Diagnosis of the situation
Situation diagnosis is a structured identification of facts, context, causes and possible courses of action.
Definition
Situation diagnosis organizes what is known, what is missing and what needs to be checked. In practice, it combines observation of facts, analysis of causes, identification of stakeholders, limitations, risks and available resources. A good diagnosis does not end with a description of the problem; prepares the ground for decision and action.
Key ideas
- Facts and context
- Causes and resources
- Moving from chaos to plan
Practice and life
Make a diagnosis card: facts, hypotheses, missing data, main constraints, resources and next step. Don't mix facts with interpretations.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to diagnose a situation solely by the emotions of the moment. A common mistake is to ignore data that does not fit the first hypothesis.
> Before you fix it, see what's really working against you.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What do I know for sure and what do I just assume?
- What data do I still need to collect?
- Which limitation is most important in this situation?