Creativity + Innovation

POINT OF VIEW MADLIB

Point of View (POV) MadLib is a reframing activity that allows an individual or group to take a wicked problem and translate it into an actionable problem statement. MadLibs are phrase template word games where one participant prompts others for a list of words to substitute for blanks in a story. This activity uses a MadLib format to develop a POV by creating a problem statement that defines three elements: a user, a need, and an insight into the user’s POV. This activity is useful to create an actionable problem statement.
Download Activity Worksheet
  • Creativity + Innovation
  • 10-15 minutes
  • Pairs
    • Flipchart paper
    • Markers/pens

Source: Adapted from Bootcamp Bootleg

What to do

  1. Organize participants into pairs.
  2. Have each pair define a problem/issue for which they will create a MadLib. In this case, it needs to be an issue about which the pair has some knowledge. For example, puppies require nutritious food to be healthy.
  3. Have pairs complete the following MadLib: (user) needs to (user’s need) because (surprising insight).
  4. The user is the individual or group affected by the problem, the user’s need should be a verb, and the surprising insight is not simply the reason for the need, but a stepping stone to create a solution. For example, instead of:
    “A puppy needs more nutritious food because vitamins are vital to good health.” Try:
    “A puppy who likes to chew on shoes needs to have nutritious foods it likes to eat because if it isn’t full, it will chew more shoes.” Note how the revised version of the MadLib is an actionable problem statement that gives the people developing solutions something concrete to work with.
  5. Invite the pairs to try out a number of options to create a MadLib for their problem/issue.
  6. Once everyone has an actionable problem statement, the statement can be used to start identifying solutions to the challenge.

Debrief

(following the activity)

  • What was it like to try to understand another’s point of view?
  • By defining the user’s need and a surprising insight about them, did it help you to better understand and articulate the problem?
  • How might you use this activity in your day-to-day work in health care?