Product Thinking: Craft a Clear Problem Statement

4Cs framework: Clarity, Consequence, Cause, Confirmation

We've found the root cause. Now we need to articulate it clearly, in a way that aligns the team and keeps everyone focused on the right problem. Use the 4Cs framework to do so.

Worked Example

Take repeated form-filling across government services. Citizens lose access to support they're entitled to, not because the services don't exist, but because the process is so cumbersome many give up.

The root cause isn't a design problem; it's structural. Services were built independently by different agencies with no shared data layer.

There is always one main problem statement covering all four dimensions. If you can't complete all four fields, you're not ready to build yet.

Exercise

For the problem you identified using the Five Whys method, draft a problem statement for it using the 4Cs.