What is it good for?
- Getting clear about the core of the challenge you want to address
- Involving the team
When to use it
At the start of the project, before you tackle your knowledge board. You could do this activity with your team in the same kick-off workshop session.
Get the tool
Make a copy of the Problem Statement template and get started
How to use it
Identifying the right problem to solve may seem straightforward, but it often requires deeper thinking than expected. Watch this short video or read on for guidance on how to write a good Problem Statement.
A valuable approach to figuring out your problem is the 5 Whys exercise—a technique you can run with your stakeholders. By repeatedly asking "why," this method helps uncover the root cause of a problem, directing your focus for the rest of your project.
- Plan a session with your team or stakeholders.
- As a group, agree and write down the problem you want to tackle. Try to keep it simple. Here's a structure you can follow: When [who are the people affected by the problem?] are [what is the situation?] then [what problem arises?]. This means [what are the effects of the problem?]
Here's an example:
When people seeking legal support are unable to confirm an appointment then they miss their legal appointments. This means they don't receive the legal support they need.
- Next, ask the team: "Why do we have this problem?" Write down the answer using the same format.
- Ask "Why" again and document the response.
- You can repeat this process up to 5 times, though you may discover your core problem after 3–4 rounds.