Social Innovation is not complicated as long as you follow some specific steps and rules which I summarized in the following document while I was building up Nai Nami:
1. Problem Statement: How can I…
The solution for the problem you want to solve lies in the problem statement itself. Coming up with the right problem statement – which is derived from the root cause of the problem – is the key to success! The problem statement should be as specific as possible and at the same time broad enough not to restrict the idea generation. It changes over time based on the insights gathered during the research phase and it therfore follows an itineration process. Never jump to the idea generation phase before you haven’t understood the root cause of the problem and transformed it into a specific problem statement!
Once you have a proper problem statement, go into the field and start with your research. The following two techniques helped me the most while I was trying to find the root cause of the problem:
The 5 Why’s: Asking 5 five times in a row the question “Why?” (after each answer) often leads to the root cause of an observable problem.
Asking the right questions: In order to get good answers you have to ask good questions. Develop smart questions that nobody has asked before. For example: “Who is your role model and how would this person solve the problem”
2. Idea Generation
Once you have your problem statement as well as the insights from your research, the fun part starts. One of the most powerful tools to develop innovative ideas is the reframing of the problem statement. This can trigger new perspectives in your mind:
“How can we train youth on skills to enable them to find a job?”
– Reframe: Youth have skills
“How can we use youth’s skills to enable them to find a job?
Keep in mind: Findings and insights are not the same! Findings are facts and figures which can be structured and categorised. Insights are a new understanding of the “Why” and often come along with the feeling of “surprise”.
3. Prototyping
Prototyping is a mindset and it needs discipline. Take every opportunity to prototype your idea without wasting time and money. Just do it in the most fastest and most frugal way. Based on the outcome and feedback you can immediately adapt your idea and repeat testing it.