CANADA NEPAL GENDER IN ORGANIZATIONS

Section 3: Reference Materials

Reference #8: Problem Identification and Analysis

A problem is a condition or state of affairs that has a negative impact on individuals, groups or the community as a whole.

What is the starting point for planning a project? Often it is a perceived “problem” or negative event that the organization wants to do something about. Some examples of problems are:

a witch hunt in a community
an outbreak of cholera in a district
high levels of infant mortality
high levels of malnutrition
violence against women

There are many different kinds of problems. In some cases, negative conditions are widely recognized, and everyone agrees that the condition is a problem. For example, everyone would most likely consider a contaminated water supply a problem. In other instances, people might disagree about whether a condition is a problem, i.e., about whether it is a negative condition or a positive condition. For example, some people might see a male-dominated household as a negative condition or a problem, while others might see this as a desirable condition.

When an organization identifies a problem that they would like to do something about, the next step is to do a problem analysis so that the organization has a thorough understanding of the problem. The purpose of problem analysis is to provide project planners with a clear understanding of the problem.

Problem analysis addresses the following questions:

For whom is this a problem? (What individuals or groups in the community are negatively affected by the condition?)
How extensive is the problem?
What are the causes of the problem?
What are the effects?
What are the appropriate points of intervention for resolving the problem?

There are numerous approaches to gathering information and analyzing problems. Examples of these are:

Problem Chain Analysis (Cause and Effect)
Focus Group Interviews
Situational Analysis
Surveys
Various Participatory Rural Appraisal techniques

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