Oplossingwinning

Oplossingwinning is a Dutch neologism used in management and design thinking to describe an approach to problem solving that prioritizes outcomes and competitive value. The term blends oplossing (solution) with winning and is employed to denote a strategic mindset in which a solution is judged by its ability to create measurable wins for an organization and its stakeholders.

Origins and usage: The expression is not a formal concept with a single canonical definition. It circulated in Dutch-speaking business environments, consultancy practice, and academic writings from the late 2000s onward as a way to articulate outcome-driven problem solving within agile and value-centered frameworks.

Core ideas: Oplossingwinning emphasizes defining what counts as a win early, mapping stakeholder needs, and linking every proposed solution to concrete outcomes such as increased revenue, reduced risk, higher customer value, or improved sustainability. It favors iterative development, rapid testing, and decision-making based on impact versus effort.

Methodology: Typical steps include framing the problem and desired wins, generating diverse options, evaluating options with criteria for feasibility, desirability, and viability, selecting a preferred solution, implementing iteratively, and tracking outcomes against metrics.

Applications and examples: Used in product development, organizational change, process optimization, policy design, and strategic planning.

Critique: As a term, it can be vague or marketing-driven if used without clear definitions of 'wins' and metrics. Ethical considerations and stakeholder inclusivity should guide its application to avoid unintended consequences or value extraction.