Problem identification
Identifying a problem means grasping what really needs to be solved before looking for corrective actions.
Definition
At first, many difficulties look like chaos: symptoms, emotions, pressure and guesswork all mix together. Problem identification involves separating facts from interpretations, symptoms from causes, and important issues from peripheral issues. A well-named problem reduces random actions and allows you to proceed to diagnosis, hypotheses and testing of solutions.
Key ideas
- Separating the symptom from the problem
- Description of facts
- Starting point for solving
Practice and life
Write the problem in one sentence as follows: "In situation X, Y occurs, which causes Z." Then check that the sentence describes observable facts and not just an assessment.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to start with a solution before knowing what problem you want to solve. A common mistake is to give the problem too broad a form, e.g. "everything is wrong."
> A problem without a name usually drives things from the shadows.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What exactly is happening?
- What effect of this problem is most felt?
- What data shows this is a real problem?