Below is a list of common sections to include in the Problem Identification. Every project is unique! Some of the sections below may not be applicable and can be omitted unless explicitly required. Beyond introducing the background or motivation for the project, your information does not necessarily need to be in the order listed below—use a structure that progresses logically with smooth transitions between concepts and ideas in order to ensure audience clarity. Remember, the grading rubric is on Carmen. If the team is conflicted on whether to include a section, ask an instructor or project advisor for guidance.

Background/Motivation

This section answers “why should the reader be interested in this problem?” and sets the foundation for the rest of the problem identification section.

Research 

Research is about developing an understanding of the problem from a stakeholder perspective.  As part of this research you will likely need to conduct both primary and secondary research.

Primary Research (Conducting Interviews)

To conduct primary research, you will first need to decide who will need to be interviewed and understand their relationship to the project, product, etc. As a team you should:

• Define stakeholders. Who is impacted by the results of this project and how/why? (do not include the obvious such as “members of the team are stakeholders because we are graded and care about the outcome of the project”)
• Define stakeholder interview touch points and their significance to understanding the problem

Summarize the salient results of these interviews and include in the body of your Design Document (and put full details of the interviews in the Appendix). When deciding what to include in the body, consider what information adds value by providing the reader with a more thorough understanding of the problem and your solution approach.

Secondary Research

Secondary research is research done by reviewing literature/research conducted by others.  When incorporating secondary research, remember to document using APA or IEEE citation style (choose one style and stick with it throughout the report).

Research—whether primary or secondary—is the process of finding answers.  Good research starts with good questions. As you conduct the primary and/or secondary research necessary for your project, your team might use the below items as a starting place:

• Do current alternate methods of solving this problem exist? If so, discuss them and identify gaps in those existing solutions. If not, discuss why there are no alternative solution methods.
• Identify competitors and create competitive analysis chart (summarize takeaways in-text).
• Define target market(s) and estimate financial impact of current problem.
• Perform patent search (if applicable).
• Define external products, processes, or systems that may interface or be used in conjunction with the product or processes
• List constraints, required standards, and approvals.

Use your research to develop your problem identification and be sure the problem identification is clearly defined for your audience—with all important considerations captured—by the end of the chapter. Remember to incorporate your research as part of the narrative you are creating in this chapter. Remember, too, that this first chapter is the beginning of a more extensive report.