Assess assumptions on certainty and risk to prioritize validation efforts. Use at project start or before phase transitions.
Test whether assumptions are true before making commitments. Use when assumptions have low certainty and high risk.
Create structured visualizations of stakeholder perspectives (says, thinks, does, feels) to build deep understanding. Use when conducting user research or validating assumptions.
Assess solution ideas on impact and feasibility to prioritize prototyping. Use during Ideate phase when deciding which ideas to pursue.
Transform raw research into actionable insights that inform design decisions. Use during Define phase after completing research.
Distinguish user wants from underlying needs to guide solution design. Use when stakeholders make feature requests or during Define phase.
Create clear leadership presentations that communicate findings and enable good decisions. Use at end of each phase or before major commitments.
Define what to build at what fidelity to learn what you need without over-investing. Use before starting any prototype.