Productive Thinking Model

The Productive Thinking Model, developed by Tim Hurson, is a structured six-step framework for creative problem-solving. It ensures you fully understand a problem before jumping to solutions.

Follow the six steps in order:

1. What's going on? — Understand the situation. What's the problem? What's the impact? Who's affected? What's the vision of the future?
2. What's success? — Define what a successful outcome looks like. Use the DRIVE criteria: Do we have a Definition? Resources? Investment? Values? Essential outcomes?
3. What's the question? — Reframe the problem as questions starting with "How might we...?" Generate many different question framings.
4. Generate answers — Brainstorm as many potential solutions as possible. Don't judge yet — go for quantity.
5. Forge the solution — Evaluate your ideas. Combine and refine the best ones into a complete solution. Consider POWER: Positives, Objections, What else?, Enhancements, Remedies.
6. Align resources — Create an action plan. Who does what? By when? What resources are needed?

1. What's going on? Churn increased 15% in Q2. Mostly affects enterprise clients. They cite "lack of features."
2. What's success? Reduce churn to below 5% in 6 months.
3. What's the question? "How might we make enterprise clients feel they're getting enough value?"
4. Generate answers: Dedicated account managers, custom feature development, quarterly business reviews, integration partnerships...
5. Forge the solution: Implement quarterly business reviews + create an enterprise feature roadmap shared with clients.
6. Align resources: CS team leads QBRs starting next month. Product allocates 20% of sprints to enterprise requests.

The Productive Thinking Model ensures you thoroughly understand problems before solving them. The structured approach prevents premature solutions and encourages creative, well-considered outcomes.