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Simple & Pragmatic Problem Solving
#16Chapter 3: Problem Identification Techniques• Problem IdentificationCreative ThinkingIndividual and group Mode15-30 min(Rapid)

Draw a Picture of the Problem

From the book "Advanced Problem-Solving Toolbox: 115 Creative Plays" | Compiled & Edited by: Mojtaba Goudarzi, Open translation: Mehrshid Goudarzi
Executive Synopsis & Core Logic:

Visually drawing problem flows, nodes and connections to activate the right hemisphere of the brain and discover process breaks.

Operational Parameters & Specifications

Category
Problem Identification
Dominant Thinking
Creative
Participation
Individual and group
Estimated TimeRapid
15-30 min
Fast
Input Format
Ideas and images
Output Format
Idea generation
Key Application
Discover communication breakdowns between units, hidden bottlenecks and repetitive patterns in complex systems.
Core Differentiator:

Intuitive display of relationships and data/work flow on paper instead of boring text reports and tables.

Quick Field Example:

Mapping the customer journey cycle and identifying bottlenecks flow customer feedback to the product development team.

Operational Benefits & Implementation Risks

Advantages & Value Creation:

Simplicity, creating a visual common language among team members, instantly revealing nodes and missing links.

Risks & Potential Trade-offs:

Some people's initial fear of not having painting skills and the possibility of the image being too crowded.

Real-World Organizational & Industry Scenarios

Sales and value chain analysis: mapping the lead entry path to the payment stage and discovering the conversion drop.
Product and UX Development: Visually mapping the user journey in an app and uncovering barriers to purchase completion.
Personal management: Discovering the causes of daily time wastage by drawing activity flow graphs.

Strategic Rationale & Why to Apply

1Super visual processing power of the brain: The human brain analyzes images much faster than texts.
2Discover invisible connections: The interrelationships of parts are much clearer on paper than in the mind.
3Breaking Mental Lockdowns: Activating Intuition and Creativity with Simple Pencil and Paper Tools.
4Facilitate team discussion: A picture on a whiteboard clears up misunderstandings in minutes.

Conceptual Framework & Book Method Description

In the "Draw a Picture of the Problem" technique, no artistic design skills are required; Drawing circles, rectangles and communication arrows is enough to discover bottlenecks.

When the workflow is on paper, points that have a lot of input arrows but no output (bottlenecks), or where there is a disconnect, are immediately apparent.

Step-by-Step Real-World Implementation Scenario

Scenario: Discovering the Missing Sales Link in an Online Services Company
1
Step 1: Identifying the central problem statementRegistering the problem of "falling sales conversion rate despite increasing site traffic" in the canvas center.
2
Step 2: Draw the elements and actors of the cycleDraw the marketing team, sales team, technical team, support, and customers with separate boxes.
3
Step 3: Establish communication lines and data exchangeDraw data flow arrows from advertising to purchase and after-sales service.
4
Step 4: Visual analysis of breaks and knotsShocking discovery that the feedback line of customer complaints from support to the development team is completely broken, and the technical team is changing a product that has nothing to do with market needs.
5
Step 5: Redesigning the circuit and modifying the processDesigning the modified circuit including the joint weekly support and product meeting and solving the root of the shopping experience bugs.

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