Preliminary Questions

From Mycoted

A to Z of Creativity Techniques

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Preliminary Questions is a technique that is essentially a development of Five W's and H, a checklist that is recommended for selective use.

Who

• Is affected by the problem?
• Else has it?
• Says it is a problem?
• Would like a solution?
• Would not like a solution?
• Could prevent a solution?
• Need it solved more than you?

When

• Does it occur?
• Doesn’t it occur?
• Did it appear?
• Will it disappear?
• Do other people see your problem as a problem?
• Don’t other people see your problem as a problem?
• Is the solution needed?
• Might it occur again?
• Will it get worse?
• Will it get better?

Where

• Where is it most noticeable?
• Is it least noticeable?
• Else does it exist?
• Is the best place to begin looking for solutions?
• Does it fit in the larger scheme of things?

Why

• Is this situation a problem?
• Do you want to solve it?
• Don’t you want to solve it?
• Doesn’t it go away?
• Would someone else want to solve it?
• Wouldn’t someone else want to solve it?
• Is it easy to solve?
• Is it hard to solve?

What

• Might change about?
• Are its main weaknesses?
• Do you like about it?
• Do you dislike about it?
• Can be changed about it?
• Can’t be changed?
• Do you know about it?
• Don’t you know about it?
• Will it be like if it is solved?
• Will it be like if it isn’t solved?
• Have you done in the past with similar problems?
• Principles underlie it?
• Values underlie it?
• Problem elements are related to one another?
• Assumptions are you making about it?
• Seems to be most important about it?
• Seems to be least important about it?
• Are the sub-problems?
• Are your major objectives in solving it?
• Else do you need to know?