Development & You Toolkit<\/a>, the \u201cProblem Definition Worksheet\u201d is intended to help nonprofit leaders clarify their mission-driven priorities and focus on how to solve key issues. <\/p>\nUse this tool in partnership with a small group of key stakeholders to identify a problem, examine it from multiple angles, and reframe it. <\/p>\n
For example, what happens if you see the people you serve as having capacities, rather than needs? Reframing can produce previously overlooked solutions.<\/p>\n
Key Takeaways<\/h3>\n
This tool is particularly effective for a team that needs to focus and prioritize tasks associated with solving a problem. In the \u201cProblem Definition Worksheet,\u201d you will find: <\/p>\n
\n- A small set of key criteria by which an issue can be articulated and assessed<\/li>\n
- A standardized way to compare several different problems which may seem to be very different on the surface<\/li>\n
- Five questions you can ask key stakeholders in order to better understand a problem and how to address it<\/li>\n
- Prompts for reframing the problem you initially addressed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Logistics<\/h3>\n
Length:<\/strong> 3 pages
\nLevel:<\/strong> Intermediate
\nRecommendations:<\/strong> Use the \u201cProblem Definition Worksheet\u201d individually or in small teams and reflect on a specific issue, exchanging thoughts while writing down your notes. The objective is to capture, compare, and discuss multiple viewpoints on the problem. The \u201cProblem Definition Worksheet\u201d can be used not only with your team members, but with other stakeholders, such as service users, volunteers, or board members, to explore new or overlooked angles of a problem. You should set aside at least an hour to complete this activity in a group setting. <\/p>\n