6.1Real-world cases
The essentials in 30 seconds
- Combine: a real case mobilizes the whole chain — frame, diverge, converge, prototype, test, decide.
- Order: frame the problem first, generate without judging next, sort methodically, finish with an action plan.
- Reflex: faced with a real problem, replay the levels' sequence in order instead of rushing to the first solution.
Sara thread — 1 year on: two approaches that hold up
One year after levels 0 to 5, Sara re-reads her two landmark files: a delivery-delay problem treated at the root instead of one more patch, and an innovation workshop that produced decisions instead of a sterile meeting. Both cases below reuse her sequence: frame, diverge, converge, prototype, test, decide.
Each case follows Context → Steps → Result: replay it on your own problems.
Why real-world cases
The previous levels laid the bricks: the fundamentals, idea generation, problem framing, structured methods, decision and team innovation. Here we assemble them. A real creative approach chains the right reflexes: frame, diverge, converge, prototype, test, decide.
Case 1 — Solving a recurring problem, end to end
Context: A department suffers constant delivery delays: you want to solve the cause, not the symptom.
Déroulé :
- Frame: describe the situation with 5W1H, distinguish cause and symptom (L2.1).
- Dig the root cause with the 5 whys, or map with Ishikawa if multiple causes (L2.2, L2.3).
- Reframe as « How might we…? » (L2.5) to open the solutions.
- Generate widely: brainstorming with its rules, SCAMPER on the existing (L1.1, L1.4).
- Converge: group, vote, prioritize with the impact/feasibility matrix (L4.1, L4.2).
- Prototype and test a solution, then decide and build an action plan (L4.3, L4.4, L4.5).
Result: A problem treated at the root, a tested solution and an owned action plan — not one more patch.
Case 2 — Running an innovation workshop
Context: You gather a team to imagine a new service, without the session turning into a sterile meeting.
Déroulé :
- Prepare: goal, topic as « How might we…? », the right participants, methods, materials (L5.1).
- Establish psychological safety and set the rules (« no idea is stupid ») (L0.3).
- Diverge: silent brainwriting then oral brainstorming so all contribute (L1.1, L1.2).
- Structure the thinking with the six hats if the decision is hard (L3.2).
- Converge: affinity grouping + dot voting, then impact/feasibility matrix (L4.1, L4.2).
- Conclude on decisions and a concrete action plan (who does what, when) (L4.5).
Result: A workshop that turns a group into an idea AND decision machine, with a concrete follow-up.
Ready-to-say script — frame before seeking (1 min)
"Before seeking ideas: what is the exact problem (5W1H)? Symptom or cause? Reframed as “How might we…?” I write these three lines first, then we diverge."
Copy-paste template — replayable case sheet
Problem to treat (framed 5W1H): ...
CAUSE vs symptom (5 whys / Ishikawa): ...
REFRAMING “How might we…?”: ...
SEQUENCE (diverge → converge → prototype → decide): ...
Guide REFERENCES (L0 → L5): ...
Expected RESULT (decision + who/what/when plan): ...Small business / tight budget
One case at a time, on one page: context in 2 lines, 5 steps, result in 1 sentence.
Algeria SME
Include real constraints (activity peaks, short staff, phone/WhatsApp channels) in the framing: narrowed scope, short workshop, action plan followed on the channel used.
Remote / hybrid
Double the written preparation at a distance: framing shared beforehand, silent brainwriting on video, written decisions after.
Cross-cultural
State the divergence rules explicitly (“no idea is stupid”): what seems obvious is not obvious to everyone.
48h challenge — apply tomorrow
Take 1 real problem and write its framing (5W1H + cause vs symptom + “How might we…?”). Test divergence this week.
- I can chain the reflexes in the right order on a real case.
- I have a replayable case sheet for my next problem.
- I did the 48h challenge or scheduled its date.
Sara must tackle delivery delays that keep coming back. Which sequence follows the guide?