2.2 Choosing Your Team’s Problem

Dear learner, in this lesson, you will:

• Choose the one problem your team will work together to solve.
• Learn what a ‘problem statement’ is (it’s a short, clear way to explain exactly what the problem is!).
• Write a ‘problem statement’ for the problem your team chooses.

ACTIVITY: PICKING YOUR PROBLEM

You’ve done lots of great brainstorming, learning, and thinking about problems around you that are important to solve. Awesome job!

Now, it’s time for your team to focus and pick just one problem you want to work on together.

If your team hasn’t quite decided yet, here’s an idea: let team members share which problem they feel most strongly about. They can explain to the group why they think that problem is the one your team should choose to solve.

Mentor Tip

ACTIVITY 1: CHOOSING A PROBLEM

Estimated time: 20 minutes

Decide on which problem to solve

List your top 2 or 3 problems on the worksheet with your team, and make a case for the problem you want to work on. Once everyone has expressed their thoughts, the team should come to a consensus on which problem they wish to solve.

Note: you can make a copy of the worksheet and edit as needed.

Open worksheet

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Now that you have an idea for your project, you can start working on your problem statement. A problem statement is a brief piece of writing that explains the problem that your team is addressing. 

Later, you will add your solution, but let’s stick to stating the problem for now.

It’s important to write the problem statement together as a team so that you all agree and remain focused on the problem as you move through the rest of the curriculum together.

Your problem statement should answer 4 key questions:

1.  
   1. What is the problem?
   1. Who does the problem affect?
   1. How does the problem affect them?
   1. Why is it important to solve?

Your problem statement will be a key part of your project description in your submission. It will also be useful when you outline and create your pitch video.

EXAMPLE: DISCARDIOUS BY TEAM CHARIS

Here is an example of a problem statement from a past ICT Club Girls finalist team. Like their statement, your problem statement will become polished as you do research and build upon your idea (note that this is the original team’s statement -it has not been edited).

Calabar is densely populated and results show that 70% of individuals and businesses there store refuse (trash), 95% use open dumps and 65% dump their refuse into gutters. This effect has led to inefficient waste disposal and an unhygienic business and home environment. Business and homeowners have a tight schedule that prevents them from disposing their waste regularly and there are no frequent visit from waste disposal agencies. 

ACTIVITY 2: PROBLEM STATEMENT

Estimated time: 15 minutes

Write your problem statement

Answer the 4 questions on the worksheet to create a problem statement.

Note: you can make a copy of the worksheet and edit as needed.

Open worksheet

REFLECTION

Now that you’ve written your problem statement, you can refer back to it throughout your project.

It will be helpful as you create your business plan, code your app, and write the script for your pitch video.

You can also use it in your project description.

REVIEW OF KEY TERMS

• Problem Statement –  a brief piece of writing that explains the problem that your team is addressing

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Here are more examples of problem statements from past ICT Club teams. You will add your proposed solution once you come up with one!

Hover over the problem statement to view their pitch video.

ACE (AI Care for Elders) Problem Statement

In China, “left-behind elderlies” is a common phenomenon where elderlies in rural areas live alone, with their children working in urban cities. These elders are unable to connect with their families daily, especially in difficult times such as COVID, which exacerbates the feeling of isolation.

ACE (AI Care for Elders) Pitch

Aboat Time Problem Statement

Bengaluru’s lakes have been exponentially decreasing in quality since the 1980s, leading to lakes being reduced to mere dumping grounds for domestic and industrial wastes or open sewage.
This is a direct consequence of lack of sufficient information about lake health and real time monitoring of water quality.
Lake health can be especially hard to track over a period of time, since measuring water quality and testing chemical levels of the water is tedious and equipment is expensive.

Aboat Time Pitch

Mahila Problem Statement

There is an immense amount of stigma surrounding sexual and menstrual healthcare. This is especially prevalent in India because our ancient religious texts associate periods and intercourse with evil spirits and impurity. This belief has been internalized into Indian society, creating a taboo on conversations about menstrual care. This taboo causes a lot of mental distress for adolescents as they feel isolated while they are going through these changes.

Mahila Pitch