“How might we” questions are a quick way to shift teams to think outside the box. They use strategic and generative wording to translate problems into questions that enable individuals and teams to ask more precise, provocative, and open-ended, questions. These questions transform problems into opportunities and opportunities into ideas. “Proponents of this increasingly popular practice say it’s surprisingly effective — and that it can be seen as a testament to the power of language in helping to spark creative thinking and freewheeling collaboration.” (Berger, 2012).
Name of Method
Brief description
Type/Level of Method
Challenges
How might we questions are an extremely useful tool to generate new ideas to address known problems.
Problem, Purpose and Needs
How might we questions are an extremely useful tool to generate new ideas to address known problems. That said, it is important for those using the tool to keep in mind who they mean when they say “we”. Moreover, it is important to consider whether those using the tool can really speak for the “we” they are attempting to consider. In this regard, augment the “How might we” questions with “prompts that decenter the “we” from the people in the room” to include others who are not present. Consider using these prompts in addition to your “how might we” question:
“WSW: Who should we talk to? This prompt explicitly recognizes that there are people outside the room who should be considered and consulted.
WAW: Why are we doing this? This prompt forces some level of introspection for team members. It is still somewhat internally focused, but makes designers examine their true motives.” (Wang, 2021).
Relevance to Climate Neutrality
Challenges
Thematic Areas
Impact Goals
Issue Complexity
Issue Polarisation
Enabling Condition
Essential Considerations for Commissioning Authorities
This tool is extremely useful for ideation.
Engagement Journey
Governance Models and Approaches
Enabling Conditions
Democratic Purpose
Spectrum of participation
Communication Channels
Actors and Stakeholder Relationships
The activity can be done with a transition team, but is best done with stakeholders who have a close proximity to or lived experience relative to an issue.
Participant Numbers
Actors and Stakeholders
Participant Recruitment
Interaction between participants
Format
Social Innovation Development Stage
Scope
Time commitment
A “how might we” question session can be run in, approximately, one-three hours. It is useful to give time to prepare and revise the framing and language of the question(s) as well as time to listen and combine ideas that are generated.
The amount of time necessary can be adjusted to fit the needs of participants.
Resources and Investments
Typical duration
Resources and Investments
In-house
Step by Step
Each participant writes down one individual How-might-we (HMW) on a post-it.
The individual HMW’s are presented to the rest of the group, and the group decides which one to use. It is also possible to combine two or more HMW’s into one.
Each group gets a “How Might We” canvas and answers the three questions.
Concretize the How might we by defining the target group and the value of answering the question and solving the challenge
Evaluation
At the end of the “how might we session” participants can vote on ideas or chart them relative to their comparative “feasibility” and “impact”. What “feasibility” and “impact” mean in each context should be decided by participants before charting the ideas.
Connecting Methods
Charting Impact & Feasibility, Prototyping.
Flexibility and Adaptability
The tool should be translated into the local language. If needed, additional features and elements can be added.
Existing Guidelines and Best Practice
References and Further Resources
Design kit. ideo.org. Accessed July 1, 2022. https://www.designkit.org/methods/3.
Berger, Warren. “The Secret Phrase Top Innovators Use.” Harvard Business Review. Harvard Business Review, September 7, 2012. https://hbr.org/2012/09/the-secret-phrase-top-innovato.
Wang, Tricia. “Design Thinking's Most Popular Strategy Is BS.” Fast Company. Fast Company, June 28, 2021. https://www.fastcompany.com/90649969/the-most-popular-design-thinking-strategy-is-bs.
Lebowitz, Shana. “Google and Facebook Still Use the 3-Word Question That Saved a $225 Billion Company in the 1970s.” Business Insider. Business Insider, July 19, 2017. https://www.businessinsider.com/how-might-we-questions-2017-7.
Brown, Tim. n.d. Change by Design. New York: Collins Business.
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