Assumption Storming
List and challenge all assumptions about the problem before generating solutions.
Explanation
Before brainstorming solutions, teams should explicitly identify and question their assumptions about the problem, users, constraints, and possible solutions. Many breakthrough ideas come from challenging fundamental assumptions that everyone takes for granted. This technique prevents solutions from being limited by unexamined beliefs about what's possible or necessary.
Real-World Example
E-commerce checkout: Assumptions: 'Users must create accounts,' 'Payment happens at end,' 'One item per transaction,' 'Desktop and mobile same.' Challenge each: Guest checkout, pay-as-you-browse, bulk buying, mobile-first design. Challenging assumptions reveals new solution spaces like social checkout and progressive purchasing.
How to Apply
List all assumptions about: the problem, the users, the constraints, current solutions, requirements. For each assumption ask: 'Is this necessarily true?' 'What if the opposite were true?' 'What would happen if we ignored this constraint?' Use challenged assumptions as springboards for unconventional solutions. Some constraints are real, but many are self-imposed.