DESIGN OF SOCIAL PROJECTS 'TREE OF PROBLEMS'

TREE OF PROBLEMS

1. PROBLEM DEFINITION:

A problem is usually a matter that is expected to have a quick and effective solution.

A project is mainly developed because there is a problem.

essentially to be able to solve it in the planning process for the incident
starts with the identification of problems that concretely affect life, that
requieren de acción efectiva y oportuna de soluciones específicas y posibles de ser
carried out at a specific moment by people, institutions, or organizations.

According to the Royal Spanish Academy, it defines a problem as a question that

it is about clarifying that it can be a set of facts or circumstances that complicate the
achievement of some goal.

1.1 HOW ARE PROBLEMS FORMULATED CORRECTLY?

Focusing with realism and precision on the situation being analyzed.
Formulating the problem in few words as a negative state.
Writing a single problem per statement. Do not mix because it produces
confusion.
Identifying only existing problems. Not the possible, fictitious, or future ones.
Considering that a problem is not the absence of a solution.
Justifying it based on its magnitude and impact on society.

2. TREE OF PROBLEMS

2.1 WHAT IS THE PROBLEM TREE?

Según Rodrigo Martínez y Andrés Fernández“es una técnica participativa que ayuda a
develop creative ideas to identify the problem and organize the information
collected, generating a model of causal relationships that explain it.

The problem tree is an analytical tool, a model that helps with planning.
a project or analyze a situation. It provides a comprehensive view of the project's context or
of the situation and shows the most relevant aspects to take into account. (NORAD, 1993).

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This technique facilitates the identification and organization of the causes and effects of a
problem.

The problem tree is a useful methodological tool for synthesizing and visualizing
the results of an in-depth analysis of any current situation in
relation to the problem.

It is a participatory technique that helps to develop creative ideas to identify the

problem and organize the collected information, generating a model of relationships
causal factors that explain it.

One way to analyze a problem, its causes, and its effects is to build a 'tree of
"problem" in which the roots represent its causes and the branches its effects.
Typically, causes and effects are different, but occasionally, they can be.
become the same. For example, 'poverty' is a cause of 'child labor',
it is also an effect of "child labor", since working children receive
lower salaries than adults and worsen unemployment by occupying positions of
jobs that should be occupied by adults. Thus, 'poverty' is located
in the roots and in the branches of the tree of the child labor problem.

The problem tree can also be used in the development of a project.

the purpose of the problem tree is to define the main problems present in the
reality, whether it is an object of study to give priority as it is the first step towards the
effective solutions.

Creating a problem tree can be a good way to involve a group more.

broad in the analysis and decision-making process regarding important aspects for
the union can work at the level of causes and effects. The process of elaboration of
a problem tree involves preparing a whole series of problems and deciding on which
the place of the tree must go each one. The problem tree also helps in the preparation
of the objectives. It is very helpful if the discussion is facilitated by a person
with experience in this type of planning method.

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2.2 ADVANTAGES

It is related to and identifies real and present problems rather than issues.
apparent, future or past.
The problem can be broken down into more manageable and definable proportions.
This allows for clearer prioritization regarding which problem or topic is more...
important and this in turn allows focusing the objectives making it more effective
his influence.
There is a greater understanding of the problem.
Help to establish what additional information, evidence, or resource is needed.
to substantiate the case or build a convincing solution proposal.

2.3 PROBLEM ANALYSIS

The first methodological step consists of creating the problem tree. Upon
the following steps are followed:

. Analyze and identify what are considered to be the main problems of

the analyzed situation.

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. A partir de lluvia de ideas, se establece cual es, a juicio del grupo el problema
central that affects us.
. Define the most important effects of the problem in such a way to analyze and
verify its importance.
. Note the causes of the detected central problem.
. Diagramar el árbol de problemas.
. Check the validity and integrity of the tree.

2.4 PRINCIPLES THAT GOVERN THE PROBLEM TREE

. To address a problem, you will need to understand what causes it and what...
they could be the effects.
. The understanding of how different actors consider the causes and
effects of a problem that may be important.

It is recommended to consider the following alternative words instead of using the phrase
lack of

Deficient
High Debilitated
Bureaucratic Deliberate
Complex Unbalanced
Confused Difficult
Scarce Inadequate
Excessive Inefficient
Flexible Uncertain
Fragmented Limited
Unproductive Deductive
Inaccessible Obsolete
Expensive Misused

3. STRUCTURE OF THE PROBLEM TREE

3.1 The Central Problem: according to interests and assessments of the
affected individuals, the problem is described clearly, like a state
negative or undesirable situation that can be verified in reality.
It is located in the trunk.

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3.2 The Causes: conditions that determine or influence the presence of the
problem. It is important to verify the direct relationship that exists between the causes and
the problem.
It extends from the trunk downwards, these would be the roots of the tree.
3.3 The Effects: are the facts, events, or situations that describe what is
they derive from the problem and the impact it has on other problems.

4. HOW TO BUILD THE PROBLEM TREE?

A cause-effect scheme must be configured following these steps:

1.- Identification of the Central Problem. Among the problems considered

important in a community:

Select a CENTRAL PROBLEM taking into account the following:

It is defined as a lack or deficit.

It is presented as a negative state.
It is a real situation, not a theoretical one.

It is located in a well-defined target population.

It should not be confused with the lack of a specific service.

2.- Exploration and verification of the effects/consequences of the Central Problem (the
crown of the tree

The effects are a sequence that goes from the most immediate or directly related.
with the Central Problem, up to more general levels.

