How Might We
An exercise intended to help Product Managers explore the challenges and uncertainties about solving the problem their users face.
Introduction
How Might We allows participants to ask speculative questions that give a picture of the challenges that will be addressed during the sprints. This exercise forms a foundation for the sprint as well as identifying common problems and a common understanding of the sprint goal.
Required Materials
Post-its and pens
Or for remote delivery: Using Miro, or a similar service, create one space with 16 Post-its for each person along with an example (e.g. How Might We deliver our classes online?) as well as a large frame for grouping and theming.
Workflow
Individually, on separate Post-its, each person shall write down questions around the project goals or problem to solve. Each question should start with "How Might We..."
Once everyone has written their individual How Might We's, bring all the post-its together and as a group organise them into themes (e.g. accessibility, moving services online, providing digital skills)
Facilitators should help to guide participants to identify where there are intersections in their challenges.
Once there are clear themes and all post-its are categorised (it's okay for some to stand for their own theme), facilitators should set a short amount of time for everyone to dot-vote on the HMWs. Votes should be placed on the HMWs that participants think are the most important to focus on.
Facilitators should vote too and at the same time but should have less dots than Product Managers. We'd suggest a ratio of 3:1 - this can be adapted based on the number of participants and notes.
Collaboration
Taking time to think individually gives each organisation an opportunity to consider the problems their users' face and the challenges of building something which addresses the needs of these users. Once everyone has had the chance to reflect on the questions they each have - coming back together to theme the Post-its gives a clear indication of where commonalities lie between the organisations involved. The theming also offers a shared space for collaborating - this step of moving notes in physical (or online) space brings forth a spirit of collaboration among the minds of participants.
Last updated