Draw the Problem

Do quick drawings to define the problem in a simple, clear, and compelling way. 

👥 4 – 10 person | ⏰ between 20 and 30 minutes

Objectives

Problems that are vague or misunderstood have a harder time getting prioritized and therefore go unaddressed and unsolved. Meetings that address problem-solving often skip this critical step: defining the problem in a way that is not only clear but also compelling enough to make people care about solving it. 

This short drawing exercise at the beginning of a meeting will help participants engage in defining the challenge in a simplified form. This is a first step in bringing your group together under a common purpose and elevate the problem to become something you care to solve. 

Instructions

1. Each participant should have a large index card or letter-sized piece of paper. After introducing the topic of the meeting, ask the participants to think about the problem they are here to solve. As they do so, ask them to write a list of items helping to explain the problem. For example, they may think about a “day in the life” of the problem or an item that represents the problem as a whole. 
2. After a few minutes of this thinking and reflection, ask the participants to flip over their paper and draw a picture of the problem, as they would explain it to a peer. They may draw a simple diagram or something more metaphorical; there are no prizes or punishments for good or bad artistry. The drawing should simply assist in explaining the problem. 
3. When everyone is finished, have the participants post their drawings on the wall and explain them to each other. While the group shares, note any common elements. After the exercise, the group should reflect on the similarities and differences, and work toward a shared understanding of what the problem looks like to each other. 
   

This warm-up does not result in a problem definition that will satisfy a product backlog; rather, it engages participants in defining the challenge in a simplified form. It is a first step in bringing a group together under a common purpose, elevating the problem above the noise to become something they care to solve. 

Source: 

http://www.gamestorming.com/games-for-design/draw-the-problem/

https://www.slideshare.net/almingwork/nyt-product-discovery-activity-guide