Better World Project
Entrepreneurs ...
See problems or issues out in the world that need solved
See an unmet need that should be filled
Want to make a difference in the community or world
Have an idea for a consumer product
Entrepreneurs can leverage the process of design thinking to come up with ideas to solve the problem or issue, meet the need, or make things better!
Solutions can be about big issues such as healthcare, technology, energy, homelessness, climate change, food security, etc…
It can be an innovative business, nonprofit organization, a product, or a service
The possibilities are endless!
For example, check out what these students set out to solve!
What Makes a Good Problem, Need, or Issue to pursue a solution?
A problem that matters to you, and to others!
Find problems, needs, or issues that:
Have some social importance or impact (like homelessness, healthcare, climate change)
Others understand (you aren't the only one that thinks it's a problem or need)
Are experienced during day-to-day life (like finding the right clothing, getting the right cup of coffee)
Examples
At this point, you will find that problems can be too big to solve. Social issues can’t be solved with just one solution because they are complicated and complex, so you will have to narrow down and focus on one aspect of the issue.
For example, if you are interested in helping people that experience homelessness, you will find there are many reasons (many root causes) for how this happens. It could be because of a loss of housing due to eviction for not being able to pay rent, loss of housing due to a relationship change, mental health complications, drug addiction, and more. Additionally many groups of people experience this issue, such as single adults, veterans, and families and each of them face different challenges and experiences with the issue.
Therefore, instead of focusing on homelessness in general, you would pick one aspect of the problem and potentially one of the groups.
For example, instead of moving forward with the problem of homelessness, you would be more specific and focus on issues of families facing homelessness due to evictions for not being able to pay rent.
Social importance/impact:
Hunger - 34 million Americans face hunger each day. This is a big problem that can't be solved by simply saying "let's give everyone food". A reasonable way to approach this issue would be to focus on hunger in the city you live. Additionally, if you have other interests such as making food and wanted to open a cafe, you can figure out a solution that can help approach both. The end solution could be a café that gives out tokens with each item bought; then tokens can be given away and redeemed as needed to those that are hungry in the city.
Day to day problems:
Going to a commuter based school (like MCC) but feeling disconnected from other students. The end solution could be like Class Roots (a former MCC student that won at a pitch contest), an app that connects students based on school and subject matter.
Not feeling safe enough while out in public. The end solution could be like Invisawear, a wearable saftey system.
Wanting in vague clothes but not wanting to waste money buying them. The end solution could be like Rent the Runway, a clothing rental subscription.
Start by Identifying Problems Worth Solving
Use this activity to figure groups of people you want to help
DO Activity:
Who do you want to help?
This activity will help you narrow down the kinds of people (who) and how you might want to help them.
The right side is an example of how to do this activity. You will come up with your own groups of people and follow through thinking about them.
You will submit this activity in a discussion post with your classmates.
Identifying Problems Worth Solving
Notes:
Your goal is to find a problem/need/issue that others have as well so that you can act entrepreneurially to come up with a solution.
You can move forward with either the group of people or one of the social problems that you are most interested in or both.
Keep in mind, sometimes a problem/need/issue is a very big problem to solve. These kinds of big problems are called wicked problems. According to the Wicked Problems Project, “a wicked problem is a social or cultural problem that is difficult or impossible to solve…”. You can learn more here.
They are often too big to solve with 1 solution, so you will have to narrow in on one particular aspect of the problem.
For example:
If you are interested in hunger, you will soon find out that there are many aspects of hunger - food insecurity, lack of access, kids going to school hungry, kids being more hungry doing the summer when they don't have access to school lunch or breakfast, etc. And many groups of people are impacted by hunger - kids, adults, senior citizens, etc. You will want to focus on one part of it, let's say kids in the summer. Then from there you can come up with a solution.
Understand How Design Thinking is Applied
to Solve a Problem
What is Design Thinking?
Essentially, it is a process of thinking that allows you to creatively come up with solutions by first fully understanding the problem, or need, or issue first.
Part of this understanding includes empathizing with the people experiencing the problem.
Through a business perspective, this could be seen as developing a solution with the "customer" in mind and designing a solution based on their experience and needs.
Through a science lens, this could be seen as analyzing all the facts and observations first, then crafting a solution.
We will use a modified design thinking framework for this project.
Each of the steps below will help you process your idea from understanding the problem/need/issue to identifying a solution.
***It is okay that as you go through this process you may not be able to find out everything; just do the best you can. Effort is more important than perfection.
Follow along with your assignment - this one is for IDS 117 class only
*For other classes, review your specific class assignment in the Blackboard shell*
*For other classes, review your specific class assignment in the Blackboard shell*
Find an example at each step:
Step 1 Define the problem
Step 2 Understand the Opportunity
Step 3 Identify the Solution
Step 4 Resources & What's Next
Student Examples
Check. out these examples from past semesters.
College_Cares.pdfCoffee for Homeless.pdfFree-Aid Afghanistan - DMMCC Example.pptx
Educate America .pptx