The problem space reflects the gap between the current situation and a desirable future. How a problem is framed is critical in the innovation journey, as it ultimately shapes the actions taken.
Systems problems have a multiplicity of implications and cut across both organizational and other systems actors. Systems problems may also involve different time frames, posing both immediate and long-term challenges. If a problem does not manifest across different levels, then it may not be suitable for systems innovation.
As organizations expose more of the interconnected ecology of problems, they must remain open to rethinking and reframing the individual problems themselves. At the beginning, it is impossible to know all there is to know about a system, as much is hidden from view. What may appear to be one problem may actually be hiding other problems. By reframing and unpacking the problem, new ideas may be uncovered.
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