A good problem statement can serve as the main touchstone for a project team as they undertake any improvement effort. The problem statement helps to create a shared need by clearly explaining what the problem is, where the problem is occurring, who is impacted by the problem, and why the problem needs to be addressed.
Regarding process improvement, defining the problem from the business’s and the customer’s perspective is often one of the first steps in the project. The problem statement helps to establish the project’s key focus and set the parameters for the project scope. This perspective can support the selection of the right project team expertise, while giving clear direction to that team on where to target their improvement efforts.
As the team gets started in their improvement efforts, it is important to note that the problem statement is meant to guide the team, not confine it. As the team conducts further exploration of the problem, and as a result, gains new learning, it is important that the team revisits the problem statement and updates it accordingly. It is through this iterative process that the team verifies that they are working on the right problem across the entirety of the project.