Finding the Problem
- Why This? Why Now? Why You?Article in Entrepreneur Magazine on problem solving
- How entrepreneurs can find the right problem to solvePost in Harvard Working Knowledge
Books, eBooks, AudioBooks on Creativity, Mindset, Ideation
What is the problem that you are trying to solve?
Example of a problem and initial idea......
Planting on steep slopes to prevent erosion
- Plants are needed to help prevent erosion of soil and slope stability. Extreme slopes make seeding or planting challenging and dangerous (slip/falls). Plants on hills should require little to no water due to costs, little maintenance (safety/$), beneficial/attract wildlife and pollinators
Initial idea for a solution
Could a drone be used to disperse seeds on slopes?
Let's Search the Web
For new products, services, and applications a search of the web using Google is appropriate.
Work to locate relevant information to understand the potential marketplace
- The images button is helpful to see if your idea may be in exsistance in some form.
- The shopping option shows potential similar or competing products.
- The "tools" option can be used to identify items within a specific time frame (if that is helpful information to your research).
Starting your research with Keywords
- Take a few minutes to generate keywords that you will use as you research your idea.
- Write down a research question and break it into main concepts.
For example: How can drones be used for planting?
drones used planting UAV application agriculture unmanned aerial vehicle modified seeds adapted landscaping In each column enter a main concept
Within the column generate:
- synonyms
- broader terms
- narrower terms
- alternate spellings
- related terms
Online tools for brainstorming, mapping
Courtesy listing tools.
Try these headings
Subject headings are assigned to books/ebooks in the library's catalog.
A "Subject heading" search finds titles on that subject. You can use the filters to sort the results by date, full text online, etc. Here are a few headings of potential interest to get you started
- brainstorming
- design thinking
- creative ability
- creation (Literary, artistic, etc.)
- creative ability in business
- creative ability in technology
- creative ability in science
- creative thinking
- design thinking
- problem solving
Subject Subheadings - you can add to your subject search after the names of states, regions, and main subjects. For instance: design -- social aspects,
- social aspects
- management
- planning
- study and teaching
- technological innovations
(Adapted from Duke University's Economics Research Guide)