The sequence stops at the moment when sufficiently identified effects have been identified.
important enough to justify the intervention that the program or project imposes.

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Each block must contain only one effect.

3.- Identification of relationships between the different effects produced by the Problem
Central

If the detected effects are significant, the Central Problem requires a

SOLUTION, which requires the identification of its CAUSES.

4.- Identification of the causes and their interrelations (the roots).

The sequence of causes should begin with those most directly related to the
Central Problem, which is located immediately below it. Preferably we

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they must identify a few major causes, which are then disaggregated and
interrelating.

A good technique is to ask oneself why what is indicated in each block happens.

The answer should be found at the immediately lower level.

All causes must be identified, even if some of them are unmodifiable.

stopping at the level where it is possible to modify them. It should be remembered that what is
The aim is to develop a causal model for the formulation of a project and not a
exhaustive theoretical framework.

Each block must contain only one cause.

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5.- Diagram the Problem Tree, checking the causal structure.

In summary, the Problem Tree must be developed following the steps that, to
continuation, the following are listed:

1. Formulate the Central Problem

2. Identify the EFFECTS (verify the importance of the problem)

3. Analyze the interrelations of the effects

4. Identify the CAUSES of the problem and their interrelations.

5. Diagram the Problem Tree and verify the causal structure.

It is important to remember that the components of the Problem Tree must be presented
in the following way:

Only one problem per block

Existing (real) problems
As a negative situation
They must be clear and understandable

The project should focus on the roots (causes). The idea is that if it is found
solution for these, the negative effects they produce are resolved.

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5. PROBLEM TREE PROCEDURE

Step 1: place the central problem in the tree

The central problem is the trunk of the tree, from which it is also required to identify its
roots, that is to say the causes that generate it, as well as the effects that derive from it
same that form the branches of the tree. At this point, it is important to remember that the
The central problem should not be framed as the lack of a solution.

For example, if educational services are not provided at the local level
secondary and that only exists in the capital where young people cannot get to with
ease, then the problem will be that there is no educational center of level
secondary, which would be the denial of a possible solution.

Therefore, the problem would be: 'low educational level of young people.'

Step 2: identify the causes of the central problem

Before creating the tree itself, it is necessary to brainstorm, which

allows identifying the possible causes of the problem.

Step 3: relate the causes to each other

It is possible that a list has been obtained from the brainstorming in the previous step.
causes that are too extensive, as they may include some that are not very important or
that have no relation to the problem and be able to eliminate it.

One can decide to remove a cause from the list for various reasons:

No afecta al grupo poblacional que se pretende beneficiar con la solución del

problem but others on which the project does not seek to have more
impact.
It cannot be modified through the solution to the posed problem.
It is repeated, included within another in such a way that it would be incorrect.
include both.

Therefore, in this step it is necessary to group the causes according to their relationship with the
central problem. This involves dividing them by levels, it is possible that some may affect
directly to the problem.

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Step 4: group the causes within the cause tree

In this step, the causes are related, ordered according to their connection with the
main problem, building the tree of causes this way.

For this, a bottom-up causality is followed. That is to say, the problem

The principal exists for the direct causes (first level), it is placed under the problem;
If there were second-level causes, they should be placed below the first level.

Step 5: identify the effects of the main problem

The effects of a problem allow us to imagine the situation that would exist if the project
it will not be implemented.

To identify the effects, it involves asking oneself: if the problem existed, what
What consequence would it have? The answer to this question should be reflected in a brainstorming session.

ideas. When taking this step, it is important to consider two types of effects.

The current ones, those that exist currently and can be observed.
The potentials, those that have not yet occurred, but it is very likely that
appear.

Step 6: sustain the effects and relate them to each other

It is necessary for the effects to be considered to be well-founded.

The literature and reviewed statistical sources.

The diagnosis made of the problem.
La experiencia del proyectista.

In the same way, it is important to group the effects according to their relationship with the
problem; direct and indirect effects are recognized.

Step 7: create an effects tree

The effects tree is developed using the same guidelines as those used in the tree of
causes, organized by levels, the direct effects must be in a row above the

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main problem and the following lines must be composed of the effects
indirect.

It is important to close the recorded tree the final effect, which reflects the influence of
problem posed in the general sectoral situation.

Step 8: complete the cause and effect tree

In this step, the cause and effect trees should be combined, placing the problem in the
tree core.

Step 9: review the complete diagram and verify its logic and integrity.

FINAL EFFECT

Indirect effect Indirect effect

Direct effect Direct effect

CENTRAL PROBLEM

Direct cause Direct cause

Indirect cause Indirect cause

Indirect cause

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PROBLEM TREE: CAUSES - EFFECTS

YOUTH EDUCATION PROJECT

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Conclusion

First: The problem tree is an important tool for understanding the issues.
to be resolved in which a cause-effect chain is expressed.

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Second: The problem tree is a technique used to identify a

negative situation, which seeks to solve through project intervention.

Third: The problem tree helps us break down the problem into smaller proportions.
manageable and definable. This allows for prioritization regarding which problem is the
most important for your intervention.

Bibliography

NORAD. Logical framework approach as a tool for planning and

project management oriented towards objectives, 1993

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RODRIGO MARTÍNEZ AND ANDRÉS FERNÁNDEZ 'problem tree and

areas of intervention

ANNEXES

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7th semester [Date] 18