YOU MUST GET UP TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN PROBLEMS AND SYMPTOMS.

A problem statement helps in the generation of potential solutions.

You will get problem-formulation over, when you define an undesirable condition, its symptoms, causes or triggers, in a manner that minimizes the risk of solving the wrong problem.

A rightly-worded problem-statement enhances the ease of finding a solution. The emphasis should be on finding the right question.

You must get up to differentiate between problems and symptoms.

Good problem-statements for creative problem-solving are as follows: through what options might I express this problem? What path might I take to solve this model? What are the ways of improving the productivity of this organization? What are the most productive ways of scheduling jobs? A good problem statement has an ownership component.

You get off to write a good problem statement when you exclude the problem criteria, generate numerous statements, use concise statements, accommodate silly statements, include ownership and action elements, and allocate each problem statement to one segment of the problem.

Problem-statements could be generated and redefined with analogies in nature and our physical environment, probing questions that begin with the word why, turning a negative statement into a positive one; for instance, consider the negative statement: how do I decrease losses; you can turn it into the following positive Problem-statement: how do I increase profits. Reversing the direction of a problem is also helpful here; view the statement: how do I reduce the costs due to excessive off-cuts; you could redefine it by reversing it as follows: how do I use excessive off-cuts to increase the profits.

You have to get on to the problem statement that best mirrors the real problem to be solved.