Ideation

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction to Ideation 

• Definition: Ideation is the process of generating, developing, and communicating new ideas.
• Context: It’s a key stage in innovation, design thinking, and resource generation.
• Discussion Prompt: “Think of a time when a simple idea led to a big change. What sparked it?”

2. The Ideation Process 

Introduce the stages:

• Problem Framing: What are we solving?
• Idea Generation: Quantity over quality—get ideas flowing.
• Idea Selection: Prioritize based on criteria (impact, feasibility, novelty).
• Idea Refinement: Develop and improve the chosen ideas.

Ideation flowchart:

[Problem] → [Brainstorm] → [Cluster] → [Select] → [Refine]

 

 

3. Ideation Techniques (20 min)

Introduce and demonstrate 2–3 methods:

• SCAMPER: Modify existing ideas using prompts.
• Brainwriting: Silent idea generation on paper, then pass and build.
• Mind Mapping: Visualize connections around a central theme.

Activity: Break into small groups and apply one technique to a challenge (e.g., “How might we reduce food waste in schools?”)

 

4. Apply the Okurut Ideation Test 

The Need/Opportunity

What is the community pain level from

 (

The OKurut Pain and emotional Indicators by Pain Level

Pain Level	Common Emotions	Language Cues
1–3	Mild annoyance, confusion	“It’s not ideal…” “I guess it works…”
4–6	Frustration, resignation	“We’ve learned to live with it…” “It’s a hassle.”
7–10	Anger, fear, urgency	“We can’t take this anymore.” “Something has to change.” That solution, idea which will solve this need is the golden opportunity, you see it take it and run with with.

 

 

DESIRABILITY:

Do people want it? 

Indicators of Desirability

Signal Type	Examples	What It Tells You
Verbal Signals	“I wish we had something like this.” “This would make my life easier.”	Expressed interest or emotional resonance
Behavioral Signals	People sign up, share, show up, or pay attention	Willingness to engage or invest
Workarounds	DIY hacks, informal systems, community-led alternatives	Unmet need with creative demand
Adoption Trends	Early users stick around, word-of-mouth spreads	Organic growth and sustained interest
Feedback Quality	Constructive suggestions, emotional language (“love,” “hate,” “need”)	Passionate engagement, not indifference

. Surveys & Interviews

• Ask:

• “Would you use this?”
• “What would make this irresistible?”
• “What do you currently do instead?”

2. Prototype Testing

• Build a simple version and observe:

• Do people interact with it?
• Do they come back?
• Do they tell others?

3.Emotional Mapping

• Track emotional reactions: excitement, frustration, curiosity.
• Use tools like empathy maps or sentiment analysis.

  Desirability vs. Pain Level

  Pain Level	Desirability Potential
  1–3	Low urgency, may need storytelling to spark desire
  4–6	Moderate desire, people open to better alternatives
  7–10	High desire, people actively seeking solutions

   (1 = No interest, 10 = Deep craving)

   

 

FEASIBILITY:

Can we build it?

Now we are rounding out the three pillars of innovation:

 

• Pain intensity How bad is the situation?
• Desirability – Do people want it?
• Feasibility – Can we build it?
• Viability – Will it sustain itself?

Let’s dive into Feasibility and build a clear framework to assess whether your idea or solution is realistically achievable.

Feasibility Assessment Framework

Key Question:

Can we build, deliver, and maintain this solution with the resources we have—or can get?

 Dimensions of Feasibility

Dimension	Questions to Ask	Signals of Feasibility
Technical Feasibility	Do we have the skills, tools, and infrastructure to build it?	Existing tech stack, available talent, proven methods
Financial Feasibility	Can we afford to build and sustain it? What’s the cost vs. benefit?	Budget alignment, funding sources, cost estimates
Time Feasibility	Can we build it in a reasonable timeframe?	Clear milestones, realistic deadlines
Operational Feasibility	Can we deliver and support it at scale?	Staffing, logistics, partnerships
Legal & Ethical Feasibility	Are there regulations, risks, or ethical concerns to address?	Compliance, community trust, risk mitigation

How to Measure Feasibility

1. Resource Inventory

• What do you already have? (skills, tools, funding)
• What’s missing?

