Problem identification

How does one analyze a problem situation. One way of looking at a problem is to say that some obstacles are interfering with the attainment of some goals or that some deviation has occurred int eh expected performance or norm.

The first element involved is to identify the norm - actual: no problem. When the norm and the actual are one and the same, there is no problem. When the actual is lower than the norm, however, we have a negative deviation.

When the actual is above the norm, then we have a positive deviation. The first thing we will notice about the deviation is it's effects. However, in order to correct a deviation, we need to find the cause. To do that, we must proceed to a description of the problem.

coming up next.... description of what the problem is and is not.