How to categorize a problem situation

Problem situations can vary in complexity. After all, organizing a successful food drive at a school is a far less complex undertaking than addressing global food insecurity. Based on the problem situation, we might have a general idea of its degree of complexity but struggle to identify what is causing it. By defining the problem situation’s structure, we can categorize and determine the complexity of the problem situation based on the following features:

• Number of decision-makers
• Clarity about the situation’s complexity
• Confidence in the number of possible solutions
• Confidence in the effectiveness of potential solutions.

Well-structured problem situations tend to involve few decision-makers, simple solutions, and high certainty about the effectiveness of the solutions identified. Ill-structured problems, on the other hand, consist of multiple decision-makers often with many conflicting opinions on potentially effective solutions leading to high uncertainty about what intervention may work best. In such cases, using problem structuring to identify, understand, and address these variables can lead to consensus around a set of workable and feasible solutions.

Using features to categorize a problem situation

To better illustrate how these features might be applied to well-, moderately- or ill-structured problem situations, take a look at this table:

Below are some real-life examples that may help you visualize how to categorize a problem situation through problem types. All examples are related to food and food access.

Example 1 – Well-structured problem: Following a recipe

• Decision Makers: The person cooking is the only decision maker, with full authority over how the recipe will be followed.
• Certainty: There is certainty about the situation: when the recipe is followed, the output will be a standardized item that can be reproduced by following the recipe again.
• Solutions: There are no alternative solutions because the recipe is to be followed exactly, and if there are potential changes, they are marked out in the recipe.

Example 2 – Moderately-structured problem: Success of a school-based food drive

• Decision Makers: many decision makers determining what is provided (donors, event organizers).
• Certainty: Uncertainty about what will be donated and volunteer labor.
• Solutions: solutions can involve providing clear instructions on what types of foods to donate, assigning different grade levels to different food types, or incentivizing healthful foods.

Example 3 – Ill-structured problem: Food Insecurity in a particular region

• Decision Makers: When it comes to food insecurity in a particular region, several different decision-makers could influence the accessibility of food within a community. This could range from food producers and sellers who decide what, where, and when to grow and sell food, policy-makers who influence the economic conditions that sellers use to determine food costs, and even food consumers and how much income they decide can go towards purchasing food.
• Certainty: With ill-structured problems, there is no certainty that this problem can ever be fully solved.

Solutions: There are a variety of interventions that can address certain aspects of food insecurity in a particular region and can make a positive shift toward food security, but such interventions require continuous evaluation.

KNOWLEDGE CHECK: As we discussed throughout this section, understanding the structure of the problem at hand will leave you better equipped to address the situation appropriately and identify potential solutions. Below, you will find real-world examples of problems that are prevalent in social science research. Using your newfound knowledge of ill-structured, moderately structured, and well-structured problems, and referencing the problem situation features outlined in the table provided earlier in this section, select the structure that correctly corresponds to the listed problem.

How did you do? If you were unable to identify the appropriate problem situation structure, revisit the prior section to clarify your understanding. Achieving workable and feasible solutions is significantly easier when one understands the nature of the problem they are attempting to address.