Sometimes we may overreach in defining a problem: No Child Left Behind labeled a large percentage of schools “failures” without offering a realistic way to ameliorate them.

Defining problems is simple and any difficulty that arises is because it requires patience, repetition and thorough examination. It is the most important element of critical thinking.

That’s the classic trap. And it’s exactly why problem definition is the most important (and underrated) part of the consulting process. Rushing in with a solution before verifying the real problem is ...

A few months ago, a tweet made me laugh out loud: “The first rule of philosophy club is hard to define.” It may seem pedantic, but getting definitions right is actually a big deal. That’s especially ...

If you can define the problem you are tackling, you'll have a solid foundation to build your ideas.

Bullying has become a hot topic for schools and the media following several highly publicized incidents. But some worry that in our enthusiasm to tackle this social problem, we are creating new ...

The Defining Problem Defining scientific terms for political reasons is bad for both sides of the debate. Sam Berger and Jonathan Moreno explain why altering scientific definitions for political ...