Problem Proximity

Distinguishing Problem Proximity

What Is Problem Proximity?

• the degree to which a decision-maker directly experiences, observes, or interacts with the real problem being solved.
• measures how directly someone encounters the problem they are making decisions about.

Problem Proximity as a Spectrum

Level	Description
Direct Experience	The person personally encounters the problem in their work or life
Observed Experience	The person regularly observes the problem through users, metrics, or experiments
Indirect Awareness	The problem is known through reports or second-hand descriptions
Abstract Understanding	The problem is conceptual or hypothetical

Relationships to Problem Proximity

What Conditions are Influenced by Problem Proximity?

• Problem proximity strongly influences Decision Quality.

Problem Proximity	Common Outcome
High	Insightful solutions
Moderate	Partial understanding
Low	Assumptions dominate decisions

Lines of Inquiry

• Distinguishing Problem Proximity
  • What Is Problem Proximity?
  • What is Not Problem Proximity?
• Problem Proximity as a System
  • Zooming Out: Larger Systems Containing Problem Proximity
  • Zooming In: Parts of Problem Proximity
• Relationships to Problem Proximity
  • What Principles Guide Problem Proximity?
  • What Capacities Degrade When Problem Proximity Is Absent?
    • (table: capacity, effect)
  • What Interventions require Problem Proximity?
• Perspectives on Problem Proximity