Next Tools
Pain Hypo Generation
Uncover the hidden drivers and emotional realities shaping your constituents' experiences.
Use it now for free.
Your Strategic Partner in Idea Validation
Assess the true potential of your ideas
The Pain Hypo Generation tool is a comprehensive set of exercises designed to help teams deeply understand the pain points and challenges faced by their constituents or target customers. By systematically exploring the root causes, consequences, and emotional impacts of these problems, teams can develop well-substantiated pain hypotheses to guide their solutions and interventions. The tool takes a structured approach, guiding participants through a series of drills that build upon each other, ultimately culminating in the formulation of compelling pain hypotheses tailored to specific constituent groups.
Uncover Hidden Drivers
Surface the unexpected anchors and rockets that could make or break your success. The DPAR drill reveals the gaps between your current reality and your boldest aspirations.
Give Voice to Emotions
Empathize with your constituents on a deeper level by identifying the specific pains and feelings that your solutions must address. The Feel My Pain drill brings the human element to the forefront.
Follow the Root Causes
Visualize the interconnected web of primary pains, consequences, and foundational issues through the Pain Tree drill. Unlock the systemic changes required for lasting impact.
Ruthlessly prioritize the pains that demand your fullest attention
Sizing the prevalence, severity, and consequences of each pain point allows you to focus your efforts where you can drive the greatest change. The Painsizer drill surfaces your most critical opportunities.
Your Strategic Partner in Idea Validation
Assess the true potential of your ideas
- Cross-functional team of stakeholders
- Constituent insights (research, interviews, etc.)
- Whiteboard or digital collaboration space
- Start with the Matters Most Drill
- Identify the key constituents whose success is crucial to your goals
- Prioritize the most important and overlooked constituents through voting
- Explore the Current vs. Aspirational State with DPAR
- Define the "Predictable Path" - the current reality and its issues
- Envision the transformative "Bold Path" you aim to achieve
- Uncover the "Anchors" holding you back and the potential "Rockets" for change
- Tap into Emotional Pains with Feel My Pain
- Specify the constituent and situation you'll focus on
- Have participants identify and vote on the feelings/pains experienced
- Build empathy and surface the human element of the challenges
- Visualize Root Causes with the Pain Tree
- Map the primary pains as the trunk of the tree
- Branch out to identify the consequences stemming from those pains
- Dig deep to uncover the foundational root causes as the tree's roots
- Prioritize High-Impact Pains with Painsizer
- Quantify the prevalence, severity, and consequences of each pain point
- Rank the relative potential impact to focus on the most critical issues
- Synthesize Insights into a Pain Hypothesis
- Distill the key problem the constituent faces, its root causes, and consequences
- Craft a concise, evidence-based pain statement to guide solution development
Drills included in this Next Tool
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Feel My Pain
Move Fast
5.0 (2)
When to Use This Drill • When aiming to shift the focus from merely functional or transactional issues to the emotional and personal impact on individuals. • During sessions, you seek more profound understanding and empathy towards constituents affected by a specific problem or challenge. • Gather insights to guide interventions and solutions from an emotional and human-centric perspective. Drill Objectives • Emphasize the emotional and personal impacts of a problem on the constituents. • Gain insights into the feelings and emotions experienced due to problems, tensions, or frictions. • Lay the groundwork for subsequent drills, such as the Pain Tree Drill, by providing a more emotional lens for problem-solving. Helpful Inputs • Previous research, testimonials, or feedback regarding the emotional impacts of the problem on the constituents. • Anecdotal experiences or stories from individuals directly affected by the issue. • Observations or insights from those close to the constituents (e.g., family members, colleagues).
