Defining a Problem Before Jumping to Solutions

From the Marshall Memo #449

In this Harvard Business Review article, entrepreneur Dwayne Spradlin quotes Albert Einstein: “If I were given one hour to save the planet, I would spend 59 minutes defining the problem and one minute resolving it.” Spradlin believes most organizations don’t follow this maxim, and presents a truly systematic way of thinking a problem through before implementing the best solution. This process was applied to the problem of 1.1 billion people not having access to clean drinking water, but it could also be applied to the challenge of helping all students within a school district become proficient readers and writers. 

• Establish the need for a solution. What is the basic need? What is the desired outcome? Who stands to benefit and why?

• Justify the need. Is the effort aligned with our strategy? What are the desired benefits for the organization, and how will we measure them? How will we ensure that a solution is implemented?

• Contextualize the problem. What approaches have we tried? What have others tried? What are the internal and external constraints on implementing a solution?

• Write the problem statement. Is the problem actually many problems? What requirements must a solution meet? Which problem solvers should we engage? What information and language should the problem statement include? What do solvers need to submit? What incentives do solvers need? How will solutions be evaluated and success measured?

“Are You Solving the Right Problem?” by Dwayne Spradlin in Harvard Business Review, September 2012 (Vol. 90, #9, p. 84-93), no e-link available