Method guideInnovation

Rolestorming

A practical method guide: clarify prerequisites and materials, understand the complete process, and look up outputs, pitfalls, and stop criteria.

ComplexityLow

Time30-60 min

Participants3-12

FormatWorkshop

MaturityEstablished

Plan Rolestorming

Prerequisite

What needs to be finished first

Complete firstBounded subject

The scope and purpose of Rolestorming are stated as a concrete question.

Without scope, role-based idea portfolio becomes arbitrary.

Complete firstAccess to relevant perspectives

Problem statement, research-based role profiles, ideation rules and domain decision makers are available.

Without these perspectives, central claims in role-based idea portfolio remain unsupported.

Preparation

What needs to be ready before start

Materials

Problem statement, research-based role profiles, ideation rules, shared workspace, source links, and decision log.

People / roles

Facilitator · 4–8 participants · research owner

Pre-read

Collect Problem statement, research-based role profiles, ideation rules in advance and mark open assumptions.

Time needed

45–60 minutes

Setup

Prepare time-bounded perspective shift with a role brief and subsequent synthesis visibly and calibrate assessment terms before starting.

Core question

The one question this method answers

Which options become visible when we view the problem from other evidenced roles?

Flow

Phases with goal, actions, output and pitfall

Participants temporarily adopt a persona or stakeholder role and state its goals, knowledge, and constraints. Ideas remain marked as perspective hypotheses.

role-based idea portfolio

Fictional worked example

time-bounded perspective shift with a role brief and subsequent synthesis as a precise working structure with a fictional example.

Role

Goal · knowledge · constraint

Reviewer: 40 cases daily, audit duty.

Evidence

Research source · open assumption

Seven interviews; time pressure confirmed.

Idea

Option from perspective

Automatically flag evidence changes.

Validation

Question · method · owner

Does highlighting shorten review? Usability test.

MindTools: Rolestorming

1
Choose roles
Choose roles
Goal
Produce role set so the core question “Which options become visible when we view the problem from other evidenced roles?” can be answered with stronger support.
Inputs for this step
- Problem statement
- research-based role profiles
- ideation rules
Actions
- Derive relevant perspectives from research and the decision.
- Record source, rationale, and open uncertainty directly in role set.
Output
role set
role set · source · uncertainty · next decision
Quality check
Is every role relevant and evidenced?
Pitfall
Stereotypes replace research or other roles are caricatured. Ground role briefs in evidence, separate observation from assumption, and agree respectful boundaries.
Timing: 10–20 minutes
2
Brief roles
Brief roles
Goal
Produce role briefs so the core question “Which options become visible when we view the problem from other evidenced roles?” can be answered with stronger support.
Inputs for this step
- role set
- research-based role profiles
- ideation rules
Actions
- Clarify goal, knowledge, constraints, and assumptions per role.
- Record source, rationale, and open uncertainty directly in role briefs.
Output
role briefs
role briefs · source · uncertainty · next decision
Quality check
Do briefs avoid stereotypes?
Pitfall
Stereotypes replace research or other roles are caricatured. Ground role briefs in evidence, separate observation from assumption, and agree respectful boundaries.
Timing: 10–20 minutes
3
Ideate in role
Ideate in role
Goal
Produce role ideas so the core question “Which options become visible when we view the problem from other evidenced roles?” can be answered with stronger support.
Inputs for this step
- role briefs
- research-based role profiles
- ideation rules
Actions
- Generate options from each role and mark provenance.
- Record source, rationale, and open uncertainty directly in role ideas.
Output
role ideas
role ideas · source · uncertainty · next decision
Quality check
Is the perspective traceable?
Pitfall
Stereotypes replace research or other roles are caricatured. Ground role briefs in evidence, separate observation from assumption, and agree respectful boundaries.
Timing: 10–20 minutes
4
Synthesis
Synthesis
Goal
Produce idea portfolio so the core question “Which options become visible when we view the problem from other evidenced roles?” can be answered with stronger support.
Inputs for this step
- role ideas
- research-based role profiles
- ideation rules
Actions
- Cluster ideas, preserve tensions, and plan validation.
- Record source, rationale, and open uncertainty directly in idea portfolio.
Output
idea portfolio
idea portfolio · source · uncertainty · next decision
Quality check
Are assumptions marked for testing?
Pitfall
Stereotypes replace research or other roles are caricatured. Ground role briefs in evidence, separate observation from assumption, and agree respectful boundaries.
Timing: 10–20 minutes

Artifact

What comes out at the end

Sketch: what the artifact looks like

Rolestorming · Generate Ideas from Other PerspectivesLook at a challenge through roles or personas to loosen your own thinking patterns and translate ideas back

Form

Versioned role-based idea portfolio with date, sources, owners, and next review.