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DPAR
Be Bold
unrated (0)
The DPAR (Deflection Point Anchors and Rockets) Drill is a strategic exercise designed to explore obstacles (Anchors) and accelerators (Rockets) in the journey from the current state (Predictable Path) to the aspirational state (Bold Path). It helps participants take stock of the present and envision a bold future, identifying what might stand in the way and how to overcome those barriers. When to Use This Drill • When seeking to understand the factors that hinder progress and the enablers that can propel the organization forward. • During strategic planning or problem-solving sessions to chart a course from the current state to a desired future state. • To foster a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in achieving organizational goals. Recommended For • Strategic Clarity: Providing a clear roadmap from the current state to the desired future state. • Change Management: Identifying obstacles to change and strategies to overcome them. • Innovation Barriers: Uncovering barriers to innovation and finding ways to promote creativity. • Resource Optimization: Understanding how to best allocate resources to support the bold path. • Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging various stakeholders in the process of defining the bold path and identifying the means to achieve it. • Risk Identification: Highlighting potential risks and developing strategies to mitigate them. • Goal Alignment: Ensuring that organizational goals are aligned with the bold path and supported by the necessary resources. Drill Objectives • To identify and understand the Anchors that keep the organization on the Predictable Path. • To discover and leverage the Rockets that can propel the organization toward the Bold Path. • To create a shared understanding and commitment to the journey from the current state to the aspirational future state. Useful Inputs • Insights into the current state of the organization and the challenges it faces. • A clear vision of the aspirational future state and the impact desired.
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Pain Tree
Move Fast
5.0 (1)
When to Use This Drill • When aiming to understand the root causes of a specific problem or challenge. • During the early stages of problem-solving sessions, to gain a comprehensive perspective of the issue at hand. • Identifying potential areas for intervention or solutions by profoundly understanding the foundational pains and their consequences. Drill Objectives • Dive deep into the underlying causes of a specific problem. • Visualize the connections between primary pains, their consequences, and their root causes. • Foster a comprehensive understanding among the team regarding the challenge. Helpful Inputs • Previous research or data on the problem in question. • Feedback or testimonials from those affected by the problem. • Insights from experts or stakeholders familiar with the challenge. • Historical context or background on the issue.
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Painsizer
Move Fast
unrated (0)
The Painsizer Drill helps teams to systematically analyze, measure, and prioritize the pain points of different constituents affected by specific problems. By sizing and ranking each pain, the drill enables teams to gain a deeper understanding of the relative impact, prevalence, and consequences of each pain point, providing a basis for prioritizing actions. When to Use This Drill • When seeking to prioritize problems by their impact on different groups or constituents. • When aiming to understand which problems present the greatest opportunities for impactful solutions. • During the early phases of problem discovery or solution development to align on priority issues. Recommended For • Strategic Prioritization: Teams aiming to identify high-impact areas for resource allocation. • Customer Insight: Projects focused on constituent pain points to drive solution relevance. • Problem Discovery: Initiatives that require a clear understanding of which issues are most pressing. Drill Objectives • Identify the primary constituents affected by specific problems. • Understand and link pain points to their underlying causes. • Quantify the prevalence, severity, and consequences of these pain points. • Establish a prioritized list of problems based on their potential impact. Helpful Inputs • A clear list of known problems or pain points faced by constituents. • Initial insights or data on how different groups are impacted. • Contextual understanding of the broader issues affecting the constituents (e.g., market trends, social challenges, operational constraints).
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Pain Hypo
Move Fast
unrated (0)
Description The Pain Hypo Drill is a strategic tool to articulate and validate pain hypotheses for various constituents. It assesses specific pains’ prevalence, severity, and consequences to guide decision-making on potential innovation opportunities. When to Use This Drill Utilize this drill when you need to explore which problems and pains might matter most to a given constituent—and why. It is particularly useful when pursuing a new opportunity or refining the focus of ongoing projects. Recommended For • Leaders and teams in strategic planning • Innovation managers evaluating new opportunities • Teams defining solution requirements Drill Objectives • To articulate pain points for target constituents • To validate the significance of these pain points through a structured evaluation process Useful Inputs • Constituent profiles and prior research • Existing feedback or data on constituent challenges • Insights from previous drills, such as the Strategic x Urgent Drill or Feel My Pain Drill
Crystallize
Compelling Hypotheses
Synthesize your insights into a concise, hypothesis-driven problem statement with the Pain Hypo drill. This sets the stage for developing solutions uniquely tailored to your constituents' true needs.
