The 30 Methods at a Glance

Every problem-solving method from Well, That Didn't Work, organised by which question they answer

Q1: Am I even going the right way?
1.Define the Real Problem Ch 2
2.Separate Symptoms from Root Causes Ch 2
3.Understand What Itch Is Being Scratched Ch 2
4.Reframe from Different Viewpoints Ch 2
5.Prototype the Question, Not the Answer Ch 2
6.The Outsider Test Ch 2
7.Ask What Constraints Are Real vs Assumed Ch 3
8.Use Inversion Ch 3
9.Use Time as a Variable Ch 3
Q2: Do I need a different road?
10.First-Principles Thinking Ch 4
11.Break the Problem into Smaller Parts Ch 4
12.Make the Invisible Visible Ch 4
13.Map the System, Not the Symptom Ch 4
14.Borrow the Adjacent Expert Ch 5
15.Shrink the Arena Ch 5
16.Look for Patterns from Similar Problems Ch 5
17.Identify Trade-offs Early Ch 6
18.Distinguish Must-Haves from Nice-to-Haves Ch 6
19.Consider Second-Order Effects Ch 6
20.Start with the End in Mind Ch 7
21.Work Backwards from the Desired Outcome Ch 7
22.Look for the Simplest Viable Solution Ch 7
23.Solve for Reversibility Ch 7
24.The 10/10/10 Rule Ch 7
25.Pre-Mortem the Solution Ch 8
26.The Outsider Test — Team Version Ch 8
Q3: Do I just need to start driving?
27.Test Assumptions Quickly Ch 10
28.Solve for the User, Not the System Ch 10
29.Avoid Paving the Cow Path Ch 10
30.Follow the Energy Ch 1, 10
31.Iterate, Don't Perfect First Go Ch 11
Pick the method that fits the moment. You don't use all of them on every problem — you pick the ones that fit.
Well, That Didn't Work — Drew Bruce | The Practical Thinker | thepracticalthinker.com