When you set out to solve a problem, it’s useful to make a table. Starting with the problem, across the top, dig into why it’s a problem. Each answer to “why” is a new column. Below each “why,” start to unpack some of the assumptions you’re making about that “why.”
Each one of these “whys” will help you hone in on a specific part of the problem that you want to solve. Meanwhile, each box containing assumptions represents a test that needs to be run.
The table might look a little something like this:
Problem
Why #1
Why #2
Why #3
Why #4
Why #5
assumption about Why #1
assumption about Why #2
assumption about Why #1
assumption about Why #1