Phase 4: Select

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Enhancement Checklist

You should come into this tool with the small number of ideas that emerged from the Six Thinking Hats analysis.

The Enhancement Checklist guides our thinking to explore a series of questions that are often not asked, nor thoroughly addressed, before people press on to test new ideas. It directs our thinking to consider emotional and people-related issues, the strengths and weaknesses of the idea, systems effects and consequences, and the need for small-scale tests and prototypes. Thinking through such issues early on, before testing an idea, enhances the chances for success.

Exercise

The aim is to thoroughly think through the ideas in order to:

  • Enhance an idea enough to make it attractive to key stakeholders whose support you need in order to take it forward.
  • Further develop an idea in order to get it to the testing phase.
  • Identify any ideas that should not be taken any further because their chances of success or acceptance is too low.

Consider thoroughly each of the following questions, in whatever order makes sense to you, as they apply to the idea you are working on...

The Enhancement Checklist is meant to be taken as a whole. Consider multiple questions at the same time, and be prepared to re-evaluate your work on earlier questions as you go along. When you think you are finished, go through the list one final time to make sure you have not missed anything.

The amount of time required for enhancement depends on the complexity of the idea. You might make it through all of the questions in an hour or two on a simple idea. A more complex idea may need much more time assigned to thinking, exploring and working with others; perhaps spread out over several meetings.

Tips

Do not rush the work of enhancement! Many creative ideas go down in flames in the rush to try them out before they have been thought through properly.

Recall the Innovation Funnel concept and keep in mind that it is okay if the outcome of this process is to recommend that the idea not be taken forward. Such a decision is not a failure of the process of thinking differently; rather, it is successful outcome that indicates that you are managing appropriately the risks inherent in new ideas. However, always maintain the bias that you are striving to take the idea forward, and it is your challenge to find ways to overcome potential objections and weak points. If the idea is not taken forward, remember to capture the learning from the exercise–you will always learn something.

Engage lots of people in this thinking process. You do not have to work it out all alone. For example, if you are not sure who will object and for what reasons, conduct a quick survey or focus group rather than guessing. Test out your ideas with others by simply telling them what you are thinking about doing and asking what they think. In the end, it would be great if, when you are finally ready to test the idea, everyone is saying "Well, it is about time! We have been talking about it enough, let's go!" rather than "You want to do what?!"