Getting to Innovation

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How to Write and Evaluate InnovationChallenge Questions

Notables such as Aristotle (“Well begun is half done”) and educator/philosopher John Dewy (“A problem well-defined is half solved”) have echoed Nobel Prize–winner Herbert Simon’s notion that a well-defined problem is a solved problem. The closer a problem frame approaches a desired goal, the more likely it is to become a solution or, at least, it has the potential to be turned into one.

Instances of this situation often occur when people who are brainstorming potential challenge definitions incorporate solutions within their definitions or challenge statements. Although that scenario generally should be avoided, it actually is quite appropriate when first attempting to frame a challenge. ...