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Frame The Problem
Table of contents
What is Frame The Problem?
Frame The Problem is a card from the Team Tactics deck by Pip Decks.
Are you certain you are working on the right problem? Do you have all the research you need to understand it fully? Do you all understand the problem the same way? Use this tactic to find out.
“If I have an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about the solution.” ‒ Albert Einstein
Afterwards, try Impact Effort Map to decide which ideas to take forward. Use Agile Comms to communicate your plan early and often.
When to use Frame The Problem
- When a team is unclear about project goals
- When a business is pivoting or changing strategy
- When launching a new product or service
- When team alignment is lacking
- When facing repeated project failures
- When entering a new market
- When experiencing communication breakdowns
How to use Frame The Problem
As a group, discuss and answer these questions:
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Why are we doing this work? What problem does it solve? What is our motivation?
For example: we want to change how people travel.
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Who are our users? Who do we think would benefit from using this product or service?
For example: people who frequently travel long distances.
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What outcome will our users get from this service? What problem will it solve for them?
For example: they will spend less time travelling and arrive feeling fresh.
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What outcome are we looking for? Will it solve a problem? What will it solve for our organisation?
For example: remove the risk of being stuck in a dwindling market.
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What are our key metrics? What do we need to measure against these outcomes?
For example: reduction in travel time, income from sales of flying machines.
Tip: keep your answers handy and constantly refer back to them and iterate. They give clear reasoning and constraints that support prioritisation.
