Add-Subtract-Change

Creative Problem Solving Course

Here is a systematic technique that's easy to use. It is particularly good for use in redesigning things, but can be used for any type of problem. You just start with the existing "solution" and ask what you can add, subtract or change. I'm going to use the bicycle example from "assumption challenging," just to show how different techniques will suggest very different solutions.

For an example of how to use the "add-subtract-change" technique to come up with our new product, let's look at an existing bicycle and ask:

Perhaps a radio could be built into the handle bars? Perhaps a map holder that attaches to the handle bars? A pet-carrier up front, so you can bring your cat along for the ride? (Okay, I'll stop looking at the handle bars as I write this.) A built-in retractable lock?

Remove some of the gears? I've always thought that for casual users, six speeds is enough. Subtract some of the weight? Lighter is better. Lower the price?

Make the tires reflective for safety? We could put a hole in the seat for men's comfort, or find a new type of padding. Could we make the gears shift automatically?

Add

You can see that looking for things to add can require a bit of imagination. It can also be a very productive method of creating new ideas, products and inventions.

Subtract

On the other hand, looking for things to subtract can be very systematic. Just look at everything, item by item, and ask what would happen if it was removed or lessened.

Change

The last question - What could we change? - is where you get to be very systematic and imaginative. Item by item you look at every aspect of the existing solution to imagine ways in which you could alter it, replace it, or redesign it.

This is an easy problem solving technique to use (all of them are really). You can see that it produces different ideas than the "assumption challenging" technique. At least it did for me as I wrote this.

Important Lesson:

Try several techniques on the same problem, and I think you'll find that each gets your mind working in a different way, and therefore gives you different ideas.

By the way, this add-subtract-change technique has probably been invented many times before, but I hadn't heard of it. It came to me in a dream. Using dreams to solve problems is another problem solving technique in the ebook.

Problem Solving 101 | Add-Subtract-Change