2. Risk Assessment

• What could go wrong?
• What’s the backup plan?

3. Pilot Testing

• Build a small version and test delivery.
• Track cost, time, and technical challenges.

 

Feasibility vs. Pain & Desirability

Pain Level	Desirability	Feasibility	Strategic Implication
High	High	Low	Big opportunity, but needs investment or innovation
Medium	Medium	Medium	Good candidate for incremental improvement
Low	Low	High	Easy to build, but may not be worth it

 

diagnostic tool:

Can We Build It?
(Check all that apply)

[ ] We have the technical skills

[ ] We have the budget or funding path

[ ] We can deliver it within 6–12 months

[ ] We have partners or staff to support it

[ ] It complies with laws and community values

Feasibility Score (1–10): 
(1 = Not feasible, 10 = Ready to launch)

 

VIABILITY

Will it sustain itself?

🔍 Dimensions of Viability

Dimension	Questions to Ask	Signals of Viability
💰 Financial Viability	Will it generate revenue, funding, or cost savings?	Revenue model, funding pipeline, ROI
🧭 Strategic Viability	Does it align with long-term goals, trends, or mission?	Strategic fit, market timing, scalability
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Stakeholder Viability	Will key players (users, funders, partners) support it long-term?	Buy-in, partnerships, advocacy
🔄 Operational Viability	Can it be maintained without burnout or breakdown?	Staffing, systems, repeatability
🌱 Social & Environmental Viability	Does it contribute positively to society or the planet?	Ethical impact, sustainability, community trust

 

🧪 How to Measure Viability

1. Business Model Canvas

• Map out value proposition, customer segments, revenue streams, and cost structure.

2. Sustainability Forecast

• Project costs and income over 1–3 years.
• Identify break-even point or funding milestones.

3. Stakeholder Mapping

• Who benefits? Who pays? Who supports?
• Are their interests aligned?

 

🔁 Viability vs. Desirability & Feasibility

Scenario	Implication
High Desirability + High Feasibility + Low Viability	Great idea, but needs a better business model or funding strategy
High Viability + Low Desirability	Sustainable but irrelevant—may need repositioning
High Viability + Low Feasibility	Worth pursuing if resources can be mobilized

 

🧭 Viability Worksheet Section

Add this to your diagnostic tool:

Will It Sustain Itself?
(Check all that apply)

• [ ] There’s a clear revenue or funding model
• [ ] It aligns with long-term goals or trends
• [ ] Stakeholders are committed
• [ ] It can be maintained without burnout
• [ ] It contributes positively to society or the environment

Viability Score (1–10): ⬜
(1 = Unsustainable, 10 = Long-term success likely)

 

🧠 Bonus: Innovation Scoring Matrix

You can now combine all three dimensions:

Dimension	Score (1–10)
Desirability	⬜
Feasibility	⬜
Viability	⬜

Total Score: ⬜ / 30

How to Measure Viability

1. Business Model Canvas

• Map out value proposition, customer segments, revenue streams, and cost structure.

2. Sustainability Forecast

• Project costs and income over 1–3 years.
• Identify break-even point or funding milestones.

3. Stakeholder Mapping

• Who benefits? Who pays? Who supports?
• Are their interests aligned?

 

 

 

 

Would you like this turned into a full innovation dashboard, pitch template, or decision-making guide? I can help you build it into a visual tool or interactive worksheet.

Activity: Groups present their top idea and get feedback using a simple rubric.

 

5. Reflection & Wrap-Up (10 min)

• Discussion: “What surprised you about the ideation process?”
• Takeaway: Ideation is not just creativity—it’s structured exploration.
• Challenge: Ask learners to apply ideation to a personal or professional problem this week.

 

Optional Extensions

• Assign a mini ideation project: “Design a product that solves a problem in your daily life.”
• Explore famous innovations and reverse-engineer their ideation process.
• Introduce digital tools like Miro, Jam board, or Notion for collaborative ideation.