There are already so many problems in the world. Why create another problem? Why not put our energies in finding out solutions you would ask me?

And my answer would be:

An answer can be only as good as your question. If you describe your problem well and keep it focused, it can trigger solutions, quick and fast. Not only so, your solutions will be relevant and fresh.

How do we do that? Here are some tips:

Every problem is a fresh problem:

When a situation is presented to us, we spontaneously relate it to some other problem that we solved earlier. We label it: I know this problem; its like what we had in the manufacturing department last month. We can borrow the experience later on. But resist this temptation at the problem defining stage.

Old questions will only lead to old answers. There could be many new angles in the situation facing us and we will lose opportunities to create fresh solutions.

Ask differently:

Even if you ask for a 'different kind of chair,' what you will get is a chair! But if you ask for 'something to sit on comfortably,' you will get something new. It may not be a chair. It may be a bean bag!

Assume different points of views:

Avoid pin pointing a problem without looking to it from different perspectives. Take a situation where salesmen are not filling reporting forms. The management could see it as a discipline problem, while from the financial controller's point of view; the problem might be insufficient documentation. On the other hand, for the salesman, it is simply a question of wasting productive time.

If we approach it as an indiscipline problem, solutions will comprise reprimanding the sales staff, punishing them and arresting their incentives. The same problem defined as in-effective reporting formats will be solved differently. A hundred brilliant ideas on indiscipline won't help. A few solutions to improve the reporting system might work wonders.

Short Term or Long Term:

Keep the time dimension in the problem statement. Are you looking for a short term, midterm or a long term solution?

What will happen tomorrow, day after, a few years hence? Will the problem be different?

Define boundaries:

Include the expectations of time and budget in the desired solution. That will make the solutions feasible and relevant.

Use the right brain:

Yes, use the right brain to give the problem its final shape. Be imaginative. Make a story, a news item or pictorially represent the problem. In a nutshell make problem so attractive that people want to solve it.

Following these simple steps will make idea generation process much more exciting and result oriented!