Thread by @bandanjot

The "How Now Wow" framework, devised by Gamestorming, helps product teams evaluate and prioritize ideas based on three criteria

Let's break it down how you can use it:

Let us first define the three terms:

How: Innovative ideas that are difficult to implement. These ideas are not yet feasible but might be worth considering as future goals.

Now: Unoriginal ideas that are easy to implement and have been proven to work well.

Wow: New and innovative ideas that are easy to implement and can be actualized with current resources.

But, how do you implement it in a workshop?

🎯 Step 1: Define the scope and objectives of your session. Are you solving a problem, improving processes, or developing new products?

💡 Step 2: Brainstorm ideas with your team. Encourage free-flowing thoughts and creativity. Use tools like whiteboards or online platforms.

📋 Step 3: Group similar ideas together. Consolidate and remove duplicates to get a clear picture of all suggestions.

📊 Step 4: Position your ideas on the matrix. Assess each idea's originality and ease of implementation. Place them in the How, Now, or Wow categories.

🗳️ Step 5: Vote on the most important ideas. Each team member can allocate votes to prioritize which ideas to implement first.

Start with Wow Ideas: These are innovative and easy to implement, offering high impact with low risk. They should be your primary focus as they can be quickly executed and provide significant benefits.

Implement Now Ideas: These are easy to implement and provide quick wins. They may not be groundbreaking but can improve existing processes or fill gaps efficiently.

Plan for How Ideas: These are innovative but challenging to implement. They require more resources and time, so they should be considered for long-term projects or future goals. Keep them in your pipeline and revisit them as resources become available

This framework is not useful for:

1/Technical Projects: Lacks complexity for deep expertise.
2/Regulatory Requirements: Overlooks critical legal considerations.
3/Long-Term Planning
4/Resource Constraints: Impractical for limited resources.
5/Hierarchical Organizations

I always present these frameworks with a grain of salt. These frameworks are helpful to initiate a healthy team discussion, but they cannot give you the solutions.

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