I love cheat sheets... pages, charts, process flow, lists that chop complex ideas into small chunks.

The following is adapted from a design process presented in the endnotes of Seth Godin's book "Free Prize Inside."

This works extremely well for problem solving, product development, and strategy planning.

Define the Problem

• Define the problem
• Envision the end state (know what victory looks like)
• Define the approach by which victory can be achieved
• Incite support and then action

Innovate

• Seek insight to inform the prototyping of the solution
• Prototype potential solutions
• Delineate the touch choices
• Enable the team to work as a team

Generating Value

• Choose the best solution, then activate it
• Make sure people know about your solution
• Sell the solution
• Rapidly learn and "tack" (make adjustments) based on your success and failures

Use this as a guide to solving your next business challenge...

Many of us experience less than expected results because we forget the important influencing/champion steps. These make all the difference:

• Enable the team to work as a team,
  
• Make sure people know about your solution, and
  
• Sell the solution.