Ever sat in a meeting where everyone jumped straight to solutions? “We need a new app!” “Let’s redesign the homepage!” “AI will fix everything!” This solution-first thinking is endemic in digital development — and it’s why so many projects fail to deliver real value. As the creator of the Core Model methodology, I developed this approach to flip the script: instead of starting with solutions, we start FROM the answer.
What’s the difference? Starting with solutions means imposing our preconceived ideas. Starting FROM the answer to a user task means forming a hypothesis about what users need, then taking a step back to follow a simple structure that validates and refines that hypothesis.
Six Good Questions That Lead to Better Answers #
At its heart, the Core Model is simply six good questions asked in the right order, with a seventh that drives action. It appeals to common sense — something often in short supply during complex digital projects.
When I introduced this approach to a large organization struggling with their website, their head of digital admitted: “We’ve been asking all these questions separately, but never in this structured way that connects them.”
These questions help teams pause, align around what matters, and create solutions that actually work:
- Who are we trying to help, and what’s their situation?
- What are they trying to accomplish?
- What do we want to achieve?
- How do they approach this need?
- Where should they go next?
- What’s the essential content or functionality they need?
- What needs to be done to create this solution?
This simple framework creates clarity across team boundaries, bringing together content creators, designers, developers, customer service, subject matter experts, and leadership around a shared understanding.