Use Pain Hypo GenerationWhy Use the Pain Hypo Generation Tool?
This systematic methodology ensures you deeply understand the experiences of your key constituents - not just on a functional level, but by getting to the heart of their emotional and systemic pains.
By building this comprehensive empathy, you can develop solutions that truly resonate and catalyze meaningful change.
Stop guessing at problems and start crafting targeted interventions grounded in the realities faced by the people you serve
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Feel My Pain
Practice
Move Fast
Allocated time
15 mins
Modality
Team
Rating
5.0 (2)
When to use
- When aiming to shift the focus from merely functional or transactional issues to the emotional and personal impact on individuals.
- During sessions, you seek more profound understanding and empathy towards constituents affected by a specific problem or challenge.
- Gather insights to guide interventions and solutions from an emotional and human-centric perspective.
Drill Objectives
- Emphasize the emotional and personal impacts of a problem on the constituents.
- Gain insights into the feelings and emotions experienced due to problems, tensions, or frictions.
- Lay the groundwork for subsequent drills, such as the Pain Tree Drill, by providing a more emotional lens for problem-solving.
Helpful Inputs
- Previous research, testimonials, or feedback regarding the emotional impacts of the problem on the constituents.
- Anecdotal experiences or stories from individuals directly affected by the issue.
- Observations or insights from those close to the constituents (e.g., family members, colleagues).
Outcomes
- A list of pains or feelings experienced by the constituent in a specific situation.
- A prioritized set of pains can be further analyzed in subsequent drills, such as the Pain Tree Drill.
- Enhanced empathy and understanding among the participants regarding the emotional landscape of the problem.
Before the session, prepare your prompt. Define clearly:
- The constituent you’re focusing on.
- The specific situation in which they might be experiencing these pains. For instance, How might a vulnerable child (constituent) feel when their parent loses their job (situation)?
- Present the prompt to the participants.
- Ask them to review a pre-prepared list of potential pains or feelings.
- Then, have them + vote on the ones they believe the constituent might feel in the described situation.
Step 3. Transition to the Pain Tree Drill
Create a Safe Space. To get genuine insights, create an environment where participants feel safe sharing their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment is crucial. Reiterate that all opinions are valid, and the goal is to gain a holistic understanding of the problem.
Using Third-Person Perspective. For those who find it hard to talk about feelings, suggest they speak in the third person. Instead of saying, “I think they might feel...,” invite participants to say, “One might feel...” This slight change can make it easier for some participants to express themselves.
Reference Real-life Scenarios. Sharing anecdotes, testimonials, or real-life stories of individuals facing the issue to help anchor the discussion and make it more relatable. This can provide context, making the exercise less abstract and more connected to real-world challenges.
Diversity in Discussion. Encourage participants from different backgrounds, roles, or departments to share their perspectives. This diversity can offer a richer understanding of the emotional landscape associated with the problem.
Remember, the goal is to tap into the emotional aspects of challenges, which can often provide a more straightforward path to genuine, impactful solutions.
Helpful AI Prompts
AI, can you provide examples of emotional impacts related to similar problems in different contexts?
AI, based on the situation described, what are common feelings or emotions that individuals in such circumstances might experience?
AI, are there any documented testimonials or stories that can shed light on the emotional toll of this problem?
AI, can you help correlate the identified pains with potential root causes or systemic issues?
Rating
5.0 (2)
Leave your rating
Greg Galle
2023-01-20 20:40:02 UTC
I suppose it is not that surprising that many of us struggle to describe how difference challenges make us feel. This drills provides a robust list of words to help fill in the gaps in our feeling vocabulary. Because negative emotions triggered by friction, tension, stress, and difficulty they are super useful clues about problems that are worth paying attention to and that represent high-impact innovation opportunities.
Maria Gabriela Moncada
2023-02-20 17:59:41 UTC
This is an empathy drill. You can understand the different parts of a company.. their interests and literally their pains
DPAR
Practice
Be Bold
Allocated time
45 mins
Modality
Group
Rating
unrated (0)
When to use
When to Use This Drill
- When seeking to understand the factors that hinder progress and the enablers that can propel the organization forward.
