Defining the problem is half the battle.

From the words of Charles F. Kettering (19th-century inventor)

The market and the environment have changed so much! I just don’t know which way to turn…

I suppose I’ll just have to go along with what the investors say, won’t I…?
I’ve realised that I seem to be worrying too much about what other people think…

In today’s business world, there is hardly anything that is unrelated to solving social issues.

The business you run is all about ‘solving someone’s problem somewhere’.

How can you and the resources around you be utilised to resolve this?

How original is that idea?

Are you simply going through the motions, thinking you’re doing the right thing?

By simplifying the structure, formulating hypotheses and testing them,

Please identify ‘the issues you really need to tackle’.

The inquiry-based method*I have developed will certainly be of use to you.

Representative of the Inquiry Intelligence Centre / President of Kobe Graduate School of Information Science and Technology / Author of *New Technologies for Problem Solving* and *Social Entrepreneurship from Scratch*

Toshiki Sumitani

*TANKYU METHOD® is a registered trademark of S&P Co., Ltd., of which Toshiki Tankyu is the representative director.

The "inquiry-based method" for generating creative solutions

The Inquiry Method is a series of steps that uses an ‘Inquiry Chart’—a single sheet that provides a simple overview of an idea—to organise the elements necessary for that idea to succeed, formulate hypotheses regarding its core value, test them, and put them into practice.

First, describe your problem statement in the Exploration Chart and tentatively identify the value proposition that serves as a solution to it. Next, list the various elements required to realise that value proposition. Then, based on these hypotheses, conduct research and interviews with stakeholders involved in value creation.

Successful ideas are organically integrated as a whole, starting from a clear problem definition, whereas many unsuccessful ideas lack this sense of cohesion. By continuously refining the content of the exploration chart whilst testing hypotheses, you can pave the way for a successful project.

Because it’s simple

Powerful

By focusing on the core issue—namely, what problem you really want to solve—you’ll find it easier to stay on track.
As you write, you can reflect on your own and your team’s intrinsic motivation.
It can be widely applied to everything from large organisations to sole traders and the development of models for non-profit organisations.