101 Design Methods

mode 2KNOW CONTEXT

In the “Sense Intent” mode, we focus on the trends and changes that happen around us so that we can sense an initial direction for our innovation. In the Know Context mode, we move to gain a full understanding of the surrounding conditions in which those changes happen. This is what we call the context. It is in this changing context that our innovation offerings (products, services, experiences) need to work to be successful. The question is: How do we understand this context well enough for us to be confident about our innovations? How do we study the components in the context such as products, services, organizations, competitors, markets, industries, governments, policies, environments, and technologies? How do we study their relationships? How do we understand our current offering’s performance in the market relative to the competition? How do we sense our competitor’s evolving strategies? How do we diagnose the conditions of our own organization? How strong are our relations with our industry partners? How do we find out what effects government policies and regulations have on our innovation? All these and similar questions are good to ask when we are in this mode. Overall, the goal is to gain as many insights as possible about the context, get prepared to confidently explore opportunities, and begin to see directions for the future.

KNOW CONTEXT ...