Writing a good problem statement

3 things your problem statement should have

  1. Background and context of the problem

  2. People affected by the problem

  3. The impact of the problem

3 tips for writing

  1. Do not include solutions in your problem statement

  2. Be concrete

  3. Be specific

Often, public good problems can be quite broad. However, you don't have to solve the entire problem from start to end to make an impact. You can start from a smaller, more scoped out problem and address it well with an effective solution.

Good example

60% of Singaporeans lack the knowledge of what can be recycled when disposing their trash. This results in them choosing not to recycle because of the additional effort required for research, resulting in low recycling rates.

Bad example

Singaporeans find it too troublesome to recycle. Recycling bins are also not accessible to all residential areas. Creating a central portal will help make the recycling process easier.

Problem statement template

Here's a template to help guide your problem statement writing!