ROME Methodology - Finding Solutions

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 Finding Solutions

We believe finding solutions is fun for most people. However, jumping to a solution before we clearly understand the problem kills innovation and opportunities to adopt optimal solutions that others have already created and implemented. We live in a wondrous age of AI, the internet, and access to specialists in every field imaginable. Most problems have already been solved. In fact, most innovations are just the application of a common solution to a problem in a different domain. Thus, it is essential that we clearly understand the problem before solutioning. 

Imagine the Perfect Solution Technique

Before digging into the details of a solution, it helps to find acceptance criteria for the solutions first. That way, we can objectively determine which solution is optimal when alternatives are developed. Habit #2 of the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is “Begin with the end in mind”. Always start by contemplating the end result. One of the best techniques for finding the best solution is to start by imagining the perfect solution to the problem. Often asking the following helps:

1. “What are the characteristics of a successful solution?”
2. What should you see in the solution?
3. What are the benefits of a successful solution?
4. What should you see if the solution works correctly? 

The last 2 questions tend to evoke the rewards of implementing the solution. Taking the last two questions and asking the question, “What do we need in order to produce that effect?” aids in extracting additional acceptance criteria. 

Afterward, it helps to use the Affinity Technique to gather related acceptance criteria (ACs) (ref. Affinity Diagrams: How to Cluster Your Ideas and Reveal Insights | IxDF). After the ACs are gathered, for each grouping ask “what mechanisms/solutions can satisfy this group?”. Asking that for each group enables the creation of solution alternatives.

Assumptions Relaxation - The Key to Innovation

ROME is all about making the decision-making process for knowledge workers easier. Everything is a decision. Acceptance Criteria are decisions that we make on the necessary characteristics or conditions which must be included in the solution. The solution is a decision regarding how we meet the Acceptance Criteria. We advise postponing the creation of solutions until after you have more information. We believe in the Embracing the Last Responsible Moment: A Key Principle in Scrum. We want to ensure that our approach to the solution is correct before we select a solution. Assumptions represent the approach to the solution. Keep in mind that assumptions are also constraints as they limit the possible solutions available. If assumptions are not challenged before selecting a solution, the solutions available are often unnecessarily constrained to what has been done before. Thus, if innovative solutions are desired, it is essential to get rid of as many unnecessary assumptions as possible. When assumptions are not challenged, optimal solution selection is impossible. Challenging assumptions and removing the ones deemed superfluous is called Assumption Relaxation. The First Principles Technique aids in providing a structured process for Assumption Relaxation.

First Principles Thinking Technique

First Principles Thinking is a problem-solving and reasoning method that involves breaking down complex problems into their most basic, fundamental truths and then building up solutions from there. Instead of relying on assumptions, conventional wisdom, or analogy-based reasoning (i.e., doing things a certain way because that’s how they’ve always been done), first principles thinking seeks to uncover the core principles that govern a problem and reconstruct solutions from the ground up.

1. Identify Assumptions – List all the common beliefs or assumptions about a problem or situation. Ask, “What do we believe to be true about the problem?” Then ask, “What do we believe to be true about the solution environment?” 
2. Break It Down – Deconstruct the problem into its fundamental elements, stripping away any assumptions. Use techniques such as the “5 Why’s” Technique or Socratic Questioning. 
3. Find Fundamental Truths – Challenge assumptions to find Fundamental Truths. Ask, "What do we know to be absolutely true based on science, logic, or provable facts?" 
4. Rebuild from the Ground Up – Use these truths to reconstruct a new approach or innovative solution. It is often advisable to take the problem and pair with a riskier acceptance criterion and look for a solution for that. Then to repeat that process for each problem/acceptance criterion pair. Thus, solve incompatibilites between the “mini-solutions”. Then combining the mini-solutions into a complete solution. 

Instead of assuming that batteries are expensive and electric cars will always cost more than gas-powered vehicles, Musk used first principles thinking:

• Assumption: Batteries are expensive.
• Break It Down: A battery is made of specific raw materials (lithium, nickel, cobalt, etc.).
• Fundamental Truth: These materials cost much less in raw form. The high cost comes from the way they are processed and assembled.
• Rebuild: Tesla focused on optimizing battery production from its core materials rather than accepting traditional supplier pricing.

For knowledge workers and executives, first principles thinking can help in:

• Challenging limiting beliefs – Many professionals operate under outdated mental models that restrict growth.
• Innovating new solutions – Instead of copying industry norms, leaders can redefine how things are done.
• Decision-making – By questioning assumptions, executives can avoid costly errors based on flawed reasoning.
• Building high-performance teams – Identifying the core drivers of success rather than following conventional team structures.

Alternative Techniques to Find Solutions

“TRIZ is a Russian acronym for The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving. TRIZ began in the 1940s by a soviet engineer named Genrich Altshuller. He recognized that technological advancements follow a systematic and natural progression. As a result, Genrich invented TRIZ, creating common solutions that can be redeployed to business problems for specific improvements. The 40 Principles of TRIZ are like the old idiom, “Don’t reinvent the wheel.” 

In other words, hundreds of really smart inventors have lived before today. TRIZ takes what is already created, adapts, and deploys it to solve today’s problems. Moreover, TRIZ uses tables of inherent contradictions and innovation principles, not trial and error, to reform the design challenge and remove physical contradictions.” (ref. TRIZ - The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving)

For Technical Solutions, TRIZ is an effective technique (ref. TRIZ - The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving). TRIZ works by looking up problems that match your problem in the TRIZ catalog (which are generalized). Solutions to those general problems are listed there and ready to be applied to your situation. Next you need to make your solution more specific by asking “what mechanisms/solutions can satisfy the general solution?”. 

Artificial Intelligence is proving to be more efficient than general browser searches at finding solutions to your acceptance criteria. As time progresses, more domain specific AIs are being developed for your convenience. The old adage, “there is nothing new under the some” is true. When entering AC’s into the AI doesn’t lead to a good solution, then following the steps mentioned above for TRIZ (i.e. asking the AI to generalize the problem, asking the AI to find a generalized solution to the generalized problem, and then asking the AI to make the generalized solution specific to your acceptance criteria) leads to good results. Just be careful not to enter propriety data that you don’t want shared with competitors because the AI aids all entries into its database for usage by others.