Problem framing worksheet
Turn a vague complaint into a measurable current-to-desired gap, explicit boundary, evidence list, competing explanations, and one useful next test.
What will this worksheet create?
It produces a problem brief that keeps observations separate from causes and preferred solutions.
- Gap: the measurable difference between the current and expected state.
- Boundary: who, where, and when the problem affects.
- Evidence: what is known, what remains assumed, and which next test could change the decision.
The brief does not invent a solution
Missing evidence remains visibly missing. The output recommends a decision-changing observation instead of filling uncertainty with generic advice.
Why framing comes before solving
A solution can be efficient and still solve the wrong problem. A good frame makes the gap observable, the boundary explicit, and the next evidence-gathering step small enough to run. Keep the current condition, expected condition, impact, causes, and proposed interventions separate so an early preference does not become a fact.
What a testable problem statement contains
Name the affected population or process, the current measure, the expected measure, the time window, and the boundary. Add known constraints and evidence separately. Competing explanations belong in the brief because the same symptom can be produced by different mechanisms. A next test should create information that changes the decision, not merely collect more of the same evidence.
Rewrite a vague complaint
Replace checkout is too slow with a measurable form: mobile checkout completion fell from the expected range during the last two weeks, concentrated after payment confirmation on Safari. The first version already assumes latency. The second states a gap, scope, period, and stage while leaving room for rendering, validation, provider, or measurement explanations.
Read the testable problem statement guide, then use the hypothesis-driven problem-solving guide to compare explanations without locking onto the first plausible cause.