Problem statement

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Problem statement /ˈprɒbləm ˈsteɪtm(ə)nt/ (n.)
An important sounding way of saying “problem”. Solving problems is, more or less, the single valuable activity that a legal eagle can participate in (other than being in the inhouse rock band, the Legal Council, at the office Christmas party). Curiously, most legal eagles and, in this commentator’s experience, squarely no change manager that has ever grace the face of the Earth, have taken the trouble to even ask the question “what is the problem?”, let alone set about answering it.

Some things that are not the answer to the problem:

• More policy
• A risk taxonomy
• Outsourcing
• Internal audit or human resources. (any question to which the answer is “internal audit” or “human resources” is, by rebuttable presumption, a stupid one.

See also

• Problem solving