Problems

Problems are commonly understood as troubles, tribulations, and unequivocally bad. But from a creative, innovation-oriented perspective, a problem is an opportunity for innovation.

Yes, problems consists of obstacles, impediments, or difficulties, but these challenges are the fundament of opportunity. Technically, a problem can be understood as a situation that invites resolution that can be recognized as a solution or contribution toward a known purpose or goal. A problem implies a desired outcome coupled with an apparent deficiency, doubt or inconsistency that prevents the outcome from taking place.

Those seeking innovation and change may even want to systematically problematize a term, writing, opinion, ideology, etc... so as to invite people to question commonly understood ways of seeing things. Problematization, as such is a means of demythicisation. Rather than taking the common knowledge (myth) of a situation for granted, problematization poses that knowledge as a problem, allowing new viewpoints, consciousness, reflection, hope, and action to emerge.^[1]

Links: Problemio   Problem brainstorming site with tools to solve them. ("Which Problems Are You Passionate About Solving? "): 1. Post problems, 2. Get and give feedback on solution ideas, 3. Create projects to solve the problems

Wikipedia List of unsolved problems 

• 1]  Crotty, Michael J. (1998). Foundations of Social Research: Meaning and Perspective in the Research Process. SAGE Publications. ISBN 0-7619-6106-2. Describing Freire (1976). p. 155-156.