Understanding the problem
Understanding a problem means recognizing what the difficulty really is, what its causes, limits, effects and context are.
Definition
Understanding the problem precedes a sensible solution. It involves distinguishing symptoms from causes, establishing a scale, collecting data, identifying stakeholders and determining what will constitute improvement. Without this, it is easy to solve an apparent problem or act on the loudest symptom.
Key ideas
- Problem definition
- Causes and symptoms
- Criteria for improvement
Practice and life
Describe the problem in one sentence, then add: symptoms, possible causes, missing data and improvement criteria.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to start with a solution before understanding the problem. It is also a mistake to focus only on the guilty person instead of the mechanism.
> The well-named problem is now partially sorted out.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What problem am I really solving?
- What is the symptom and what is the cause?
- How will I know if the problem has been reduced?