The 5 W'S

Other ideas generations skills include the 5W’s.

 

As a basis for ideas generation, brainstorming has proven to be very effective and when combined with the 5 W’s it can have immense application to the task of picking a business idea.

 

If any of you are familiar with W5 in Belfast it is a science museum based on the 5 W’s – Who, What, Where, When and Why. 

Just a few examples of what you can see at W5 such as a harp based on infra red that can be played without strings, stairways that are musical instruments in a similar way – you break the beam and a note is played – a different note for each stair step so you can effectively play music by jumping from one step to another.

 

The 5 W’s in the context of ideas generation are: 

​

1. WHO will do it, who for, who will supervise, who will buy it (may not always be the end user), who will benefit and who will be included?

​

2. WHAT is the idea, what are its characteristics, what does it do, what does it not do, what will influence it and what will ensure it is successful?

​

3. WHERE will it be done, where should it go, where will it be sold, where will the publicity come from?

​

4. WHEN will/did it happen, when should it start, when should it finish, when should an effect be felt if something new happens either expected or just supposed?

​

5. WHY should you do it, why should anybody think it is needed, why has the idea’s time come, why do you feel you are the best person to do it?.