Importance of Problem Obsession in Engineering

Problemeering: Engineering the Problem Before the Solution What is it? Problemeering (problem + engineering) is the art and science of identifying, defining, and framing problems so they can be solved more creatively and efficiently. Why it matters Many product launches, business strategies, and even personal projects flop because they target the wrong problem or never define one at all. Problemeering helps you: • Understand the real issue • Avoid premature “band‑aid” fixes • Uncover root causes and hidden opportunities • Frame challenges in a way that sparks breakthrough ideas Key steps Observe & Empathize – Listen to users and spot pain points. Define – State the core problem in one crisp sentence. Reframe – Challenge every assumption: “Is this really the problem?” Explore Context – Map the ecosystem, constraints, and stakeholders. Ask “How might we…?” – Turn the problem frame into innovation prompts. Quick example Late‑delivery complaints in a food‑delivery app. Instead of jumping straight to route optimization, a problemeering mindset asks: • Are customer expectations realistic? • Does the UI overpromise delivery times? • Are restaurants accepting orders they can’t fulfill? Addressing these upstream issues often fixes “late deliveries” more effectively than tweaking maps alone. Origin Not yet in the dictionary it just reminds us: engineer the problem first, then engineer the solution.

We made this mistake in the early days of Apptimus - getting too attached to our initial solution instead of staying focused on the core problem we aimed to solve 😬. I've seen many founders and product teams make the same mistake. ⚡ Why is this dangerous? - A solution that works for one user demographic may not work for another. - Technology, market conditions, and user behavior are always evolving. - Sticking to a rigid solution can make you blind to better alternatives. 🚀 How do you stay problem-focused? - Deeply understand your users: Their pain points, motivations, and real needs. - Be flexible: Be open to pivoting or evolving your approach based on real-world feedback. - Experiment & iterate: Keep testing different approaches, measuring impact, and refining. - Stay data-driven: Let user insights, not assumptions, guide your decisions. A great solution today might not be the right one tomorrow. But if you obsess over solving the right problem, you’ll always find the best path forward. When did you have to pivot or rethink your approach? Let’s discuss. #ProductDevelopment #Startups #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #UserFirst

🎬 Episode 4: Helping Teams Fall in Love With the Problem Because solving the right problem beats building the perfect solution. Scrum Masters and Coaches — let’s talk truth: 🚫 Too many teams get stuck chasing “done.” ✅ But the best ones chase understanding. You want innovation? You want real impact? Then don’t rush to the solution. Teach your teams to sit with the problem. Dissect it. Empathize with it. Fall in love with it. ____________________________________________ 💔 The Problem with Solution Obsession: Teams often jump from idea → ticket → delivery …but skip the most important step: Why does this matter? That’s how you end up with well-built features that no one uses. ___________________________________________ 💡 Shift the Focus: Problem First, Always As a coach, you can guide this shift by: 1️⃣ Creating Space for Discovery → Before story refinement, ask: What’s the actual pain point here? Have we heard this from real users? 2️⃣ Using Problem Statements, Not Just User Stories → Encourage teams to craft “How might we…” questions to explore the problem fully. 3️⃣ Bringing Customers Into the Room → Literal or metaphorical. Use feedback, data, recordings — anything that keeps the user real. 4️⃣ Celebrating Curiosity → Praise questions like: “Do we need to solve this now?” “What if we didn’t build anything?” Curiosity drives clarity. 5️⃣ Zooming Out, Regularly → Revisit product goals. Are we solving isolated issues… or moving toward a larger outcome? _________________________________________________ 🔆 The Power of Problem-Centric Coaching: ✅ Teams build smarter. ✅ POs prioritize sharper. ✅ Products grow with purpose. And you? You become the coach of clarity — the one who unlocks thinking before building. ______________________________________________________ 📌 Are your teams solving problems… or just delivering solutions? 💬 Share one way you help teams explore the why before the what 👇 👥 Tag someone who leads with curiosity. #AgileCoach #ScrumMaster #ProblemSolving #ProductMindset #AgileLeadership #FallInLoveWithTheProblem #DesignThinking #LeadingTheProductMindset #Episode4 #LinkedInSeries

The only question I ask when my team shows me something new: "What problem is this solving?" It stops most conversations dead in their tracks. Why? Because most of the time, they don't actually know. We've become solution-obsessed: → Building things that look impressive → Creating systems that sound advanced → Implementing tools that feel innovative But without a clear problem, solutions are just distractions. What happens when you ask this question: → Vanity projects die immediately → Real priorities become clear → Resources flow to actual bottlenecks → Team alignment happens naturally The best teams don't chase solutions. They obsess over problems. Because when you truly understand the problem: → The right solution becomes obvious → Implementation becomes focused → Results become measurable → Impact becomes inevitable Stop asking "What can we build?" Start asking "What problem are we solving?"

