There are various ways of defining what is meant by the term ‘problem’. Typically, such definitions highlight the existence of a mismatch between how things actually are and some other, desired (or desirable) state of affairs. Van Gundy (1988, p. 4) goes further, and identifies preconditions that are necessary if you want to start problem solving:

1. the existence of a gap between what is and what should be
2. an awareness that a gap exists
3. the motivation to decrease the gap
4. an ability to measure the size of the gap
5. the abilities and resources required to close the gap.

Put another way (one that sounds a bit more personal or informal):

1. Things aren’t right.
2. I know that things aren’t right.
3. I want to make things better.
4. I can tell if the situation gets better or worse.
5. I can influence this situation for the better.

The language used to define ‘problem solving’ carries certain implications which (in the spirit of creative deconstruction) are worth bringing into awareness and examining.

• What ‘things’ aren’t right? These could be relationships, as well as objects and people. Where shall I draw the boundary?
• What do I mean by ‘… aren’t right’? Could this include decisions that need making, opportunities and possibilities that might be explored, creating something new that hadn’t previously existed, and improving something that’s already ‘right’ (but could be even better)?

In practice, ‘problem-solving’ techniques often help in situations that we perceive in more positive, or neutral, terms. So, for our purposes, we can conveniently use the term ‘problem’ as a shorthand to include issues, opportunities, challenges, concerns, difficulties, messes and the like.