breakthrough thinking begins by asking the right questions

PRESENTATION:Ask the Right Questions

John D. Hipsleyjhipsley@igc.org

Phone: 408-744-9004

Based on the book by Dr. Gerald Nadler

& William J. Chandon

www.breakthroughthinking.com

Learn to Ask the Right Questions for Powerful Results

Based upon asking the “Smart Questions”

Among the primary skills of education should be to know

how to frame a question

Ask Smart Questions

PROBLEM SOLUTIONBREAKTHROUGHS

Asking the Smart Questions

1) Introducing the Smart Questions Approach (SQA)

2) SQA Phase 1: Getting People Involved

3) SQA Phase 2: Selecting a Focus Purpose

4) SQA Phase 3: Creating a Future (Target) Solution

5) SQA Phase 4: Building a Living Solution

6) The Power of SQA in Organizations & Society

AGENDA

1) Aligns with the three foundation questions

2) Expands possibilities looking to future

3) Creates new metaphors and information sources

4) Feels interesting or adds to perceptiveness of others

5) Sparks creative responses or other smart questions

6) Brings people together with commitment

How do we recognize a smart question?

1) The 3 Foundation Questions2) The 4 Phases of SQA3) The 3 creativity questions for

each process phase

An Overview of the Smart Questions Approach (SQA)

Smart Questions Approach (SQA)

3 Foundation Questions

1Uniqueness

2Purposeful Information

3Systems

4 Repeating Process Questions

IPeople

Involvement

IIExpanding Purposes

IIIFuture

Solution

IVLiving

Solution

SQA = Smart Questions Approach (Text)

3 Creative Questions

AList

BOrganize

CDecide

Smart Questions Approach (SQA)

3 Foundation Questions

Uniqueness Purposeful Information Systems

4 Repeating Process Questions

People Involvement

Expanding Purposes

Future Solution

Living Solution

3 Creative Questions

SQA = Smart Questions Approach (Icons)

UNIQUENESS

How can you treat

this problem

initially as unique?

INFORMATION

What

purposeful information do you need in order to

create living solutions?

SYSTEMS

How can you develop possible

solutions as systems?

The Three Foundation Questions

Accept UNIQUENESS of situation

Seek purposeful INFORMATION

Design SYSTEM solutions

The 3 Foundation Questions (Actions)

The Four Question Phases

PHASE

1

• PEOPLE INVOLVEMENT• Who should get involved to help assure

we are working on the right problem?

PHASE

2

• PURPOSES• What is the purpose (focus) we are trying to achieve?

PHASE

3

• FUTURE SOLUTION• What is the best future (target) solution for

achieving the purposes we select?

PHASE

4

• LIVING SOLUTION• What is the living solution for now that contains

continual improvement toward the future solution?

Represent all key STAKEHOLDERS

Expand purposes to find focus PURPOSES

Model (target) ideal future SOLUTION

Continue to IMPROVE

The 4 Question Phases (Actions)

• Ask: What are as many ideas as possible for determining (who to involve, purposes to achieve, ideals future solution, or living solutions)?

1: List

• Ask: How can we organize all the ideas into 3 to 5 major alternative options?

• Sort, refine, combine, and adapt disconnected ideas into patterns

2: Organize • Ask: Which option most effectively and creatively meets the important factors for this selection?

• Begin to draw conclusions that lead toward action

3: Decide

Three Step Process for Asking Questions

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

1.UNIQUE

2.DATA

3.SYSTEMS

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd4

1. People

2. Purposes

3.Future

Solution

4. Living

Solution

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd

1. People

2. Purposes

3.Future

Solution

4. Living

Solution 4

1. People

2. Purposes

3.Future

Solution

4. Living

Solution

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd

4

1. People

2. Purposes

3.Future

Solution

4. Living

Solution

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd

1. List

2. Organize

3. Decide

1. People

2. Purposes

3.Future

Solution

4. Living

Solution

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd4 List Organize Decide

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd4 List Organize Decide4

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd4 List Organize Decide4

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd4 List Organize DecidePeople

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd4 List Organize Decide4

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd4 List Organize DecidePurposes

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd4 List Organize Decide4

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd4 List Organize DecideFuture

Solution

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd4 List Organize DecideFuture

Solution

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd4 List Organize DecideLiving

Solution

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd4 List Organize DecideLiving

Solution

IiiSystem

IIData

Methodology for a Phased Approach

PHASEStart

PHASEEnd

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8PHASES

Phases of Methodology

Planning to plan

Install plan for results

Architect preliminary solution

Develop functional component solutions

Integrate components into solution detailing

Plan roll-out of the solution

Install the roll-out of the results

Plan the next change to better the solution

Presentation by John D. Hipsley with

acknowledgement to the original creators & authors

Dr. Gerald Nadler and William Chandon

www.BreakthroughThinking.com

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT