Explore the Challenge

What is this?
A process to look at your challenge from different angles before you launch an exhaustive research phase. 

When should I use this?
When your policy issue is coming into focus, but before you’ve finalized your project plan.

More about this...Taking some time up front to explore your challenge will help you question your assumptions, understand the context, and zero in on the right line of inquiry. For instance, if the challenge you’ve identified is a teacher recruitment problem, you might assume that the cause is related to low salaries. But before you launch an exhaustive research project in this direction, take a step back and consider other factors that might be at play, such as housing costs, district reputation, or ineffective recruiting practices.