Fundamentals of Project Management, Third Edition

Defining the Problem

Every project solves a problem of some kind, but people are inclined to skip over the definition of the problem. This is a big mistake. The way you define a problem determines how you will solve it, so it is critical that a proper definition be developed. For example, too often a problem is defined in terms of a solution. A person may say, “I have a problem. My car has quit, and I have no way to get to work. How am I going to get my car repaired, because I have no money to do it?”

The problem has essentially been defined as “How do I repair my car?” The actual problem, however, at its most fundamental level, is that the person has no way to get to work—or so he says. But could he ride the bus, go with a coworker, or ride ...