Strategic Problem Framing
The consultant's first skill: frame the right problem before solving anything. Issue trees, hypothesis-driven analysis, and scoping tools used by top firms.
The framework
Strategic Problem Framing
A set of tools for defining the problem space when the problem itself is unclear — covering PESTLE analysis, scenario planning, stakeholder problem mapping, and the distinction between symptoms and root causes in strategic contexts.
How you'll learn
Text-first. Practice-heavy. No video lectures.
15-minute text lessons
Short, dense reading you can finish between meetings — not hour-long video lectures.
Hands-on exercises
Apply the framework to a realistic scenario, right in the module where you learned it.
Quizzes & assessments
Check your judgment, not just your memory — most questions are situational.
Certificate on completion
Finish a course and get a shareable certificate, automatically.
About this course
Most problem-solving frameworks assume you already know what the problem is. This course covers what to do when you do not — when the situation is ambiguous, the data is absent, and the first task is to frame the problem correctly before any analysis begins. You will learn to use scenario planning, PESTLE, and strategic diagnosis tools to define the problem space before committing to a solution path.
The project: Frame a Strategic Problem
Take a real ambiguous business situation — a market shift, an organisational challenge, or a strategic decision — and produce a one-page problem framing document that defines the situation, names the key uncertainties, and identifies what needs to be true for each possible solution path.
- 1Free preview
When You Do Not Know What the Problem Is
25 min· Knowledge check - 2
PESTLE: Reading the Environment Before You Act
30 min· Knowledge check· 📚 1 resource - 3
Scenario Planning: Framing Under Uncertainty
30 min· Knowledge check - 4
Stakeholder Problem Mapping
25 min· Knowledge check - 5
Producing the One-Page Problem Framing Document
20 min· Knowledge check