When it comes to problem-solving, rushing to find quick solutions overshadows the importance of deeply understanding the issue at hand. This can lead to superficial fixes that fail to address the root cause, resulting in recurring issues and stunted innovation. The challenge lies in shifting focus from a solution-first mentality to a problem-centered approach. Without a love for the messiness of process, organizations miss out on the depth of insight and innovation that comes from truly understanding an issue. Cultivating a passion for challenges involves embracing a mindset that sees challenges as opportunities for: ↳ Growth  ↳ Learning ↳ Innovation. This means slowing down, asking better and deeper questions, and encouraging a culture that values curiosity and exploration over immediate resolution. By creating an environment that sees the beauty and opportunity in challenges, your organization can unlock a richer, more innovative path to success. #ProblemSolving #Challenges #Curiosity #Solutions 📸 Photo Credit: Sahar Coston-Hardy

Just got off a prospect call. They said: "This is so much better than the competition. It’s so intuitive—where have you been?" Then a few minutes later: "This is exactly what we’ve been looking for." Music to my ears. 👉 Here's why this matters: As an engineer, I used to obsess over the internals: Latency, throughput, memory usage, clean architecture. The kind of stuff that keeps systems alive. But as an entrepreneur, I've learned that the most powerful metric isn’t in Grafana— It’s in the face of the person you're building for. When a prospect lights up because your product understands them— Not just what they do, but how they do it— That’s the real signal. Here’s the mindset shift that changed everything for me: Most products are built around features. But great products are built around people and their problems. And solving real problems means: ⭐ Talking to your ICP constantly ⭐ Watching how they actually work, not how you wish they worked ⭐ Designing around their flow, not forcing them into yours When you get this right, the feedback is instant: "This is exactly what we needed." Because it is—you just listened first. So if you’re building— 💡 Obsess over the user, not just the code. 💡 Fall in love with the problem, not just the solution. 💡 And for heaven's sake, don't like be older me demoing features —demo understanding. That’s how you win hearts and markets. #startuplife #founderjourney #productdesign #customerobsession #b2bsaas #uxstrategy #productmarketfit #earlystagefounder #designthinking #buildinpublic #salesinsights #entrepreneurmindset

“Love the problem, not the solution.” Teams fail when they fall for their clever designs or shiny technology instead of solving real user needs. A drowning person needs a life preserver, not a compass. This mistake is rampant with AI—teams rush to add chatbots when simple FAQs work better, creating frustration instead of solutions. Instead, obsess over the problem. Research users thoroughly. Map workflows. Identify friction points. Be solution-agnostic. Evaluate all options. Choose whatever removes obstacles with minimal complexity. Full article 👉 https://lnkd.in/guvD4ewx

Being solution focused is seen as the right approach to facing business challenges. That's terrible advice. Nothing beats obsessing over the problem. Here's how that works: Solution-Obsessed: - Quickly jumps to implementing solutions without proper understanding. - Often relies on quick fixes that don’t address the root cause. - Leads to chronic symptoms that return once the “treatment” discontinues. - Stifles innovation. The focus is on resolving the immediate issue rather than understanding the big picture. - Leads to wasted energy, applying “solutions” that do not address the underlying problem. Problem-Obsessed: - Focuses on understanding the root cause of a problem before jumping to solutions. - Prioritizes analysis and thorough diagnosis of the problem, including all its underlying aspects. - Empowers teams to think critically and creatively. They understand the problem from many perspectives. - Encourages validation through data and evidence. - Promotes more effective and sustainable solutions. The problem is fully defined and understood. So, take off your rose-colored glasses and face reality, go deep, and fix it.

Why are problem-solving skills crucial for students, especially young engineering students? 🤔 In recent hiring trends for 2025 batch engineering students, it's clear that problem-solving and critical thinking skills are key factors in student selection. Here's why honing these skills is crucial for the next generation of engineers: 🔹 Critical Thinking Development : Problem-solving encourages critical thinking, helping students analyze situations and make informed decisions crucial for academic and real-world challenges. 🔹 Adaptability : In our rapidly changing world, adaptability is key. Problem-solving skills enhance students' flexibility, preparing them to tackle uncertainty in their careers and personal lives. 🔹 Enhanced Learning : Actively working through problems leads to deeper understanding, helping students retain information and grasp complex concepts more effectively. 🔹 Confidence Building : Successfully solving problems boosts students' confidence, motivating them to take on more challenging tasks with self-assurance. 🔹 Collaboration and Teamwork : Many problems require teamwork. Developing problem-solving skills enhances students' ability to work effectively in teams, improving communication and interpersonal skills. 🔹 Innovation and Creativity : Problem-solving nurtures creativity, encouraging students to think innovatively and find outside-the-box solutions essential for progress in any field. 🔹 Preparation for the Future : Problem-solving is a highly valued skill in professional settings. Employers seek individuals who can identify issues, evaluate options, and implement effective solutions, preparing students for successful careers. In conclusion, problem-solving is a foundational skill that empowers students to navigate challenges, think critically, and make meaningful contributions to society. 💡 #ProblemSolving #CriticalThinking #EngineeringStudents #FutureSkills Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology Sreenidhi University

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 > 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 > 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 In the world of engineering, we're often focused on what we’re solving and how we��re solving it. But here’s the truth: these come second to why we solve. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞: This is the fuel behind every great solution. It’s your purpose, your driving motivation, and the deeper need behind the problem. Understanding the why helps prioritize efforts, align teams, and inspire innovation. With a clear purpose, solutions become meaningful. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞: Once the why is clear, the what becomes more obvious. The what is the problem statement itself, but it’s now framed by a deeper understanding of its importance. This clarity keeps us grounded and focused, preventing scope creep and avoiding unnecessary complexity. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞: The how is the execution—the tools, processes, and strategies. It’s critical, but without a strong why and a clearly defined what, even the best how can lead you down the wrong path. Let how be shaped by a strong foundation of purpose and clarity. Focusing on why you solve gives the what and how their direction, leading to solutions that resonate and create impact. Let’s challenge ourselves to prioritize purpose over process.