Reframing Matrix

What is this technique about

The Reframing Matrix technique helps to overcome cognitive biases in ideation and problem analysis by enabling the students to look at a problem from other than their usual perspective. By exploring the problem with a different perspective allows for understanding it better in its complexity and to generate more creative solutions.

Where does it come from 

Perspective taking is a central concept in the “Sociology of Knowledge” developed by George Herbert MEAD (1968). Mead finds that the perspective of an individual is limited by her or his knowledge, and that perspective taking is a process of putting oneself in the position of others to enable knowledge development. This is known as central to creativity processes (Wolf & Troxler, 2008). The Reframing Matrix technique was translated to the business environment by Michael Morgan (1993). In his book “Creating Workforce Innovation.” (Mindtools, n.a.) 

For which purposes it is used (why in your engineering teaching)

In problem analysis, humans identify challenges and make sense of them based on prior experience. In ideation processes, the resulting thinking habits and cognitive biases naturally limit. creativity. To overcome such biases, it is often helpful to look at a problem from different perspectives and with others (Carrier & Steward, n.a.).

This technique can be used to demonstrate that different people with different experiences will likely approach problems in different ways, or that different future product stakeholders will potentially have different needs that should be considered when developing a solution.  The matrix helps students to put themselves into the minds of others, to imagine the ways that they would face the problem, and to explore the possible solutions that they might suggest.

How to use it

To use the reframing method is quite simple. The facilitator should prepare a 2×2 matrix with the problem in the middle. The four empty boxes of the matrix are for four different perspectives to analyze the problem – these can be the four Ps (product, planning, potential and people) for analyzing product-related challenges, the PPPC perspectives (people, processes, platform, and culture) for analyzing challenges in processes (Carrier & Stewart, n.a.), or any other combination of relevant perspectives. Ask participants to brainstorm either on the root causes or solutions of the problem from the different perspectives, to fill their matrix, and to present it In class.