- During strategic planning or problem-solving sessions to chart a course from the current state to a desired future state.
- To foster a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in achieving organizational goals.
- Strategic Clarity: Providing a clear roadmap from the current state to the desired future state.
- Change Management: Identifying obstacles to change and strategies to overcome them.
- Innovation Barriers: Uncovering barriers to innovation and finding ways to promote creativity.
- Resource Optimization: Understanding how to best allocate resources to support the bold path.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging various stakeholders in the process of defining the bold path and identifying the means to achieve it.
- Risk Identification: Highlighting potential risks and developing strategies to mitigate them.
- Goal Alignment: Ensuring that organizational goals are aligned with the bold path and supported by the necessary resources.
Drill Objectives
- To identify and understand the Anchors that keep the organization on the Predictable Path.
- To discover and leverage the Rockets that can propel the organization toward the Bold Path.
- To create a shared understanding and commitment to the journey from the current state to the aspirational future state.
- Insights into the current state of the organization and the challenges it faces.
- A clear vision of the aspirational future state and the impact desired.
Outcomes
- A comprehensive understanding of the obstacles and enablers in the journey from the Predictable Path to the Bold Path.
- Identification of the most critical Anchors to address and the most powerful Rockets to leverage.
- A roadmap for achieving the aspirational future state.
Ask participants to describe the current state of things (the good, the bad, and the ugly) on the Predictable Path section.
Step 2. Envision the Bold Path
Ask participants to describe the aspirational state of things (how they want things to be) on the Bold Path section.
Step 3. Identify Anchors
Ask participants to identify the Anchors—mindsets, behaviors, policies, practices, technologies, etc.—that keep constituents from achieving their envisioned Bold Path.
Step 4. Discover Rockets
Ask participants to identify Rockets—mindsets, behaviors, policies, practices, technologies, etc.—that might enable constituents to achieve the envisioned Bold Path.
Step 5. Vote on Priorities
Ask participants to vote on the three most problematic Predictable Path descriptions, daunting Anchors, powerful Rockets, and aspirational Bold Path descriptions.
Step 6. Cluster for Insights
Ask participants to cluster the vote-getting items into categories (e.g., Leadership, Finance, Marketing, Technology, Talent) and identify which clusters represent the greatest opportunity for positive change.
- Encourage participants to be candid about the current challenges and ambitious in defining the Bold Path.
- Use visual aids, such as a large wall space or a virtual whiteboard, to map out the Predictable Path and Bold Path.
- Foster a collaborative atmosphere where all participants feel comfortable sharing their insights and ideas.
- “AI, can you summarize the main obstacles identified so far?”
- “AI, based on the current state described, are there any potential enablers we might have overlooked?”
- “AI, can you highlight common themes or concerns among the obstacles and enablers mentioned?”
- “AI, are there any industry-specific obstacles typically faced in similar journeys?”
- “AI, based on the vision for the Bold Path, are there any risks or opportunities we should focus on?”
When to use the Anchors & Rockets Drill
How to introduce the Anchors & Rockets Drill
Tips for facilitating the Anchors & Rockets Drill
When to use the Deflection Point Drill
How to introduce the Deflection Point Drill
Tips for facilitating the Deflection Point Drill
When to use the Anchors & Rockets Drill
How to introduce the Anchors & Rockets Drill
Tips for facilitating the Anchors & Rockets Drill
When to use the Deflection Point Drill
How to introduce the Deflection Point Drill
Tips for facilitating the Deflection Point Drill
Pain Tree
Practice
Move Fast
Allocated time
15 mins
Modality
Team
Rating
5.0 (1)
When to use
- When aiming to understand the root causes of a specific problem or challenge.
- During the early stages of problem-solving sessions, to gain a comprehensive perspective of the issue at hand.
- Identifying potential areas for intervention or solutions by profoundly understanding the foundational pains and their consequences.
