Hypothesis Generation
Hypothesis Generation is a collaborative exercise to surface and document existing assumptions and insights about user needs and behaviors. It helps teams align on a shared understanding and generate initial ideas for service improvements or new features.
Use this method at the beginning of a project or design sprint to leverage existing knowledge, identify knowledge gaps, and create a foundation for further research and ideation.
Solves: Lack of shared understanding among team members regarding user needs and potential solutions; jumping to solutions without a solid foundation of knowledge.
- 1
Step 1: (5 min) Briefly introduce the concept of hypothesis generation and its purpose in the project.
- 2
Step 2: (15 min) Individually, have each participant write down their assumptions and insights related to user needs and behaviors on sticky notes (one idea per note).
- 3
Step 3: (20 min) Facilitate a group discussion where participants share their hypotheses, clustering similar ideas and identifying any conflicting viewpoints.
- 4
Step 4: (10 min) As a group, refine and prioritize the hypotheses, focusing on those that are most critical to the project's success.
- Encourage participants to be specific and avoid vague statements.
- Create a safe space for sharing ideas, emphasizing that there are no wrong answers.
- Actively listen and summarize key points to ensure everyone is on the same page.
- Use a 'How Might We' format to frame the hypotheses as opportunities for innovation.
- Conduct a 'Fact vs. Assumption' exercise to differentiate between verified information and educated guesses.