Solving Business Problems With Inversion Technique

Typically, what we do when we encounter any business problem is to point a finger, understand the cause, think of options, then decide what to do. If we fail, then we do plan B.

I came across with inversion or retrograde analysis with some articles I found online, and I wonder how can this concept apply to real-life business problems.

I\’d love to share some sample scenarios based on my experience hoping this could help you as well.

Case #1 – Sales Problem: Leads generation.
Inversion Analysis: How can I prevent the company from generating leads?
Some Answers: Don\’t do telemarketing and online marketing, don\’t ask for referrals from friends and existing customers ( i just thought about this now), don\’t analyze what the customers want, don\’t do promotions.

Action plan: Ask for referrals, analyze the market, start an online marketing campaign.

Case #2 – Operational Problem: Team Performance
Inversion Analysis: How can I prevent the team from delivering on time, and with quality?
Some Answers: Keep unprofessional people, don\’t strengthen recruitment screening, don\’t lead the team, don\’t provide training.
Action plan: Strengthen HR rules, policies and recruitment. Establish a good training program. Lead by example, coaching, and motivation.

Case #3 – Financial problem: Cash flow
Inversion Analysis: How can I make the company run short in cash?
Some Answers: Don\’t force collection, don\’t control expenses, don\’t match revenue and expenses, invest on an asset without a careful assessment.
Action plan: Strengthen collection and maintain a \”funded\” budget.

Case $4 – Product development problem: Marketability
Inversion Analysis: How can I make the product not sellable and marketable?
Some Answers: Develop fancy features that customers do not need, don\’t analyze customer benefits, don\’t invest time to enhance the user experience.
Action plan: Realize customer benefits and invest time in enhancing the user experience.

In summary, I think the main benefit of this technique is to make us look at things and problems on a different perspective. Examples above are sort of like high-level, but you can go down to a more detailed problem to solve using inversion.