Up to this point in the project, we have worked solely as a team to gather research to eventually come to a solution to solve the well defined problem. We are on the cusp of beginning that path towards discovery, yet there is still more brainstorming and feedback to be received. However, this time it would be one on one with someone outside of our group. This proved to be extremely helpful in the formation of a critical problem statement. While all the groups have the same topic, each has a slightly different area of focus. Going into a situation where the other person had no idea what this specific focus would be made it that much more important to have a clear and concise statement to communicate. Since that is the whole point of a problem statement, having that mentality going into it made it that much more useful. I started off with a statement that was way too broad, encompassing the entire scope, but having the feedback made me realize my mistake and helped me shape a more focused statement.
Once regrouping as a team to discuss our refined problem statements, I realized mine was still somewhat more broad than it needed to be. However, all three (Malia was absent and would add hers later) were all pointed in the same direction. Even after Malia added hers without looking at the ones we had already created, all four retained a common theme: New younger professionals needing a way to make connections and become apart of a community. After working on this project for a couple months now, there were other directions that we could have gone in with the research we found. But having all four of us settle on the same thing was very encouraging and has guided us in a more focused route.
My Problem Statement: Early career professionals living in a new city need community enhancing housing because meeting new people while navigating a busy work schedule can be challenging.