Project Academy

Picking a Problem & Developing the Requirements/ Research

Summary: We are a team of people who have a purpose to make our society a better place. What do we do next? Decide on an issue that we all want to make better. We should listen to what the need is in society and then decide on the problem to work on. Research issues in the community to decide on what you want to do. What tools you will use to find the root cause of the problem you will select. How will you judge your results and have fun doing this selection process?

Questions:

Whom are we trying to help?

How do we know our idea is wanted or needed by those we are trying to help?

Is the world is thinking about this problem or has tried something like this already?

Who are potential community partners and allies?

What additional questions do we need to ask? To whom?

What outcomes are we looking for?

Process:

Step 1

Identify the need or problem

Do research to answer your questions about the potential problem

Compare / Contrast is used to show similarities and differences
Decision process
Drawing Conclusions

Research

Classification
Sequencing
Critical Thinking
Compare / Contrast

Root Cause

Step 2

Team discussion ...

Develop possible solutions Questions

Be creative in your thinking.
Are there issues in picking the problem?

How are we going to organize doing this process?
What's the important issues in the community?
How will we do this?

Step 3

Use tools to evaluate the root cause Problem Framing,

Look for many options to reframe the problem. Its like doing a brain-storming for the problem vs. the solution.

Examples

Picking a Topic

Fishbone Diagram

The 5 Whys

Step 4

Final one is selected to work on

Does it need to be broken into its parts?

Step 5

Create the requirements for judging you final solution

Requirement

A few words on problem area selection

This will be considered later in the methodology, but it's useful to begin to formulate your ideas.
Consider areas of common interest and passions within your group - this can coalesce around your mission.
If it is a big problem, you can focus on a smaller area to make a more practical and immediate impact.
Be creative on enlisting supports.
There is no wrong answer - work on a problem that inspires you!