Screenshot of page from the Problem Framing Canvas Handbook showing a template.

Problem Framing Canvas Handbook and Template

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Introduction

Not quite sure how to start figuring out what the actual problem is you are trying to solve? Here is a guide and template to help you think about framing your problem before jumping into problem solving.

Problems are always opportunities to create better futures. – Burkett, Source, pg. 17

About

The handbook was developed by Ingrid Burkett from the Griffith Centre for Systems Innovation at Griffith University.

“This canvas and workbook were borne out of frustration and a sense of possibility. We’ve worked in various tricky and complex contexts where we were confronted with a raft of responses ranging from: ‘quick fixes’, ‘offthe-shelf solutions’, ‘transplanted solutions’, to ‘we’re stuck’.

We’ve seen the effects of analysis paralysis, diving down wombat holes (the Australian alternative to rabbit holes!), and getting lost in problems that were not really the problem. So, we started to explore ways in which we could work with people to ‘zoom out’ and focus on how they could frame and name problems more effectively, recognise different types of problems, and start to ‘learn’ their way into responding.

We developed some of our own ways of helping people, and we borrowed some of the great tools and frameworks others have used to support better framings and responses to problems. We drew these together in a canvas to help people spend more time framing problems rather than jumping headlong into problem ‘solving’.

We found that this approach helped people to develop better skills to analyse problems and to reflect, test, and learn about possible responses more effectively. The response from teams we’ve worked with has been very positive – and we’ve refined the canvas via feedback and testing.

In 2022 we shared the canvas in one of our social media posts and were inundated with requests for deeper explanations of each of the segments. In response, in 2023 we are making our Problem Framing Canvas workshop materials open source through this workbook.” – Burkett, Source

If I had an hour to solve a problem l’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and five minutes thinking about solutions. – Albert Einstein

The Problem Statement

The problem statement provides a starting point for moving the problem out of our heads and onto a page. It can also give us some clues about what assumptions we are making in framing the problem.

The five Ws (who, what, where, when and why) can help you with your first cut problem statement and you can use these to frame your problem.

Aim for a short, clear statement of the problem, who it impacts, what needs to change (or what the need is), and why this is a problem.

The problem is….(what)….. It affects….(who, where and when). This… needs to change (what needs to change) because … (why).

What

  • What is the focus of the problem?
  • What supporting evidence is there about this problem?

Who

  • Who is affected by the problem?
  • How do we know?
  • How are their voices present in the problem statement?

Where

  • Where does this problem occur?
  • How does the context of the problem impact its expression?

When

  • When does the problem occur – and what is the timeframe in which it has developed?

Why

  • Why is this problem worth addressing?
  • What impact will addressing it have?

Excerpts

Here is a sneak peek into the full guide.

Framing and reframing approaches are not ‘problem-solving’ methods as such. Instead, they help us with sense-making – making and remaking sense of the problems so we can better understand and respond. – Burkett, Source, pg. 17

Access Resource

Problem Framing Canvas Handbook: Making sense of problems for better responses
Find the template on page 2.

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