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Focus Your Innovation Session

Target specific sections of your innovation brief to get more actionable results from AI collaborators

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Why Focus Matters

You can work on your entire innovation at once, but focusing on one section creates more actionable discussions and better outputs.

Each focus area maps to a section of your innovation input document. AI prompts, frameworks, and expert perspectives adapt based on your chosen focus, ensuring conversations stay relevant and productive.

Think of it like working on a patent application section-by-section: problem statement first, then solution details, then claims strategy. Focused work produces clearer artifacts.

The Five Focus Areas

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1. Problem Statement

Define the objective technical problem independent of solutions

Why Focus Here

Patents require clear problem articulation. This is your "why" - the technical challenge that needs solving. A well-defined problem makes everything downstream easier.

Frameworks That Help

  • • Jobs-to-Be-Done - Customer outcome mapping
  • • Customer Journey Mapping - Pain points and contexts
  • • Systems Thinking - Root causes and leverage points
  • • Problem-Solution Approach (EPO) - Patent-style problem framing
  • • Wardley Mapping - Strategic context

Typical Outputs

→ One-sentence problem statement
→ Outcome list (what success looks like)
→ Customer journey map
→ Causal loop diagram
→ Problem-Solution Approach (PSA) triplet

Example Prompts

"State the objective technical problem independent of solutions"
"What job is the customer trying to accomplish?"
"Map the causal loops contributing to this problem"

Experts to Consult

UX Researchers Systems Thinkers Patent Examiners Market Analysts
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2. Invention/Solution Description

Describe how your invention works and what makes it novel

Why Focus Here

This becomes your patent specification and claims. The more variants and embodiments you generate, the stronger your IP protection.

Frameworks That Help

  • • TRIZ - Contradiction resolution and inventive principles
  • • C-K Theory - Concept expansion beyond current knowledge
  • • Morphological Analysis - Solution combinations matrix
  • • QFD/House of Quality - Requirements to design mapping
  • • Analogy Mining - Cross-domain inspiration

Typical Outputs

→ TRIZ contradiction matrix
→ 3-5 concept families with variants
→ Morphology grid (solution combinations)
→ House of Quality draft
→ Concept sketches with annotations

Example Prompts

"List 10 variants using TRIZ contradictions"
"What are the non-obvious elements of this solution?"
"Generate embodiments by varying [parameter X]"

Experts to Consult

TRIZ Facilitators Claims Architects Domain Scientists Engineers
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3. Expert Skills & Approach Needed

Define what expertise is needed and how you'll approach the work

Why Focus Here

Helps assemble the right crew and validate feasibility. Understanding required skills and potential failure modes prevents costly mistakes.

Frameworks That Help

  • • Capability Mapping - Skills inventory and gaps
  • • Concept-level FMEA - Failure modes analysis early
  • • STPA (Safety) - Safety constraints and controls
  • • Assumption Mapping - Unvalidated beliefs identification

Typical Outputs

→ Capability map (skills needed vs. available)
→ FMEA table (failure modes, effects, mitigations)
→ STPA worksheet (safety constraints)
→ Top-10 assumptions list

Example Prompts

"What skills are required to build this?"
"Identify top 5 failure modes and propose mitigations"
"What are we assuming that could be wrong?"

Experts to Consult

Reliability Engineers Safety Engineers QA Leads Regulatory Advisors
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4. Defining Goals & Objectives

Define vision, business model, and success metrics

Why Focus Here

Aligns IP strategy with commercial goals. Patents without business models are expensive trophies. Goals ensure your innovation creates value.

Frameworks That Help

  • • Business Model Canvas / Lean Canvas - Business logic validation
  • • Value Proposition Design - Customer fit analysis
  • • Blue Ocean (ERRC grid) - Strategic positioning
  • • IP Portfolio/Option Thinking - Patent strategy matrix
  • • TRL Assessment - Technology maturity roadmap
  • • OKRs - Measurable outcomes framework

Typical Outputs

→ Vision statement (3-5 year horizon)
→ ERRC grid (Eliminate-Reduce-Raise-Create)
→ Option map (core/adjacent/exploratory patents)
→ TRL snapshot with de-risk plan
→ Business model canvas

Example Prompts

"What's the 10-year vision for this innovation?"
"How does this create and capture value?"
"Classify inventions into core/adjacent/options claims"

Experts to Consult

Patent Strategists Product Strategists Economists ESG Advisors
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5. Researching the Landscape

Map the competitive/prior art landscape and position your invention

Why Focus Here

Know what exists, find white space, strengthen distinctiveness. Prior art research makes or breaks patent applications.

Frameworks That Help

  • • Patent Landscaping - CPC/IPC cluster mapping
  • • Claim Charting - Element-by-element comparison
  • • Competitive Tear-Down - Reverse engineering analysis
  • • Problem-Solution Approach - Distinctiveness narrative
  • • Wardley Mapping - Evolution and gameplay strategies

Typical Outputs

→ Competitor grid (features, patents, positioning)
→ Claim chart (your invention vs. prior art)
→ CPC/IPC map (patent classification landscape)
→ Distinctiveness narrative
→ White space opportunities map

Example Prompts

"How would prior art or competitors invalidate this?"
"Map the patent landscape for [technology domain]"
"What's genuinely new here compared to closest prior art?"

Experts to Consult

Patent Searchers Claims Drafters Competitive Analysts Examiners

Working on Multiple Focus Areas

Sequential Approach (Recommended)

Work through focus areas one at a time in logical order:

  1. 1. Problem - Define the challenge
  2. 2. Solution - Generate embodiments
  3. 3. Goals - Align with business strategy
  4. 4. Research - Map competitive landscape
  5. 5. Skills - Validate feasibility

Each area builds on the previous, creating a complete innovation narrative.

Parallel Approach (Advanced)

Work on all areas simultaneously for comprehensive sessions:

  • • Best for experienced innovators who understand the full picture
  • • AI maintains context across all focus areas during discussion
  • • Generates holistic outputs that integrate multiple perspectives
  • • Longer sessions (3-4 hours) recommended for parallel work

Pro Tip: Even in parallel mode, articulate insights area-by-area for clearer documentation.

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