Problem Tree Quality Checklist | Setup Your Project for Success

Before Moving to Stakeholder Engagement

You need a solid preliminary analysis, not a perfect tree.

Quality Assurance Decision Flow

graph TD
    START["🌳 Preliminary Problem Tree<br/>from AI-Assisted Research"]

    %% Checkpoint 1: Core Problem Review
    CP1{"✓ CHECKPOINT 1<br/>Core Problem<br/>Quality Check"}
    CP1_PASS["✅ Specific, observable,<br/>no embedded causes"]
    CP1_FAIL["❌ Generic, vague, or<br/>has embedded solutions"]
    CP1_FIX["🔧 Revise Core Problem<br/>Refer to Step 2<br/>Define clear scope"]

    %% Checkpoint 2: Root Causes Review
    CP2{"✓ CHECKPOINT 2<br/>Root Causes<br/>Quality Check"}
    CP2_PASS["✅ 2-3 levels deep,<br/>(E) and (A) tagged,<br/>multi-dimensional"]
    CP2_FAIL["❌ Shallow, untagged,<br/>single-dimension"]
    CP2_FIX["🔧 Deepen Cause Analysis<br/>Refer to Step 8<br/>Add (E) and (A) tags"]

    %% Checkpoint 3: Effects & Research Review
    CP3{"✓ CHECKPOINT 3<br/>Effects & Research<br/>Quality Check"}
    CP3_PASS["✅ Time horizons mapped,<br/>sources verified,<br/>gaps acknowledged"]
    CP3_FAIL["❌ No time dimension,<br/>unverified sources,<br/>no gaps identified"]
    CP3_FIX["🔧 Strengthen Effects<br/>& Research<br/>Refer to Steps 6 & 9"]

    %% Final Outputs
    READY["🎯 READY FOR<br/>STAKEHOLDER<br/>VALIDATION<br/>(Lesson 1.2)"]
    QUESTIONS["📝 8-10 Validation<br/>Questions Prepared<br/>from (A) items"]

    %% Flow
    START --> CP1
    CP1 -->|Pass| CP1_PASS --> CP2
    CP1 -->|Fail| CP1_FAIL --> CP1_FIX --> CP1

    CP2 -->|Pass| CP2_PASS --> CP3
    CP2 -->|Fail| CP2_FAIL --> CP2_FIX --> CP2

    CP3 -->|Pass| CP3_PASS --> QUESTIONS
    CP3 -->|Fail| CP3_FAIL --> CP3_FIX --> CP3

    QUESTIONS --> READY

    %% Festa Colors
    style START fill:#F59E0B,stroke:#D97706,stroke-width:2px,color:#1F2937
    style CP1 fill:#10B981,stroke:#059669,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
    style CP2 fill:#10B981,stroke:#059669,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
    style CP3 fill:#10B981,stroke:#059669,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
    style CP1_PASS fill:#72B043,stroke:#5A8F36,stroke-width:1px,color:#fff
    style CP2_PASS fill:#72B043,stroke:#5A8F36,stroke-width:1px,color:#fff
    style CP3_PASS fill:#72B043,stroke:#5A8F36,stroke-width:1px,color:#fff
    style CP1_FAIL fill:#E12729,stroke:#B91C1C,stroke-width:1px,color:#fff
    style CP2_FAIL fill:#E12729,stroke:#B91C1C,stroke-width:1px,color:#fff
    style CP3_FAIL fill:#E12729,stroke:#B91C1C,stroke-width:1px,color:#fff
    style CP1_FIX fill:#F37324,stroke:#E05C1B,stroke-width:1px,color:#fff
    style CP2_FIX fill:#F37324,stroke:#E05C1B,stroke-width:1px,color:#fff
    style CP3_FIX fill:#F37324,stroke:#E05C1B,stroke-width:1px,color:#fff
    style QUESTIONS fill:#72B043,stroke:#5A8F36,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
    style READY fill:#10B981,stroke:#059669,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff

Pass all three checkpoints and you're ready to convert assumptions into stakeholder questions.

Core Problem Quality

Specific population and geographic scope defined

Name the population and place.

Problem stated without embedded causes or solutions

Keep the cause ("skills mismatch") separate from the problem statement.

Observable, measurable, and clearly urgent

Verifiable through data or direct observation.

Connects to your organization's mission and capacity

Within your mission and capacity.

Root Causes Analysis

Causes answer "why" the problem exists (not just describe it)

Would the problem exist without it?

2-3 levels of depth with sub-causes

Direct, underlying, and structural causes.

Mix of evidence-based (E) and assumption (A) items

At least 3-5 items marked (A).

Covers multiple cause categories

Problems are rarely one-dimensional.

Are potentially addressable through interventions

Some should be within an NGO's reach.

Effects Mapping

Realistic consequences across different time horizons

Immediate, medium-term, and long-term.

Individual, community, and system-level impacts considered

Not just personal; families and systems too.

Clear connection between problem and effects

You can explain: "Because [problem], [effect] happens."

Demonstrate why solving this problem matters

Urgent enough to justify the intervention.

Research Quality

Major claims supported by credible, recent sources

UN agencies, government statistics, or established NGOs.

Evidence clearly separated from assumptions

Nothing left unmarked.

Knowledge gaps and uncertainties acknowledged

Honesty, not weakness.

8-10 stakeholder validation questions prepared

Open-ended, non-leading, targeting your (A) assumptions.

Ready to learn from community insights

Go in to learn, not to confirm.

Red Flags: Pause Before Moving Forward

❌ No (A) tags: claiming perfect knowledge isn't credible
❌ Generic problem: could describe any country or population
❌ Single-cause thinking: problems are rarely that simple
❌ No source verification
❌ Leading validation questions: "Don't you think..."

Scoring Your Problem Tree

16-18: ready for validation
13-15: good foundation, address gaps first
10-12: revisit the Step-by-Step Guide
Below 10: return to Phase 2 or 3

Common Questions

How many causes and effects? 4-6 each. Clarity beats quantity.
Can't verify a source? Tag it (A).
Validate everything first? No, be honest about uncertainty.

Next Steps

Ready: move to Lesson 1.2
Gaps remain: revisit Step-by-Step Guide
Want inspiration: check Examples

Quality Checklist