HMW: Turning Problems into Possibilities

We introduce the concept of "How Might We" (HMW) questions as a powerful tool for innovation.

The first episode, "The Three-Word Revolution," explores the historical origins of HMW questions, tracing their development from Procter & Gamble in the 1970s, through academic roots with Sidney Parnes, to their institutionalisation by IDEO and their widespread adoption by companies like Google and Airbnb.

It highlights how the words "How," "Might," and "We" collectively foster optimism, defer judgment, and encourage collaboration.

The second episode, "Anatomy of a How Might We Question," then offers a practical guide to crafting effective HMW questions, introducing the "Goldilocks Principle" to explain why questions must be neither too broad nor too narrow.

It demonstrates how to refine questions by focusing on specific user needs and employing positive, optimistic language, concluding with a four-point litmus test to assess the quality of an HMW question.

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