Moving from

Solution to Problem
triet.nn - 4.11.2019
kahoot.it
Why Solutions Suck
Problem Case - A Mini Framework
Step 1: Getting into the problem

● Problem Statement

Step 2: Understand the Scenario

● Situations leading to it
● Variations on Problem
● Alternative (already possible) solutions
● Additional problems by solving this one

Step 3: How valuable is it?

● Value Premise / Hypothesis

 Step 1: Getting to
the Problem Statement(s)
5 Why’s
5 Why’s
#1 Ask the question "So what?"
What are the implications of that
problem?
Why is this important?
Continue asking “so what” until you
have drawn all possible conclusions
#2 Breaking Problems Down Into
Manageable Parts
Step 2: Walking Through the Scenario
#1 Situations leading to it
Which situations lead the stakeholder to
face this problem?
What creates this problem?
Why is this a problem?
#2 Variations on Problem
What if <unforeseen situation> happens?
What if <assumption> doesn’t happen?
#3 Alternative solutions
How could this problem be solved with
what we’ve already got?
 What if the solution were smaller than
proposed? Would that be good enough?
#3 Additional Problems
If we work on this, what other things
would we have to solve?
Which problems are caused by the
proposed solutions?
Are those problem aligned with our
current plan?
Step 3: Setting the Value Premises
How many people does it need to affect
for this to be considered
a pervasive problem?
How often does it need to happen?
Is solving this problem contributing to the
value proposition or not?
Step 1: Getting into the problem

● Problem Statement

Step 2: Understand the Scenario

● Situations leading to it
● Variations on Problem
● Alternative (already possible) solutions
● Additional problems by solving this one

Step 3: How valuable is it?

● Value Premise / Hypothesis

Problem Case in Practice
OTable Audit
 Takeaway
Understand the Problem before jumping to Solution

● Step 1: Getting to the Problem

● Step 2: Understand the Scenario
● Step 3: How valuable is it?

And at the end of the day ...

Bonus: Why Problems Rock
#1 Problems can be generalised
#2 Problems can be reframed
 #3 Problems encourage
cross-disciplinary collaborations
#4 Outsiders can lend their perspectives
The most useful input tends to
come from people who
understand but are not fully
part of your world.

Harvard Business Review

#5 Problems encourage learning