Idea Filter
Short Tip: A Canvas to facilitate selecting the best idea.
What is it?
The Idea Filter is a visual method based on “relevance” and “confidence” for selecting the best idea. The method aims to generate a discussion in the group based on the characteristics of ideas and the organization’s priority.
Terms used:
- “Relevance” is the value perceived by the product’s users to solve their problem and/or its root cause, and
- “Confidence” is the group’s degree of confidence in the organization’s ability to build and deliver the solution. Aspects such as availability of human and material resources, the team’s skills, clarity of requirements, risks involved and release deadline can usually influence this aspect.
Why use it?
During the ideation process, there are often multiple ideas of interest to the group. Valuing them by using “Relevance” and “Confidence” criteria in a canvas facilitates viewing the difference between them, as well as any necessary repositioning.
The graph also facilitates selecting the criterion to choose the solution, sometimes favoring “Relevance” even if the solution has a higher execution risk (low security).
How to use it?
- Take the post-its from the chart resulting from the ideation process (Design Sprint or Design Thinking) and bring them to the Idea Filter Canvas.
- Note that the Design Sprint assumes the solution is chosen on Day 3, so the Canvas should be used at this point, before prototyping and testing with users.
- Launch the discussion on “Relevance” and “Confidence” for each idea you brought to the graph, placing it in the proper quadrant.
- When you finish positioning all ideas, discuss with the group which criterion – “Relevance” or “Confidence” – will predominate in choosing the current idea.
- Ideally, the selected solutions will be within the “Sweet Spot” or “Valuable Risk” area, which are the quadrants of greatest value delivery to the user.
- However, when there are no “Sweet Spot” ideas, sometimes the organization may tend to choose a quick, secure solution, though with less value than a riskier solution. In this case, the group must consider and reflect on the reasons for this decision and the potential loss of opportunity.
- Once you have selected the idea to be worked on, you should move it to the field “Chosen Idea”.
- The selected idea must necessarily be validated with users so as to minimize the risks of solutions with low added value. Consulting users often leads to new ideas or the modification of ideas due to some new insight.