A Guide for Problem & Solution Discovery Alignment Define and align discovery practices to ensure that problems are clearly understood before solutions are designed and implemented. Submitter's Note: This StratML rendition was compiled from the source by ChatGPT and lightly edited in the form at https://stratml.us/forms/Claude/Part1.html Product & Service Discovery Community PSDC b5a762e0-b9fd-43ef-b642-5a2a164f1e91 Individuals and organizations responsible for discovering, designing, and delivering products, services, or policies intended to meet human needs. Users & Beneficiaries People whose needs, constraints, and experiences define the problems to be addressed. Product & Service Providers Organizations responsible for designing and delivering solutions intended to address identified problems. Decision Makers Individuals responsible for prioritizing problems and approving solutions. Julia Bastian Guide Co-Author | Product Leader | AI Educator & Consultant I B2B I SaaS Tim Herbig Guide Co-Author | Product Management Coach, Author, and Speaker Solutions consistently address real problems because discovery processes are disciplined, evidence-based, and aligned with user needs. 7308834b-706e-4c4f-b540-bade39b0dbcc To ensure that discovery activities distinguish clearly between understanding problems and designing solutions, thereby reducing risk and improving outcomes. 1f0aeeff-bda3-4cd6-930b-05f26c2fc35b Evidence Base decisions on verified observations and validated assumptions. Clarity Define problems and solutions explicitly to support shared understanding. Accountability Accept responsibility for outcomes resulting from discovery and delivery decisions. Learning Continuously improve discovery practices based on feedback and results. Problems Understand and define problems through systematic investigation of user needs, contexts, and root causes before selecting or designing solutions. 31c1a013-237b-4537-ac75-9df9e8b3d91d 1 Problem Discovery Identification Identify and describe the problems experienced by users or stakeholders. 0ece705f-41a3-45ef-a2c0-462ee415a923 1.1 Understanding Analyze user behaviors, environments, and constraints to clarify the context in which problems occur. f5bcee12-12a2-4b77-b934-262312eec3dc 1.2 Root Causes Determine the underlying causes of observed problems using structured analytical methods. c078f48f-a6c7-44ec-a713-1770279e9096 1.3 Validation Confirm that identified problems are significant, frequent, and worth solving. ed8d52c1-39ed-44b5-b832-3c4f5290bacf 1.4 Solutions Design and evaluate potential solutions that address validated problems effectively and efficiently. 898c0434-1f4e-473b-9c37-3fff0a599a30 2 Design Develop candidate solutions intended to address validated problems. dfe3ac0e-3798-43a3-9892-48850b0ba008 2.1 Prototyping Create representations of proposed solutions to enable testing and feedback. 3125779c-2c1b-48ea-afd0-62070c45deb2 2.2 Usability Assess whether proposed solutions are understandable and usable by intended users. decdc067-c6a5-459f-a403-4bb292e4b50a 2.3 Validation Verify that proposed solutions deliver value and resolve the validated problem. 9c8f799b-326f-4a71-8ef3-e76666ab4ea7 2.4 2026-03-20 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/julia-bastian_ai-can-actually-make-your-product-discovery-activity-7437412110101454848-kTWT Owen Ambur Owen.Ambur@verizon.net