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SEED Enterprise Toolkit

Tool
Solutions Prototyping
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Solutions Prototyping

When? Steps
This tool is used to get a better understanding of the existing key
challenges of the enterprise, their potential solutions and the ideal
solution strategy. It is a continuous process: enterprises need to
STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3
constantly address their challenges and develop appropriate strategies in
response.

What?
This tool helps enterprises to identify their key challenge, to prioritise
solution ideas and it helps in developing a solution prototype to address
the key challenge. The solution prototype development helps to reduce
barriers and increase the enterprise’s success. Present your Collect Prototype
challenge solution ideas your solution

How?
This tool is best applied in a peer-workshop setting. This allows for input
from partners to develop outside-of-the-box, innovative, realistic and
concrete solutions suitable to the enterprise.
Key outcomes
• Define your organisation’s key challenge
• Gather as many solution ideas as possible
• Develop an implementation-ready solution prototype to your
key challenge

Steps
Step 1 Present your challenge
The first step is to identify the different challenges within your
enterprise and to decide on the key challenge your enterprise is facing.
Discuss within your enterprise and fill out the worksheet on the next
page with the results.
The following questions can help you identify the key challenge of your
enterprise:
What challenge has your enterprise spent most time on addressing?
What challenge has your enterprise lost the most resources
through?
Which solved challenge would generate most benefits for your
enterprise?
Understand the challenges your enterprise is facing
Prioritise the most pressing challenges
STRATEGY: Solutions Prototyping | 255
Step 2 Collect solution ideas
This step is about collecting as many solution ideas as possible from
your enterprise and your peers. First, collect as many solution ideas as
possible within your team. Fill out the bottom part of the worksheet
considering the following questions:
What changes within the current enterprise’s structure can be made
to address the challenge?
What measures can your enterprise take to address the key
challenge?
Which networks or partners can be beneficial for the enterprise to
solve its challenge, and how?
In the next step, think about solution ideas to your peer’s key
challenges and write them on their worksheets while covering their
own ideas to keep your thinking fresh. After collecting solution ideas for
your peers, return to your worksheet and consider all gathered solution
ideas for your key challenge: Your enterprise’s & your peer’s ideas.
All ideas should then be considered to identify the most achievable and
suitable solution idea(s) for the development of a solution prototype in
Step 3.
Get a broad view of possible solutions to your key challenge
Identify the most suitable solution idea(s)
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Present your challenge – Example: Cookstove & Pellets Enterprise

Step 1
What challenges is my enterprise facing?

Categories Challenge
Skills and technical Poor Marketing reach
resources
Traditions

Mobilising institutions

Natural resources

Markets Low customer base, strong competition

Financial resources What challenges is my enterprise facing?
Cash flow problems due to selling on commission-basis

What is my enterprise’s key challenge?

Poor Marketing reach:

Marketing Cookstoves in others than the local market
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Present your challenge

Step 1
What challenges is my enterprise facing?

Categories Challenge
Skills and technical
resources
Traditions

Mobilising institutions

Natural resources

Markets
What challenges is my enterprise facing?
Financial resources

What is my enterprise’s key challenge?

 Worksheet STRATEGY: Solutions Prototyping | 258

Collect solution ideas: Example

Step 21

Main product/service: Cookstoves & Pellets

Key Challenge: Poor Marketing reach: Marketing cookstoves beyond

the local market

Solution ideas from the group

Partner with Ministry of Environment
Improve brand awareness through well-known partners
Franchising

Our own solution ideas

Rebranding product to suit several markets
Broaden/establish distribution channels
Perform competitor analysis
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Collect solution ideas

Step 21

Main product/service:

Key Challenge:

Solution ideas from the group

Our own solution ideas

 STRATEGY: Solutions Prototyping | 260

Steps
Step 3 Prototype your solution
As part of this step, you as an enterprise decide from your gathered
solution ideas which immediate and future measures your enterprise
can take to address your key challenge. The aim of Step 3 is to
develop a solution prototype that will solve your key challenge. Discuss
in a mixed team of your team members and peers from other
enterprises, and fill out the worksheet on the following pages.

Define your main objectives to address your key challenge

Review your solution ideas and eliminate ideas that are not
achievable or suitable in solving your key challenge
Identify the most suitable approach and measures to address your
challenge
Define external & internal resources required to reach your
objectives
Agree on key next steps to achieve your objectives that you will
begin to implement immediately.

Focus on objectives that are the most suitable in addressing your

key challenge and that have the highest benefit for your enterprise
Prioritise key activities to be implemented
Help to guide implementation
Your solution strategy is now planned effectively
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Prototype your solution

Step 31
Enterprise:

Solutions Prototype:

Objectives Approach & Measures

External Internal Key next steps

Partners / Resources Skills / Structures