DISCOVER AND DEFINE
What is our challenge?
There is no partnering or collaboration without a common goal or agenda, thus identifying the problem is an integral part of ensuring that efforts are made towards the solutions and nobody is working against each other. The question, “what is our challenge?”, is about identifying the problem and working towards a common agenda. This stage is critical in pinpointing the underlying issues that need to be addressed for the partnership to be effective. The below tools and methodologies, can assist in the move towards gaining clarity and consensus on the challenges at hand, enabling the development of targeted solutions and to drive meaningful progress in collaborative efforts.
Key tools to explore include:
Affinity Diagrams: These play a vital role in organising and synthesising large amounts of information gathered during the discovery phase, aiding in identifying patterns and themes within the data. This visual representation helps in gaining clarity and consensus among stakeholders regarding the main challenges to be addressed.
The Five Why’s: This technique offers a simple yet powerful approach to get to the root cause of a problem. By repeatedly asking “why” about the identified issue, individuals can uncover deeper layers of causality, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the problem.
Theory of Change: Additionally, the Theory of Change provides a structured framework for understanding the causal relationships between actions and outcomes. This approach helps in formulating a strategic plan by mapping out the steps needed to achieve the desired change and identifying the interventions required to address the identified challenge effectively.