Versioning / ownership

Retain date, source, assumption state, and decision for every version of role-based idea portfolio.

Tool alternatives

role-based idea portfolio as board or document
Source and evidence register
Decision and action log

rolestorming-working-template.md

Plan Rolestorming around its domain steps and the concrete decision question.

Rolestorming: Worksheet

Question

To be confirmed

Desired outcome

To be confirmed

Scope

Full workshop Time: 45–60 minutes

Complete this worksheet on paper or in your own document during the work.

Preparation for this scope

Method setup

Materials: Problem statement, research-based role profiles, ideation rules, shared workspace, source links, and decision log.
Roles: Facilitator · 4–8 participants · research owner
Advance information: Collect Problem statement, research-based role profiles, ideation rules in advance and mark open assumptions.
Overall time needed: 45–60 minutes
Setup: Prepare time-bounded perspective shift with a role brief and subsequent synthesis visibly and calibrate assessment terms before starting.

Prepare for the work steps

Choose roles: Choose roles

Problem statement
research-based role profiles
ideation rules

Brief roles: Brief roles

role set
research-based role profiles
ideation rules

Ideate in role: Ideate in role

role briefs
research-based role profiles
ideation rules

Synthesis: Synthesis

role ideas
research-based role profiles
ideation rules

role-based idea portfolio

Role

Goal · knowledge · constraint

...

Evidence

Research source · open assumption

...

Idea

Option from perspective

...

Validation

Question · method · owner

...

MindTools: Rolestorming

Choose roles: Choose roles

Expected artifact: role set

role set · source · uncertainty · next decision

Entry:

...

Is every role relevant and evidenced?

Brief roles: Brief roles

Expected artifact: role briefs

role briefs · source · uncertainty · next decision

Entry:

...

Do briefs avoid stereotypes?

Ideate in role: Ideate in role

Expected artifact: role ideas

role ideas · source · uncertainty · next decision

Entry:

...

Is the perspective traceable?

Synthesis: Synthesis

Expected artifact: idea portfolio

idea portfolio · source · uncertainty · next decision

Entry:

...

Are assumptions marked for testing?

Open questions and next steps

...

Method guide: https://methodatlas.meierhoff-systems.de/en/methods/rolestorming/run-sheet

Example output

Concrete filled scenario, fictional example

Fictional example for orientation. Counts and timings describe this case and are not universal requirements.

rolestorming-beispiel.md

Concrete filled scenario, fictional example

Applicant role: goal is rapid feedback; constraint is limited domain language. Idea: status explains missing evidence in plain language. Reviewer role: goal is auditable decisions; constraint is 40 cases daily. Idea: automatically flag evidence changes. Both ideas are then checked with research.

Pitfalls

Recognize symptoms and steer against them

Quick overview, the full text is in the matching phase in the flow

Choose rolesStereotypes replace research or other roles are caricatured.View in phase
Brief rolesStereotypes replace research or other roles are caricatured.View in phase
Ideate in roleStereotypes replace research or other roles are caricatured.View in phase
SynthesisStereotypes replace research or other roles are caricatured.View in phase

Stop criteria

When to pause, resolve prerequisites, or choose another approach

role-based idea portfolio answers the core question with traceable evidence or explicitly marked uncertainty.

Owners, next actions, and review dates are named for open points.

Where to go next?

Decision Making

Impact Filter

Sharpens the most promising role-based idea into a concrete next step weighed by impact and risk.

Paper illustration of an eight-panel idea sheet with varied sketches beside a timer set to eight minutes.

Innovation

Crazy 8s

Sketches the most promising ideas from the portfolio in more concrete form.

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