Innovation for Nonprofits: Using ‘Alternate Worlds’ to Unlock Innovative Solutions (Part 2: Ideate)

Introduction 

In our last blog, we explored the AEIOU framework for systematic observation and clarification. Now, let's dive into a powerful tool for step 2 [ideate] in a systematic innovation process that can help any organization break free from conventional thinking: Alternate Worlds.

What is This Alternate Worlds Thinking Thing?

Alternate Worlds is a structured approach to borrowing successful strategies from different industries, organizations, and disciplines to generate innovative solutions. This tool helps us break free from our sector-specific mindsets and discover unexpected solutions.

How Does It Work? The process involves three key steps:

1. Identify your core challenge

2. Explore analogous situations in different contexts

3. Transfer and adapt successful strategies

Case Study: Clarify (Part 2)

Let's look at how fictional Mountain Home Solutions, a fictional affordable housing nonprofit, used the Alternate Worlds technique to their core challenge = inefficient and burdensome housing application processes:

Alternate Worlds Exploration:

• Restaurant Industry: Fast-casual dining's efficient queue management

• Theme Parks: Virtual queuing systems

• Healthcare: Patient pre-registration processes

• Airlines: Digital check-in and status updates

Resulting Innovations:

• Implementation of a "FastTrack" application system

• Virtual application status dashboard

• Pre-qualification toolkit

• Mobile-first documentation process

Homework: Put Alternate Worlds Thinking into Action!

Step 1: Define Your Challenge / Choose Your Focus Area

Choose either one of these nonprofit interaction points below OR use the core challenges identified from the first blog post of this series (read it HERE). Be sure to then write down a clear problem statement, for example: "How might we...":

• Donation experience

• Program Registration

• Volunteer engagement

• Impact storytelling

• Digital communication

Step 2: Research & Observation

Review your data sources:

• Analytics platforms

• User Feedback

• Survey results

• Team input

Analyze via Spreadsheet, Doc, or Paper:

• Current Process

• Pain Points

• Success Metrics

• Stakeholder Impact

Step 3: ‘Alternate Worlds’ Exploration

A. Identify 3-5 Different ‘Worlds’

• Choose at least two completely unrelated industries

• Consider: Nature, Sports, Entertainment, Technology, Education

B. Deep Dive Analysis For each "world":

1. What similar challenges do they face?

2. How do they solve these challenges?

3. What makes their solution effective?

4. What principles could you adopt?

C. Create a table:

Columns might include…

• Alternate World

• Their Solution

• Key Principle

• Potential Application

Bonus: Organize a round-robin session with your team!

1. Individual ideation in different "worlds"

2. Peer critique and refinement

3. Group synthesis and implementation planning

4. Sketch or diagram potential solutions together

Common Pitfalls to Avoid:

• Staying too close to familiar industries

• Dismissing ideas too quickly

• Forgetting to adapt solutions to your context

• Missing the underlying principles

Looking Ahead In our next blog (Part 3), we'll explore how to develop and test these innovative ideas through Rapid Experimentation.