Problem/Need

A problem statement is a clear concise description of the issue(s) that need(s) to be addressed by a problem solving team. It is used to center and focus the team at the beginning, keep the team on track during the effort, and is used to validate that the effort delivered an outcome that solves the problem statement. It has a specific form:

1. Issue Statement — one or two sentences that describe the problem using specific issues. It is not a “lack of a solution” statement. For example, our problem is that we don’t have an ERP system.
2. Vision — what does the world look like if we solve the problem?
3. The 5 ‘W’s — Who, What, Where, When and Why — is a great tool that helps get pertinent information out for discussion.