Week 2 · Adaptive Planning Program

10. Synthesizing the Problem Statement

30 min

By the end you'll be able to

Synthesize multiple data sources into a unified narrative
Apply the 5 Whys technique for root cause analysis
Write clear, evidence-based problem statements

Data without a narrative is just noise. In this culminating lesson of the diagnostic phase, we synthesize epidemiological data, AI summaries, and survey results into a coherent Problem Statement using the “But… Therefore…” structure.

We apply the “5 Whys” Root Cause Analysis technique to ensure your statement targets the deep origins of disease rather than just the surface symptoms.

Practice quiz

Question 1
Which narrative structure does the lesson recommend for synthesizing diagnostic data into a Problem Statement?
- Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats.
- Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.
- But, Therefore.
- Plan, Do, Study, Act.
Question 2
What is the purpose of applying the ‘5 Whys’ technique to a draft problem statement?
- To ensure the statement contains exactly five sentences for readability.
- To target the deep root causes of disease rather than just the surface symptoms.
- To satisfy a federal grant rubric requiring five citations.
- To rank stakeholders by perceived importance.
Reflection 3
Sketch a short Problem Statement using the ‘But, Therefore’ structure for a community where diabetes rates are rising.

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