Step 1: What in the world is going on?

In the last post, I hinted to a system that has “led to incredible discoveries, innovations, and human-centric designs.” So what is it? I’d actually like to bring up 4 approaches. They are listed below roughly in the order that they were introduced to the world. 

1. The Socratic Method
2. The Scientific Method
3. Design for Six Sigma (DMAIC)
4. Design Thinking 

The commonality between all these methods is the sequential Step 1->4 approach they call for. This sequence forces you to consider every angle of whatever is being looked at systematically. I originally was quite surprised to notice just how much they have in common, but I now consider these similarities as proof of the power of this shared approach. In this post, I will only cover step 1 as listed below per method.

• The Socratic Method

Centered on Moral Inquiry, the first step is: “Ask questions”

• The Scientific Method

Centered on Hard Facts, the first step is: “Ask questions”

• Design for Six Sigma (DMAIC)

Centered on process Defects, the first step is: “Define, and Measure”

• Design Thinking 

Centered on Design & Experience, the first step is: “What is”?

Which approach is best will greatly depend on the language of the practitioner or the audience. ie: will people look at you funny if you start talking Socrates? Does Design thinking sound a little cooler and more palatable? You know best!

What matters most though is the actual execution of the process. We tend to lose people when we get too fancy with terminology – occasionally by design but that’s a topic for another day!

So if nothing else, use this post as a prompt to consider the “What is” of a problem you might have, to set judgement aside and gather the data, to figure out the various moving parts, the real stuff, and sometimes the heart stuff — I have to side note again here on the heart stuff….As a “techy” and someone who is only very recently giving emotions the importance they deserve, I recognize that I have to tread lightly on this because the “feely” stuff might get you to click right out of here. I would have too, not that long ago! I’ll just leave it at this: ignore the emotions and you will fight fights u can’t understand. 

But I digress…let’s go back to Step 1:”What is“…

Formulate your issue as best you can, and then ask questions. If you have a team, be inclusive. If you don’t, take a pen/paper and interview yourself and your world, or make use of a friend. Issue no judgment at this point, your role is to observe and document. The end goal here is to just see more, that’s all. This is easier said than done, but do make the time to consider all angles including those that look plain silly, make this exercise a safe space, be open to what might qualify as a “what is“, and you’ll be glad you did!

The web is full of sources on these topics, and the various approaches to tackle this particular step but I encourage you to start where you are, on a simple problem perhaps. Give it time, and use common sense as an initial guide. As you graduate from that, there will be plenty of opportunities to formalize.

Have some thoughts on this? Please do share! if you’d like to hear more, subscribe on the right & the next post will come to you first.

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Therese Karitanyi is MD at Kemura, she is into creating systems and environments that allow big and small genius ideas to come to life 

info@kemuraltd.com