MKT271 - Principles of Marketing

A problem statement is a device used in problem solving, which concisely defines the problem, whose problem it is, the limitations (in resources like time or money) on possible solutions, and the form that the resolution can take. Problem statements are normally simply tools to get the problem-solving process going, but sometimes highlight issues that need to be addressed, such as an inability to clearly articulate what the problem is (which reduces the odds of finding a satisfactory solution) or the discovery that there are actually separate problems that can be dealt with independently.

A problem exists when a problem solver has a goal but does not know how to accomplish it. A somewhat more precise way to express this definition is to say that a problem occurs when a situation is in the given state, the problem solver wants the situation to be in the goal state, and there is no obvious way of changing from the given state to the goal state. As you can see, a problem consists of a given state (i.e., a description of the current situation), a goal state (i.e., a description of the desired situation), a set of operators (i.e., rules for moving from one state to another), and obstacles preventing a smooth transition from the given to the goal state.

Case studies examine a single, salient business situation or organization by collecting key facts and analyzing them in light of business functions, theories, and best practices. The goal is to generate possible solutions to problems experienced in that particular situation or organization. The case study begins with an explicit problem statement. Based on the problem statement, researchers decide what data need to be collected for analysis. For example, a company case study usually needs to collect both quantitative (e.g., financial and sales figures) and qualitative (e.g., management memos and reports) data to perform the following analyses:

Problem Statement: If you are focusing on a problem, be sure to define and state it specifically enough that you can write about it.

The first step to being an effective problem solver is understanding what a problem statement is and how to write one. Writing down a problem statement can help individuals within a business make improvements in how they operate.

This article will give you an insight into what are problem statements for businesses, problem statement examples, how to write a problem statement and many more questions that entrepreneurs have regarding problem statements.