How does one iteratively solve problems in Lean Startups as well as established organizations? Maybe, the first question should be, "Why do we need to iteratively solve problems?" Well, to paraphrase, Yogi Berra, I'd say, "The present is not what it used to be." The preferences of customers as well as the features of products are changing so fast today that one can no longer consider "Customers" and "Product" as stable variables that require stable or routine problem solving. To survive and prosper in business today, we require what the late Professor Horst Rittel referred to as "Wicked Problem Solving." In business today, the competitive advantage of businesses lies not in "Tame" or routine problem solving but in "Wicked" or non-routine problem solving that address "messy" situation. In such messy situations, problems are iteratively solved. Wicked problems demand iterative problem solving. The creation of disruptive innovations and Blue Oceans, where competitors are irrelevant, requires iterative problem solving. Although the need for iterative problem solving is widely recognized in business especially for Lean Startups, there is no scalable template, worksheet, or graphic organizer for facilitating iterative problem solving. A tool such as the Experiment (Validation) Board has a relatively complex format and is not intuitive to use. Moreover, the Experiment (Validation) Board cannot be scaled to include other tools of business problem solving and strategic management. The Lean Canvas also contains "distracting" information when the focus is on problem solving. The 1-Page Lean Strategy worksheet fills a wide gap in the domain of business problem solving. The tool of 1-Page Lean Strategy can be used to solved both tame and wicked problems in any domain. As a graphic organizer, the 1-Page Lean Strategy template can also be used by kids for organizing and solving problems such as in Mathematics. A unique advantage of the 1-Page Lean Strategy template is that it can be used for illustrating a problem-solving heuristic that can serve as a roadmap for solving discovered problems. In business it may be advisable to use the 1-Page Lean Strategy in conjunction with Post-It notes. This adds to the flexibility and fun in using the 1-Page Lean Strategy tool. Well, that's all for now. Happy, iterative problem solving ...

1. JOB TO GET DONE
Learn Build
Causal
Hypothesis
(Pain)
Solution
Hypothesis
(Delight)
CUSTOMER
……………………………………..
Register at www.visionaryd.com to participate in testing and validating the interactive version of the Lean Startup Snowman
Lean Startup Coach. Dr. Rod King. rodkuhnhking@gmail.com & http://businessmodels.ning.com & http://twitter.com/RodKuhnKing
O.T.H.E.R. Loop (5 Habits)
 O: Observe Different
 T: Think Different
 H: Hypothesize Different
 E: Experiment Different
 R: Reflect Different
1-Page Lean Strategy
For Lean Strategy Organizations
Graphic Organizer for Iterative Problem Solving, Solution-Testing, User-Story Creation, and Evidence-based Innovation
FOUR LEAN STRATEGY
QUESTIONS
1. JOB-TO-GET-DONE:
What is the job-to-
get-done or main
task of customer?
2. CUSTOMER: Who is
a typical customer?
3. PROBLEM: What
are problems or
pains experienced
by the customer as
(s)he does the job?
4. SOLUTION: What
are solutions (tools/
strategy/products/s
ervices) offered to
the customer to
solve the problems?
SOLUTION
(Ideal Lean System)
PROBLEM
(Constraint)
Measure
(Success Criteria)
Phase/Round/Experiment:
……………………………………….
Lessons Learned; Insights:
……………………………………….
Decision (Persevere/Pivot; Abandon):
…………………………………….………………….