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Criterion
How Might We
Innovation
How Might We
Paper illustration of the Lotus Blossom working structure.
Innovation
Lotus Blossom
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for Reverse Brainstorming
Innovation
Reverse Brainstorming
Purposedifferent
With a stuck problem carrying many implicit assumptions, the method translates observations into open, workable questions. It sharpens the problem frame without pre-thinking the solution, turning frustration or fuzziness into a search space with clear direction.When a central question feels too large, the method breaks it into neighboring topic fields with their own depth of ideation. It holds structure and openness at the same time, so adjacent perspectives don't get lost. This grows an idea space out of a core problem.ATAM helps teams weigh architecture decisions when quality goals compete. The team considers business goals, stakeholder expectations, and technical decisions together. The evaluation shows which risks need further investigation.For persistent errors or blockages, the method shifts the view to the opposite of the desired effect. It exposes the mechanics of failure and makes hidden causes easier to grasp. This makes improvement more concrete and the problem clearer.
Complexitydifferent
LowLowHighLow
Timedifferent
30–45 min45-90 minSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope30-60 min
Participantsdifferent
1-103-10Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders3-12
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
HMW Questions, Challenge Framing, Idea PromptsLotus Diagram, Idea Themes, ShortlistPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsReverse Ideas, Risk Themes, Solution Ideas
Tagsno overlap
FramingOpportunityIdeationQuestions
BrainstormingIdeationCreativityDivergenceWorkshop
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
BrainstormingIdeationCreativityRisk
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