Needs Statements
This activity helps your team stay focused on community needs, desires, and goals. It’s particularly useful when you feel the need to re-center your work in community perspectives. When resources are limited, focusing on community needs is especially critical.
Example Scenario: Consider the needs of clients who may now require virtual services or support.
Instructions:
Introduce the needs statement template:
Review the template: “The user needs a way to [do something] that addresses their need so that they [benefit directly].”
Identify user pain points:
Start by focusing on the community’s pain points. For each pain point, write one or more needs statements.
Avoid feature-focused statements:
Ensure that the statements describe what the community desires or wants, not specific features or functions.
Cluster and discuss:
Group similar needs statements together and discuss them as a group.
Create a North Star needs statement (Optional):
After clustering, write a single needs statement that encapsulates the entire field.
Notes:
Use different colored sticky notes for different community groups.
Reference testimonial quotes from the community to inform the needs statements.
Keep the needs statements visible moving forward to guide decision-making.