Overview

You cannot begin to work on solutions until you have a clear definition of the problem and the goals you want to achieve. This critical first stage of the process requires that you effectively communicate with the audience or whoever has the problem that needs solving.

For our purposes, we will use Barry Hymans Problem Formulation model to clearly define a problem. Hymans Problem Formulation model consists of 4 elements:

1. Need Statement: recognizes and describes the need for a solution or improvement to an unsatisfactory situation. It answers the questions, what is wrong with the way things are currently? What is unsatisfactory about it? What negative effects does this situation cause? What needs to awareness?"
2. Goal Statement: describes what the improved situation would look like once a solution has been implemented. The goal statement defines the scope of your search for a solution. At this point, do not describe your solution, only the goal that any proposed solution should achieve. Try to be specific. The broader you make your goal, the more numerous and varied the solution can be; a narrowly focused goal limits the number and variety of possible solutions, making it more reasonable and doable given your situation and environment.
3. Objectives: define measurable, specific outcomes that any feasible solution should optimize (aspects you can use to grade the effectiveness of the solution). Objectives provide you with ways to quantifiably measure how well any solution will solve the problem; ideally, they will allow you to compare multiple solutions and figure out which one is most effective (which one gets the highest score on meeting the objectives?).
4. Constraints: define the limits that any feasible solution must adhere to in order to be acceptable (pass/fail conditions, range limits, etc.). The key word here is must constraints are the go/no go conditions that determine whether a solution is acceptable or not. These often include budget and time limits, as well as legal, safety and other regulatory requirements.

Instructions

Using Barry Hymans Problem Formulation model, define an area of impact. Remember, to use the four levels to make clear what you want your campaign to address. Just do your best to come up with a draft. We will be working together to refine these ideas.

1. Need/Unsatisfactory situation:
2. What is your goal?
3. What are some measurable objectives you want to achieve?
4. What are your constraints?