Drill Objectives
- Dive deep into the underlying causes of a specific problem.
- Visualize the connections between primary pains, their consequences, and their root causes.
- Foster a comprehensive understanding among the team regarding the challenge.
Helpful Inputs
- Previous research or data on the problem in question.
- Feedback or testimonials from those affected by the problem.
- Insights from experts or stakeholders familiar with the challenge.
- Historical context or background on the issue.
Outcomes
- A visual representation (tree diagram) maps out the primary pains, consequences, and root causes.
- A collective understanding among participants about the depth and intricacy of the problem.
- Identification of potential areas where intervention or solutions can be most effective.
Begin by explaining the purpose of the drill—to uncover and visualize the primary pains, their consequences, and the foundational root causes.
Step 2. Identify the Primary Pains
Discuss and define the significant pains you assume or know the constituent is experiencing. Place these pains on the trunk of the tree.
Step 3. Branch Out to Consequences
From the primary pains, identify the consequences of the constituent experiencing those pains. These consequences will form the leaves and branches of the tree, stemming from the main trunk.
Step 4. Dive Deep to Root Causes
Identify foundational reasons or root cause problems that result in the pains and their consequences. These will be the roots of your tree, providing the most profound insights.
Step 5. Visualize and Connect
Draw or map the connections between primary pains, their consequences, and root causes, crafting a comprehensive Pain Tree.
Ensure participants from varied backgrounds or departments contribute, providing a multi-faceted understanding of the problem.
Be Specific
Encourage participants to be precise and detailed in identifying causes and consequences. Broad or vague points can dilute the effectiveness of the drill.
Question Assumptions
Always question and challenge assumptions. Just because something is widely accepted doesn’t mean it’s a root cause.
Helpful AI Prompts
“AI, can you provide a quick summary or background on our main problem?”
“AI, based on existing data, what are the most commonly identified consequences or repercussions of this problem?”
“AI, can you help categorize these identified issues into primary pains, consequences, and root causes?”
“AI, are there any other global or industry-specific instances of this problem, and how were they addressed?”
“AI, based on the pain points identified, can you suggest potential areas for intervention?”
Rating
5.0 (1)
Leave your rating
Maria Gabriela Moncada
2023-02-20 19:48:08 UTC
This is an activity that makes you think about the consequences and roots of a problem. This helps you define what the problem is.
Painsizer
Practice
Move Fast
Allocated time
45 mins
Modality
Group
Rating
unrated (0)
When to use
- When seeking to prioritize problems by their impact on different groups or constituents.
- When aiming to understand which problems present the greatest opportunities for impactful solutions.
- During the early phases of problem discovery or solution development to align on priority issues.
Recommended For
- Strategic Prioritization: Teams aiming to identify high-impact areas for resource allocation.
- Customer Insight: Projects focused on constituent pain points to drive solution relevance.
- Problem Discovery: Initiatives that require a clear understanding of which issues are most pressing.
Drill Objectives
- Identify the primary constituents affected by specific problems.
- Understand and link pain points to their underlying causes.
- Quantify the prevalence, severity, and consequences of these pain points.
- Establish a prioritized list of problems based on their potential impact.
Helpful Inputs
- A clear list of known problems or pain points faced by constituents.
- Initial insights or data on how different groups are impacted.
- Contextual understanding of the broader issues affecting the constituents (e.g., market trends, social challenges, operational constraints).
Outcomes
- A prioritized understanding of pain points by constituent group.
- Clear quantification of each pain’s prevalence, severity, and consequences.
- A prioritized list of problems, guiding focus on the highest-impact areas.
Explain the drill’s purpose: to assess and prioritize pain points based on their impact on specific constituents.
Ask participants to list the different roles or groups affected by the problems being discussed. This could include customers, employees, partners, or other stakeholders.
For each constituent group, have participants describe the specific pain points they experience. Link each pain to potential problems causing it.
Assess how widespread each problem is across the constituent group using a T-shirt sizing system:
- Small: A few constituents are impacted.
- Medium: A moderate portion of the group is affected.
