How do you identify and validate a social problem for your enterprise?

Having lived experience of a problem is the best way to understand the problem. You may have lived experience with a broad problem, such as low access to education in a rural area, being a woman in a male dominated industry etc. A specific example is Annie Cannons, a tech non profit that helps survivors of human trafficking to get tech jobs, and these survivors often start social enterprises themselves, related to human trafficking. Another example of lived experience is Made by Many Hands, an eCommerce platform where each vendor is owned by a migrant or refugee woman. It empowers female entrepreneurs to interact directly with their customers and to take ownership of their profit.

Doing research to understand the problem deeply and see if the enterprise is something that society really needs. Data collection and its subsequent interpretation are also important. In our university different professionals with different backgrounds work together doing projects and the way we face those projects is under a problem-based methodology. We, as a group of multidisciplinary professionals, see the same problem in different ways because our theoretical background is totally different. This multidisciplinary teamwork, really helps you to see a social problem from different perspectives and start facing them in a broader way.

The best way to start is to think about the things that deeply matter to you and those you love. Ask yourself - what challenges have I/my loved ones faced which I would like to help someone else with? What skills and experience do I have that could benefit others. The more you an align the things you care about, with the skills and experience you have, the more likely you are to succeed

The Social Enterprise has social values at the core, which drives the Social Entrepreneur to connect his/her interest to the social cause. The enterprise/ entrepreneur with their interest, motivation seek to align to the social problem that they could solve. The adage " Find purpose, and the means will follow" is apt : making the problem to be solved as the mission, the social entrepreneur applies his/her skill, passion and innovation to it. I found my problem by listening to people and observing nature, understanding how they are affected; and also surveying the 'system' around it. Picking the most severe problems, critical but 'impossible' to solve, where nobody's working on it - that was the challenge, a call for action that I took!

Identifying and validating a social problem involves a systematic approach. Start by conducting thorough research to understand existing issues within a community. Identify problems with high impact and potential for scalable solutions. Validate these problems through surveys, interviews, and focus groups with the affected population. Analyze data to determine the problem's severity, frequency, and root causes. Collaborate with community partners to gain deeper insights and build trust.

Start by reflecting on the issues you're passionate about and align them with your values. Consider causes that resonate deeply with you—whether it’s gender equality, environmental sustainability, or economic empowerment. Your personal motivation will fuel your dedication and drive as a social entrepreneur. Tip: Conduct an internal assessment of your skills and experiences to understand how they can be applied to solve the social issues that matter most to you.

I believe that having a clear understanding of your values and goals is essential. This allows you to align your work with the social issues you're passionate about addressing. Aligning my personal interests with causes like inclusion and accessibility enables me to create games that not only entertain but also have a positive impact. By researching current trends and challenges, I can identify opportunities to design meaningful experiences that promote important values and support underrepresented communities.

You can use the first diamond from the double diamond framework of human centered design. These are 'Discover' and 'Define'. The first stage, Discover, could involve conduct desk research to understand the landscape, interview stakeholders/users (ideally between 8-12 people for at least 45 mins each) and then do an empathy map. Then, the second stage 'Define' could involve synthesising the research by doing affinity mapping, mapping the user journey and prioritising problems.

Identifying and validating a social problem involves a thoughtful approach, often rooted in personal experience. Start by immersing yourself in the community; conduct surveys and interviews to gather firsthand insights. Reflect on moments where you felt a disconnect or faced challenges, as these experiences can illuminate broader issues. Next, analyze existing data to understand the scope of the problem. Engage with stakeholders to gain diverse perspectives on their struggles. Finally, implement small-scale pilot programs to test potential solutions. By blending personal experience with research and community engagement, you can effectively validate the social problem your enterprise aims to address.

Problem definition is key step in problem-solving. Social problems are complex, with multi-dimensional factors affecting it. The Design Thinking approach is best applied. In the Discovery phase - the Entrepreneur goes to the problem area, listens to stakeholders collecting info with interviews and focus groups. By identifying key persona, representing the affected social group, the Entrepreneur walks the ground, follows their journey - to gain an empathic understanding of the problem to solve. In the Define phase, using the data, and tools such as brainstorming, 5W2H and 5Whys, as well cause & effect, the Entrepreneur defines the problem and its impact. In the process, as well he/she are able to identify cause factors towards the solution.

Clearly articulate the specific social problem you want to address. This means narrowing your focus to a problem that is both significant and solvable. Use data from reports, surveys, or field research to quantify the problem and understand its scope. Tip: Consider tools like Google Scholar for academic papers, Gapminder for global data, or UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to identify urgent social issues worldwide.

Once your objective is clear, the next step is empathy and a deep understanding of the social problem you're trying to address. It's not just about identifying the problem but also putting yourself in the shoes of those affected to truly grasp how they experience that reality. By researching and clearly defining the root cause of the problem, the stakeholders involved, and the consequences they face, you can develop more effective and human-centered solutions.

Discuss this with those who you think may be affected by this problem. Research is so important, so if you want to validate this, speak directly to people who may be affected by the problem.

Validating your problem is key to ensuring it's real and not just an assumption. Engage with the community affected by the problem through interviews, surveys, or focus groups. Speak with stakeholders who are involved or impacted by the issue to understand their pain points and needs. Tip: Use platforms like Typeform, Google Forms, or SurveyMonkey for feedback collection, and engage with social listening tools like Brandwatch to see how the problem is discussed online.

It's important to ensure that the problem is truly a problem, and not just a projection of what I, as a manager, would like to address. To achieve this, it's crucial to maintain a close relationship with the affected communities to understand their real needs and gather their feedback. This direct connection allows me to validate whether the problem I’ve identified is genuinely urgent and relevant to them, and not merely an interpretation from my own perspective. Additionally, working closely with stakeholders helps ensure that my solution is not only viable but also more effective than existing alternatives.

Based on the feedback and data collected, refine your understanding of the problem. Often, what you initially perceive as the issue might evolve as you gather deeper insights. Adjust your problem statement to ensure it’s specific, relevant, and aligned with the needs of the community you intend to serve. Tip: Apply Design Thinking methodologies—using empathy maps, personas, and journey mapping to refine your understanding of the problem from the users' perspective.

Once you've validated the social problem, the next crucial step is refinement. It's not enough to simply identify the problem; it’s about continuously improving your understanding of it. Based on the feedback and data you've gathered, you need to refine your problem definition. This involves digging deeper into the details, focusing on the most critical aspects, and adjusting your perspective where necessary to make sure you're addressing the core issue.

The Social enterprise as a business itself is a key point to consider - Social problems are often complex being linked to multiple variables - which are physical, material as well as emotional and cultural. Nevertheless, the Social Enterprise needs to address it and develop a 'business model' that ensures the effort and development can be supported and sustained. In it, the business must generate revenue, livelihoods - monetary value; and social impact. The key to succeed as a business is to build a 'social profit motive' which rewards and motivate the stakeholders to participate, propagate and sustain continuously. Hence, it must generate 'social brand value' that generates a positive - pride; as well as counters negatives - a stigma.

Competitor and Market Analysis: Look at other organizations tackling the same problem to understand gaps in the current solutions. This will help you carve out a unique niche. AI Tools for Problem Validation: Use AI-driven tools like IBM Watson or Crimson Hexagon for trend analysis and real-time insights into how the problem is evolving. Partnerships: Collaborate with NGOs, local governments, or academic institutions to get more perspectives and validation. Identifying and validating a social problem is an iterative process. Ensure it aligns with your mission and has the potential to create long-term, scalable impact!