Problem Framing: A Better Way To Solve The Problem

-

Imagine you visit a doctor and say, “Doctor, I am not feeling well.” Without any diagnosis, the doctor prescribes you some medicine and asks you to return after a few days. How do you know if the medicine is suitable for you?

But what if you tell the doctor that you are not feeling well and the doctor starts understanding your problem by asking questions about your food, your lifestyle, the severity of the issue, and the source of the pain, and then explains the medicine? I hope that could help to fill the gap sooner than in the first case.

If you consider both the analogies, then there is one factor that is constant. That factor is going to the root of the problem, which is framing the problem. Many times, when a problem arises, we start solving it right away without examining it, understanding its pattern, and framing the right problem to solve. This is called the question-zero state of the problem. We mistake the outcome of the problem for the problem itself. Not feeling well is the outcome, but the real problem might be low WBC count or something else.

There are three things that should be considered for framing the problem

  1. The goal or objective: What are you trying to achieve or improve?
  2. The use case: Who are the users or customers of your solution?
  3. The real issue: What is the root cause or the pain point of the problem?

Let’s take the example of “How would you improve Google Maps?”

  • Outcome: improve Google Maps
  • Goal or objective: To increase revenue, engagement, or market share for Google Maps.
  • Use case: travellers, shop owners, students, etc.
  • Uncover real issue: finding the warehouse location, finding the unknown place, etc.

After reframing the problem into question zero, the effective question looks like: “How can we increase user engagement by 10% in 6 months by finding the optimal warehouse location for the brick-and-mortar shoppers who want to access the items they need?”

Question zero is the process where we frame the problem to its root and solve the root problem. Hence, problem solving starts with effectively framing the right problem.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Pain: Part- 2

-
Image
You lay down still on the bed and are unable to move or speak. You are trapped in the silent prison of your own mind. You feel every sensation in your body, but you have no control over them. You feel a sharp pain in your head, like a needle piercing your brain. You feel your heart beating slower and harder, squeezing your chest with every contraction. You feel a cold sensation spreading from your heart to the rest of your body, like ice in your veins. You feel waves of energy coursing through your body, but they only make you more aware of your helplessness. You feel it in your bones, your muscles, and your nerves. You feel it in your heart, your lungs, and your brain. Every part of your body is affected by this pain. You feel tears rolling down your cheeks, but you can’t wipe them away. You look calm and composed on the outside, but inside you are screaming for relief. You want to scream until you feel something again. But you can’t, because your body won’t let you. You want to escap...
Read more

The Mysterious Product

-
Image
Recently, I went to one of the ceremonies and sat near a tree. Adjacent to me sat one woman. She discussed lots of things with her spouse, and I was observing their discussion quietly. While she was sharing, suddenly at one point came where she said, "How are humans so beautifully unique? Everyone has the same hands, legs, and ears, but no one is the same" Adam and Eva Definitely, we learn lots of things in biology. But to the extent, the question was so profound as a product. How can such a design has been built? The best product ever - Living Things Mostly. Definitely, over a period of time, lots of QA has been done and lots of releases also happened. Whatever we are today it's the latest version.
Read more

How do you assert yourself?

-
Image
Do you remember your last breakup?   Everyone around you starts helping you with words like "don't think about her and move on" or "she/he is not perfect for us." There may be or not a valid reason, but still understanding intellectuals is easier than emotionally.  In the same situation, we need emotionally to face guilt, regret, anger, shame, grief, pain, and hidden emotions of which we are not aware.      Intellectual VS Emotions    We know getting high involves drinking alcohol or smoking, but there is another way to get high: constantly seeking quotes or any intellectual vocabulary that helps us to cover up our emotions so that it can at least help us to feel better to some extent. That is why, when we hear any motivational video, we feel better, and sometime later, we come back to normal. Maybe intellectually we are so keen on our solution, but it's very hard to implement in our daily lives. because we don't understand the emotions ourselve...
Read more

The Pain: Part-1

-
Image
When we are moving around and suddenly our pinky toe bumps up against a wall and a sound erupts from our mouth, or when we are eating and suddenly we bite our tongue and a tear escapes from our eye, we refer to this as a PAIN.  Yet the real question is, what became of those brief moments? We only experience pain in about 5% of our body, and it nearly brings us to tears. Let's explore. The ability to experience pain is a biological necessity. But on occasion, you meet someone and get the impression that they aren't feeling any pain, which makes you envious of them. Is this agony justified?  But, there is one undervalued aspect of pain: it serves a purpose . yet how? When we tread on our pinky toe in a corner, nociceptor nerves sense tissue damage and transmit a signal to the brain via the spinal cord. Pulling the leg away from the corner, of this contraction will limit further injury. This reflex occurs before the message reaches the brain. Once the pain message arrives, it cau...
Read more

Life is here and now

-
Image
A drop of rain lands on my face It feels cold and warm, a sign of grace  It slides down from my head to my feet  It makes me remember something I should not forget Life is here and now, in the present  The pain we feel is from the past or the future  But the life we live is in this moment  Hope in the future and sorrow in the past But the life we live is here We chase a life in the future  and regret the past  But the life we live is here  The raindrop teaches me a lesson  that, I learn every day Life is here and now
Read more