Problem Statement

A problem statement is a concise, user-focused description of a challenge or need that a product, service, or strategy aims to address. It is a fundamental element in both Design Thinking and Growth Hacking, guiding teams to focus on solving real problems effectively and delivering value to users and stakeholders.

In Design Thinking:

• Clarifying User Needs: The problem statement is crafted during the Define stage, based on insights gathered in the Empathise stage. It articulates a specific challenge that users face, ensuring solutions are centred on their needs and context.
• Inspiring Solutions: A well-defined problem statement provides a clear and actionable focus for the Ideate stage, encouraging creativity and collaboration to develop meaningful solutions.
• Driving Iterative Design: Throughout prototyping and testing, the problem statement serves as a benchmark to evaluate whether proposed designs effectively address the user challenge.

In Growth Hacking:

• Focusing Strategies: Problem statements help growth teams identify specific obstacles in the user journey, such as low retention or high drop-off rates, ensuring efforts are targeted and impactful.
• Guiding Experiments: By framing challenges as testable hypotheses, problem statements provide a foundation for designing growth experiments that aim to solve critical issues.
• Enhancing Communication: A clear problem statement helps align stakeholders and team members on the priorities and goals of a growth initiative, fostering collaboration and efficiency.

Examples of Application:

• In Design Thinking: Defining a problem statement for a ride-sharing app, such as “Urban commuters need a reliable and affordable way to get to work during rush hour, but existing options are often delayed or expensive.”
• In Growth Hacking: Framing a problem statement like “Many users abandon their shopping carts due to a lack of trust in the payment process, leading to lower conversion rates.” to guide experiments focused on building trust.

Problem statements are essential in both Design Thinking and Growth Hacking, as they provide clarity, focus, and direction. By articulating the core challenge, teams can ensure their efforts are user-centred, goal-oriented, and effective in driving innovation and growth.