Plusses, potentials and concerns are a technique that
constructively evaluated an idea and is closely related to the ‘developmental
response’ (see also Receptivity
To Ideas (qv) and Advantages, Limitations and Unique Qualities (qv)).
The development of each idea is quite time consuming
and therefore the technique is more appropriate for use on a short-list
of ideas than for general screening of large numbers of ideas.
Prepare your ideas into a form such as: ‘What
I see myself/us doing is…’ Then list:
- 3 or more ‘plusses’ (Strong points)
- 3 or more ‘potentials’ (Spin-offs, researchable possibilities,
etc)
- Your ‘concerns’ about the idea, using the layout:
‘How to…?’ And putting them in order of importance.
- Starting with the most important idea make notes on how you can
overcome each concern (or at least the main ones).
- Taking into account step 4, try to improve your original idea:
for instance:
- How to get people to understand it and become enthusiastic
for it
- Its advantages and disadvantages (and how to surmount the
disadvantages);
- The resources required (people, materials, money…)
- How to pre-test it (e.g. are there particular times or locations
you might use?)
- How to identify when implementation is complete
- In order to keep the momentum going, put in place the opening
steps of a suitable action plan, with at least one step to be done
within the next day.
[Source:
www.mycoted.com]