A problem statement is a double edged sword that at once clarifies a focus, and also cuts away other possible definitions. The frame used to define the problem is often not the one that will generate a useful solution, and it may actually prevent finding a useful one, especially with recurrent or persistent problems. For example, the nine-dot puzzle problem is a favorite of trainers, showing how assumptions about the nature of a problem can restrict seeing solutions. When a square shape is implied by the shape of the dot configuration, most problem solvers assume that the solution for connecting the nine dots with four straight lines lies within that implied square. Complex problems require frame shifts .
Many problems are very complex and have multiple variables and contingencies.
Traditional problem analysis attempts to identify, isolate, and narrow focus on a single variable and cause, rather than look at the broader systemic factors and complex relationships. For example, in a small town, several administrators of a non-profit organization's fund development office were hired and fired within five years for inability to raise donations. Resistance to change . From a systems perspective, every component of a system serves a function, particularly if it has been in operation for some time. Attempting to remove the elements of a problem directly may elicit resistance due to stakeholders who have an investment in them.