Nowadays there are lots of startup challenges. Mostly they define a very broad area in where ideas are sought. It is a rather passive way to innovate. It is assumed that the idea or the startup is already out there, and it only needs some nurturing in the development, mainly at the business side. The basic question for sponsors of the challenge is: "Does the startup proposal fit into the description of the challenges and its financial conditions? " To conclude, in our opinion it is like fishing: The fish (idea) is already there, but must be to bite. It is passive.
Many challenges are related to societal issues. They have the same lack of a tight focus. Therefore, we propose to use a Creative Hit List, a thinking tool that Edward de Bono introduced in "Serious Creativity": Set out a creative hit list which lays out the areas which new thinking needs to target. The idea behind it is: "Allocate space, responsibility and clear expectations for creative thinking, in the same way you would for other business processes." This is defining hunting areas for ideas. It is active.
In general, a Creative Hit List is about "In which areas do we need better ideas?". The Creative Hit List is a formal composition of areas where we have been careful to have better ideas. There is a creative need. A Creative Hit List has several subcategories.
Stubborn problems. In a persistent problem, a difference between the current situation and the advanced situation is that all attempts to come to a solution have failed. It seems impossible to come up with a new approach. Perhaps there are presuppositions that are hindering us to solve the problem. That is why we want to make a new, creative attempt.
Mention 5 topics, where new ideas could be decisive: What is not going well? What are problems? What is constantly being resolved? Are there bottlenecks? What are you running into? What comes back as a problem again and again? What are many mistakes with? What should always be above?Examples:
The traffic going into a town continues to rise, despite all measures
Shortage of housing shortage for young people is increasing
Cigarette butts at all entrances to business premises
Improvements. An improvement is not about a problem. However, we assume beforehand that the current way of doing things may not be the best. Could there be other ways, better, cheaper, easier, faster? With a little creative effort we might be able to make a big difference.
Mention 5 topics where new ideas could decisive improve a situation that do not need an improvement: What can be done even better? What can be faster? More simple? Cheaper? What can be done with less waste? What could be quieter? Using less energy? What could be made more beautiful? What could be given more value?Examples:
Requesting, delivering and checking municipal permits
Many homeowners have been persuaded to make their home "greener"
There are large-scale initiatives for refugees and migrants in the city.
