Discovering & Framing real-world problems

Our society is full of problems, and each person has their struggles. In this article, I want to discuss five problems I've noticed that need fixing. These problems affect a farmer, a student, a working woman, a small business owner, and a working couple.

1. The Farmer's Problem:

Farmers usually live in villages where many things aren't available nearby, like banking services. Sometimes, the government offers financial help to farmers, but those without access to banks find it hard to get the aid they need. This creates a significant obstacle for farmers trying to access government financial aid.

Problem statement- A farmer (User)wants to get financial aid from the government(Goal) but he is struggling due to a lack of banking services(Pain Point).

2. The Student's Problem:

Imagine a student from a village who wants to get a good education. But in their village, there aren't good schools or enough resources. This makes it tough for the student to study well. Consequently, students from rural areas face significant challenges in accessing quality education.

Problem statement -A student from a village (User)wants to get a good education(Goal) but struggles because there aren't many good schools nearby and resources are limited(Pain Point).

3. The Small Business Owner's Problem:

Think about someone who owns a small grocery shop. If they have to keep track of their stock by writing everything down, it takes up a lot of time and can lead to mistakes. They want to make things easier by using better methods to manage their inventory. Hence, small business owners struggle with inefficient manual inventory tracking methods, hindering business operations.

Problem statement -A Small business owner(User) wants to Streamline his inventory (Goal)but finds it hard because they use manual methods, making it slow and prone to mistakes(Pain Point).

4. The Working Woman's Problem:

A woman who used to work took a break when she had a baby. Now she wants to go back to work, but there's no one to look after her baby while she's at work. This makes it hard for her to restart her career. Thus, ex-working women face challenges in balancing work and childcare responsibilities, hindering their professional aspirations.

Problem statement -A woman who used to work (User) wants to go back to her job(Goal), but it's tough because she can't find someone reliable to take care of her baby while she's at work(Pain Point).

5. The Working Couple's Problem:

Picture a couple who both work and need to buy household things like a refrigerator or washing machine. There are many stores and online options, but each one has different prices and brands. With their busy schedules, they struggle to find the best deals. As a result, working couples encounter difficulties in efficiently managing household purchases amidst their busy schedules.

Problem statement- A working couple (User) needs to buy household items(Goal) but finds it difficult to find the best deals and products because they're short on time(Pain Point).

Out of these problems, I think the one that affects students is the most important to solve. If we can give all students access to a good education, it will make a big difference not only in their lives but also in the future of our society and country.

To solve the student problem statement, the research approach will be  

This research will utilize a combination of secondary research and, if resources permit, primary research methods.

Secondary Research:

• Analyze existing research and data on the disparity in educational resources between rural and urban areas. This includes factors like teacher-student ratios, access to technology-updated learning materials, and funding per student. Resources can include:
  • Government reports from educational departments
  • Research papers and articles from academic journals
  • Reports from educational organizations and NGOs

Primary Research :

• Conduct surveys (if resources allow) among students, teachers, and parents in a chosen rural area to gather data on their experiences and perspectives. This could involve:
  • Online surveys (if internet access is available)
  • Paper-based surveys distributed through schools or community centers
• Interviews with educators, administrators, and community leaders in the chosen rural area to understand their insights on the challenges and potential solutions. These interviews can be conducted:
  • In person, if feasible
  • Over the phone or video call

Data Analysis:

• Secondary Research: Compile data from the literature review regarding national or regional trends. This data analysis might involve:
  • Identifying key statistics and figures
  • Recognizing trends and patterns in resource distribution and student outcomes
• Primary Research : Analyze any survey data to identify specific challenges faced by students and educators in the chosen rural area. This could involve:
  • Statistical analysis of quantitative data (e.g., average class size)
  • Thematic analysis of qualitative data (e.g., common themes from surveys or interviews)
• Combine findings from both secondary and primary research (if applicable) to create a comprehensive understanding of the educational equity gap in the chosen area.

Expected Outcome:

• A well-researched report outlining the impact of the educational equity gap on rural students, based on both existing research and, if applicable, data from the chosen rural area.
• Identification of specific challenges faced by the chosen rural area, based on interviews and potential surveys.
• Potential solutions gleaned from existing research, local perspectives, and a combination of both.