Which – Which is the seventh question

“Which” is the most fun, intriguing, and interesting of the seven questions.  And it seems the one everyone forgets. 

Asking “which” questions builds clarity by differentiating important details from unimportant details. 

If “which” questions cannot be answered on the spot, 

then they allow us to create meaningful follow-up actions and discussions. 

And “which” questions can be asked at any time: 

right at the start of creating an original idea, 

right up to the final close of a project.

“Which” is the question of free will.  

It reminds us of the choices we always have, but may not recognize.

DONE.

How – How to use the seven questions

Here is a brief overview of how to use the Seven Questions in proposing a new idea.

“what” questions get answers about things (tangibles), concepts (intangibles), and related activities

“why” questions get answers about motivations: reasons (historical causes) and purposes (future drivers)

“who” questions get answers about the people (individual human beings) and roles (characterizations individuals portray)

“when” questions get answers about time: dates (fixed or ranges) and schedules (sequences for events)

“where” questions, we get answers about places (physical) and locations (virtual)

“how” questions get answers about strategies (approaches to the problems) and methods (patterns for solving the problems)

“which” questions build clarity by differentiating important details from unimportant details in the other six questions.

Please note - the order of answering the questions is not inherently important.  But sometimes you may want to answer the questions in a specific sequence to foster a flow of the presented idea. 

DONE.

Who – Who needs the seven questions

There are two primary users of the seven questions

(1) Anyone who needs to organize her / his ideas into a meaningful proposal

(2) Anyone who needs to confirm a proposal is meaningful and comprehensive

The seven questions are an Agile tool for people to communicate in a structured fashion, which is simple and easy to remember – Seven Questions! 

DONE.