I came across the latest of Lenny Rachitsky's podcast featuring Sam S. where they discuss disruptive innovation and tools to think innovatively.

Sam talks about "why not" questions which focus on challenges with innovation and distinguishes it with "what if" questions which encourage imagination and explore the possibilities of an innovation. He refers to "first-principles thinking", the key to which is to figure out what you want to achieve, identify the levers preventing that achievement ("why not" questions) and then question every assumption standing in the way of making it possible ("what if" questions).

Let’s apply these tools to a problem we all face: Locating vehicle in large parking spaces

Fundamental truth: Users want a quick and easy way to find their parked vehicles in large parking spaces.


First Principles Thinking

Q-What are the basic elements of the parking experience?
A-Arrival, information processing, navigation and payment
Q-What makes locating parked vehicles so frustrating?
A-Confusing layouts, lack of landmarks, size of parking spaces and unreliable memory of user
Q-Why do parking lots rely on paper tickets and cryptic signage?
Q- Can't we rethink layouts, pricing models and the relationship between vehicles and their owners?


Why not and What if questions:

Why not: Reliance on current parking technologies
What if we incorporate augmented reality (AR) to guide users to their parked vehicles? What if we collaborate with parking space providers to integrate smart navigation systems directly into their infrastructure?

Why not: Usage of methods like numbered rows is easy
What if we implement a dynamic parking space allocation system based on real-time occupancy?

Why not: Human attendants for guiding users is convenient
What if we integrate machine learning algorithms to predict popular parking areas during specific times? What if the parking area was equipped with sensors providing live updates on available spaces and guiding users to their cars?

Why not: Dependence on GPS
What if users could interact with a chatbot or voice assistant to find their vehicles? What if we develop low-cost, alternative positioning methods using existing infrastructure like cameras or sound sensors? What if indoor positioning technology is used to guide users?

Why Not: Privacy concerns over sharing of real-time parking data
What If we implement anonymization algorithms and opt-in features to ensure user privacy while implementing a collaborative parking network?

Products follow a dynamics similar to thermodynamic rule. If a product adds only a small amount of value, its adoption tends to be slow. However, if a product brings substantial value, adoption can be rapid.