Define
Problem statement
A clear, actionable framing of the user need and insight - written so a team can ideate and measure success against it.
Also called: problem framing
A strong problem statement names the user, the need, and the insight from empathy work. It avoids jumping to solutions.
Format teams often use:
[User] needs a way to [need] because [insight from research].
Problem statements are convergent outputs of Define - they turn messy pain points into a shared target the whole team can execute against.
Related terms
- Pain point - A specific frustration, friction, or unmet need that a user experiences in a real context.
- Divergent thinking - Expanding possibilities - generating many ideas, pain points, or options before narrowing down.
- Convergent thinking - Narrowing possibilities - prioritizing, synthesizing, and committing to the best options.