Situation
Create quality options before converging on one direction.
Use this when the opportunity is clear but viable solution directions are not. Works best after problem framing and before validation planning.
Use this page to choose the method before you start planning the session.
Prioritise the facilitation structure that keeps trade-offs explicit and closes with named ownership.
Use these signals to keep the room aimed at the outcome before it drifts into discussion.
Choose the route that matches the time you have, the room you can assemble, and the level of convergence you need.
60-90 min
Best when you need a credible recommendation in one working session without expanding into a half-day format.
Concept cards/posters
Open recipe2-4 hrs
Use when you have enough room to build shared understanding before committing to the shortlist.
Opportunity-solution tree
Open recipeExec alignment
Use when the room needs stronger sponsor clarity, sharper trade-offs, or explicit ownership before moving on.
Opportunity-solution tree
Open recipeThese questions are here to explain the recommendation logic, not just diagnose the room.
Why it matters: If the decision is vague, the room will drift into discussion instead of converging on a usable output.
What changes: If the answer is specific, Waypoint can recommend tighter decision formats. If it stays broad, Waypoint should push you toward framing or mapping first.
Why it matters: Availability determines whether you can run a deeper co-creation format or need a tighter, more executive-friendly move.
What changes: If availability is genuinely tight, Waypoint should favor lighter formats. If the right room can attend, it should open up deeper working sessions.
Why it matters: The biggest source of friction tells you where facilitation structure needs to do more work.
What changes: If the answer is yes, prefer formats that make trade-offs explicit. If not, Waypoint can recommend a lighter path with less convergence overhead.
Why it matters: Some risks can be parked; others require a method that produces enough evidence or ownership before the group leaves.
What changes: If it cannot stay unresolved, Waypoint should bias toward techniques that leave owners, assumptions, or evidence checks visible before the room closes.
Start with the risks most likely to show up in the room, then use the fixes to keep the session on track.
Don’t run ideation without clear constraints and decision criteria.
Fix: Start with explicit constraints and decision criteria on the board.
Don’t score ideas before they are sufficiently articulated.
Fix: Require a one-sentence concept card before scoring any idea.
Don’t leave without assigning which concept moves forward.
Fix: Nominate concept owners and a validation step before the session ends.
Use these when the recommended route is blocked by room shape, confidence, or stakeholder availability.
#1
A rapid sketching exercise where each participant creates eight concepts in eight minutes, followed by clustering and selection.
Idea set
Avoid this when participants cannot sketch or note quickly.
Open recipe#2
A visual sequence of frames that shows how a user experiences a concept over time.
Storyboard artifact
Avoid this when the objective is quantitative prioritization only.
Open recipe