Understand the Problem

Steps: Understand the Problem

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Understand the Problem

The purpose of the "Understand the Problem" stage is to answer the first key question: "What are we trying to improve?"

You can capture your work for the "Understand the Problem" stage in the first row of your improvement project charter.

Explore Data

Exploring data is a first step in understanding the problem. How have your contexts, practices, and outcomes changed over time? Where and for whom do your data reveal bright spots or opportunities for growth? Some types of outcome data that you may consider using include: academic data, socioemotional and behavioral data, culture-climate measures, self-assessments, surveys, and focus group feedback. Data can also include information you have about the user’s experience or how current routines are being performed. Some tools you can use to help you gather and organize such information include: Empathy Interview, Journey Map, and Process Map.

Identify Focus

Narrowing your focus after exploring data is an important step for maintaining coherence in your work. While you probably have many goals, your improvement project may focus on just one or two, so that the team can dig deep into that particular challenge for the sake of being disciplined about the learning process.

Analyze Causes

Building on the data you have gathered about potential problems in your area of focus, you can now explore those problems in more depth. Exploring multiple interconnected causes can help guide your thinking before you brainstorm possible change ideas and thus prevent jumping into solutions prematurely.

Two simple cause analysis tools are the Fishbone diagram and the 5 Why's protocol. You can use either one alone, or both in combination.

Write Problem of Practice

Writing your Problem of Practice is an important step in the Continuous Improvement process. A Problem of Practice is an area that a school, department or school district identifies that focuses on an area of work, is directly observable, is actionable, and connects to a broader strategy of improvement. For schools, it tends to focus on the instructional core; for district departments, it often focuses on leadership moves to support professional growth, or systemwide practices to ensure consistency and equity.

This page was last updated on July 1, 2025