01. The problem is sacred
Never assume you understand the problem. The real problem is rarely the one presented in the first conversation.
7 docs tagged with "problem-statement"
View all tagsConnection to Phase 2: Solution Phase
When the Gate Review is complete, the team earns the right to think about solutions. The Problem Statement becomes the foundation for everything that follows.
Exit Criteria: the Gate Review
Problem Phase is complete when simultaneous and verifiable conditions are met — not when the team feels it understands the problem.
Phase 01: Problem Phase
The art of understanding before solving. The phase where the team commits to understanding the real problem before thinking about solutions.
The anatomy of a complete Problem Statement
Seven elements that produce a problem definition that is complete, actionable, and resistant to ambiguity. Includes a full example and two-level validation.
The artifacts of this phase
Four specific artifacts that are the evidence of rigorous work and the memory that feeds everything that follows.
Why this phase exists
Problem Phase exists to interrupt the pattern of building without understanding. It's the highest-return investment in the entire process.