- Large: The majority of the group is impacted.
Step 5. Determine Severity.
Evaluate how severe each pain or problem is for the constituents:
- Small: Minor disruption or inconvenience.
- Medium: Noticeable pain but not critical.
- Large: Significant impact on the constituent’s well-being or performance.
Step 6. Evaluate Consequences.
Consider the potential consequences of each problem on the organization or constituents:
- Small: Minimal long-term effects.
- Medium: Moderate consequences that may have residual effects.
- Large: Major, lasting impact with broad implications.
Step 7. Rank Overall Impact.
Rank the impact of each problem relative to the others to finalize a prioritized list.
Illustrate with Scenarios: Providing examples can help participants better understand the sizing criteria. For example:
- Severity: Consider a problem with a high severity, such as severe anxiety caused by extreme events (Size: Large).
- Prevalence: For a problem impacting only a small subset, like a niche technical issue, consider it (Size: Small).
- Consequences: Major consequences might include risks like financial loss, environmental damage, or reputational harm (Size: Large).
- Foster Discussion: Encourage dialogue if participants disagree on sizing. Move items, discuss, and adjust as needed to reach consensus.
Helpful AI Prompts
- “What factors contribute to the severity of each pain point?”
- “How might we estimate the prevalence of these issues among our constituents?”
- “What potential long-term impacts could these pain points have on our constituents?”
Example: An organization is analyzing pain points related to customer service delays.
Constituent: Online Customers
Pain Point: Frustration with delayed response times.
- Prevalence: Large (affects a significant portion of customers).
- Severity: Medium (frustrating but does not critically impact service).
- Consequences: Medium (could lead to customer churn if not addressed).
Pain Hypo
Practice
Move Fast
Allocated time
20 mins
Modality
Team
Rating
unrated (0)
When to use
- Leaders and teams in strategic planning
- Innovation managers evaluating new opportunities
- Teams defining solution requirements
Drill Objectives
- To articulate pain points for target constituents
- To validate the significance of these pain points through a structured evaluation process
- Constituent profiles and prior research
- Existing feedback or data on constituent challenges
- Insights from previous drills, such as the Strategic x Urgent Drill or Feel My Pain Drill
Outcomes
- A list of constituent pain points for validation
- Prioritized pain hypotheses based on their strategic impact and urgency
- Clear guidance on which opportunities are worth pursuing
Explain its purpose and importance in the innovation process.
Step 2. Complete Pain Hypo Worksheets or Posters
For each constituent:
- We believe that: [Identify constituent]
- Has a: [Describe their pain or problem]
- Which leads to: [Describe consequences]
Step 3. Score each Pain Hypothesis
Use the following scoring rubric:
Prevalence of Pain
- Large (3) >75% affected
- Medium (2) ~50% affected
- Small (1) <25% affected
- Large (3) = Extremely painful and debilitating
- Medium (2) = Very painful, cannot be ignored, but can be managed
- Small (1) = Annoying but can be ignored
- Large (3) = Extremely costly, presents an existential risk
- Medium (2) = Very costly, not sustainable long-term
- Small (1) = Annoying but can be borne
Step 4. Sum the points across the three categories.
Share with the group to gather insights and refine understanding.
Step 7. Prioritize or Deprioritize Hypotheses
Apply Color-Coded Thresholds:
- Red (1.0-2.0): Do not pursue the opportunity
- Yellow (2.1-3.5): Explore pain and problem further
- Green (3.6-5.0): Strongly consider pursuing
- Encourage diverse and inclusive participation to capture a broad spectrum of insights.
- Ensure clarity in the articulation of pain points to accurately assess their impact.
- Use insights from this drill to feed into subsequent strategic discussions or innovation planning sessions.
Helpful AI Prompts
- “Based on the scores, which pain points should be prioritized and why?”
- “Can AI suggest additional data or research that might influence our understanding of these pain points?”
- “How do these pain points align with our strategic goals and the needs of our constituents?”
When to use the Drill
How to introduce the Drill
Tips for facilitating the Drill