., How might we make a smoothie that hides the taste of vegetables?) -
Laddering – Build off your previous HMW question to prompt your next question. Use that to frame your next question. -
Provocativeness – The questions should be increasingly more surprising and provocative as you go along.
More Question Storming Tips & Stories
Storytelling is at the heart of our teaching and is essential for understanding new concepts. Here are some short stories and tips to continue to bring this tool to life.
Additional Understanding Articles & Resources
How to Use Generative AI as Your Questionstorming Thought Partner
Great ideas stem from great questions when problem solving. But we often skip the hard work of producing great questions and jump right to the fun part of producing ideas.
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The Curiosity Box: A Solution to the Recurring Cycle of Ennui
“Shut off your devices!” I had reached my boiling point. My 10-year-old son was blithely staring at his phone, while simultaneously playing on his Xbox....
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Is Your Company Led by “Goalkeepers” or “Strikers”
“Attack wins you games, defense wins you titles.” The legendary coach of Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson...
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