You’ve chosen the problem worth pursuing.
Now you need to understand it deeply enough to define it correctly.
The Problem Mapping Canvas helps you move from this is the problem I want to solve to I understand how this problem actually occurs and what is driving it.
Instead of jumping straight to a solution, you’ll map the problem’s context, causes, behaviours, consequences, and desired outcomes.
What is this toolkit about?
The Problem Mapping Canvas is a guided tool for breaking down a problem into its key components.
It helps you understand:
Who experiences the problem
When and where it occurs
What triggers it
What makes it difficult
What people currently do
What consequences it creates
What they are trying to achieve
Your goal is to understand the structure of the problem before framing it.
What problem does it solve?
A problem can look simple on the surface but have several underlying factors.
If you don’t understand those factors, you may solve the wrong problem.
The canvas helps you avoid:
Treating symptoms as the real problem
Defining the problem too broadly
Jumping to solutions too early
Ignoring the context in which the problem occurs
Missing important causes or consequences
Designing a solution around an incomplete understanding
Don’t solve the problem you assume exists. Map the problem that actually exists.
When should I use this toolkit?
Use this toolkit after Problem Prioritization, when you’ve selected the problem you want to pursue.
Use it before Problem Framing and before designing your solution.
What will I have when I’m done with this toolkit?
You’ll have a Problem Map showing:
The specific people experiencing the problem
The situation and context
Triggers and contributing factors
Current behaviours and alternatives
Pain points and consequences
Desired outcomes
Key relationships between the different parts of the problem
Gaps or questions that still need investigation
You’ll have a much clearer picture of what you are actually trying to solve.
How to use it
This Notion toolkit will guide you through:
1. Define the problem context
Identify who experiences it and when it occurs.
2. Map the problem experience
Capture triggers, behaviours, obstacles, and consequences.
3. Identify underlying factors
Look beyond the visible symptom to the factors contributing to the problem.
4. Map the desired outcome
Clarify what the person is ultimately trying to achieve.
5. Identify gaps
Highlight anything you still don’t understand or need to investigate.
Stay with the problem. Don’t design the solution yet.
The Toolkit
Problem Mapping Canvas Notion Template
Use this Notion template to map the problem from multiple angles.
👉 Open the Problem Mapping Canvas
Duplicate the template into your Notion workspace before you begin.
Your Completed Output
When you’re finished, save:
- Your Problem Map
A complete view of how the problem occurs and what influences it. - Your Key Problem Insights
The most important things you’ve learned about the problem. - Your Remaining Questions
What you still need to investigate before defining the problem.
This becomes the foundation for Problem Framing.
What’s Next?
Problem Framing
You now understand the problem in much greater detail.
But you still need to turn everything you’ve learned into a clear, specific problem statement.
Problem Framing helps you move from here’s everything I’ve learnt about the problem to here’s the specific problem we should solve.
You’ll define the problem without prematurely defining the solution.