Reframing Problems | Roy Rosin | TEDxRadnorHighSchool

Summary

In this insightful talk, Roy Rosen, Chief Innovations Officer at Penn Medical Center, explores the power of problem reframing to unlock innovation. Through anecdotes and examples from various industries, he illustrates how redefining the problem statement can lead to unexpected and impactful solutions. From improving car rental experiences to addressing anemia in Cambodia, Rosen emphasizes the importance of deep immersion and the 'five so what's' technique to uncover the root cause and catalyze meaningful change.

Takeaways

• 🔑 The importance of problem framing: Mr. Rosen emphasized that how a problem is framed can unlock innovation and reveal solutions in unexpected places.
• 🚗 The anecdote about the high school student: A personal story illustrates how a simple observation can lead to a deeper understanding of the underlying issues, like the need to leave earlier rather than driving faster.
• 🔍 The use of 'five whys' and 'five so what's': These problem-solving techniques help to dig deeper into the root cause of an issue and to explore the implications of different problem statements.
• 🚍 The car rental industry example: Shows how changing the problem statement from 'the line is too slow' to 'time from plane to car' can lead to innovative solutions like Hertz NeverLost.
• 🪒 The Gillette example: Demonstrates how reframing the problem from 'the blade isn't sharp enough' to 'how quickly hair comes back' can lead to the invention of multi-blade razors.
• 🩺 The healthcare industry: Mr. Rosen shares his experience in healthcare, where reframing the problem statement can lead to more effective solutions, like online scheduling for doctor's appointments.
• 🐟 Lucky Iron Fish: An example of how reframing the problem of anemia from dietary change to iron leaching from cooking utensils led to a simple and effective solution.
• 🧿 Life-Saving Dot: Shows how reframing the problem of iodine deficiency from dietary change to skin absorption through a bindi led to a life-saving innovation.
• 👶 Embrace Baby Warmer: An example from healthcare where reframing the problem of keeping premature babies warm from incubators to body heat led to a cost-effective solution.
• 🏥 Discharges in healthcare: The story of how reframing the problem from 'discharges are too late' to 'time to treatment' can lead to innovative solutions that don't necessarily involve beds or discharge times.
• 🌐 The impact of deep immersion: Mr. Rosen explains that immersing oneself in the context of a problem can lead to a better understanding and innovative solutions, as illustrated by the stories of heart failure and cholera prevention.
• 🚢 The history of containerization: Concludes with the story of how a trucker's observation led to the invention of containerization, revolutionizing the shipping industry and demonstrating the power of reframing problems.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the provided transcript?

The speaker is Mr. Roy Rosen, the Chief Innovations Officer at the Penn Medical Center.

What is the main topic of Mr. Rosen's talk?

The main topic of Mr. Rosen's talk is 'Reframing Problems' and how it can unlock innovation and reveal solutions in unexpected places.

What is the significance of the story about Mr. Rosen's son and the car ride to school?

The story illustrates the importance of proper problem framing, showing how incorrect framing can lead to ineffective solutions.

What is the 'five whys' technique mentioned in the script?

The 'five whys' is a problem-solving technique that involves asking 'why' five times to get to the root cause of a problem.

How does Mr. Rosen use the car rental industry example to explain problem framing?

Mr. Rosen compares the traditional approach of speeding up the car rental line with the innovative approach of Hertz's 'NeverLost' service, which reframes the problem from speed of service to time from plane landing to being in the car.

What is the 'five so what's' technique that Mr. Rosen refers to?

The 'five so what's' technique is a method of exploring the implications of a problem statement, asking 'so what' to understand the underlying issues and potential benefits of different outcomes.

How does the story of the Lucky Iron Fish relate to problem reframing?

The Lucky Iron Fish story demonstrates how reframing the problem from dietary iron intake to iron leaching from cooking utensils led to an innovative solution for anemia.

What is the significance of the 'Embrace Baby Warmer' in the context of problem reframing?

The 'Embrace Baby Warmer' is an example of how reframing the problem from providing incubators to maintaining stable body temperature led to a cost-effective solution for premature babies.

What does Mr. Rosen suggest as a method for identifying the root problem in healthcare?

Mr. Rosen suggests deep immersion in the patient's world and context as a method for identifying the root problem, rather than assuming the problem based on superficial observations.

How does the story of Rita Colwell and the cholera solution exemplify problem reframing?

Rita Colwell's story shows how understanding the local culture and environment led to a simple and effective solution for cholera by using a sari cloth filter, rather than focusing on boiling water which was impractical for the locals.

What is the lesson from the brief history of the shipping industry that Mr. Rosen concludes with?

The lesson is the importance of recognizing and reframing the real problem, as demonstrated by the trucker who redefined the problem from the speed of shipping to the efficiency of loading and unloading, leading to the invention of containerization.