Have you ever heard of Kettering's Law? Charles F. Kettering, an American inventor and former head of research at General Motors, is known for this famous quote:

"A problem well stated is a problem half solved".

Recently, I’ve come to realize just how powerful this statement truly is.

The First Step in Problem Solving is "Clarify the Problem"
For example, in a business setting, we often encounter vague issues like: "Sales are down", "Customer response is poor", or "The atmosphere in the office isn't great". But those statements alone won't solve anything.

If "sales are down", you need to specifically re-examine the situation and review the relationship between cause and effect.

Which products are declining in sales?
When did this trend begin?
In which markets are sales falling?
Have competitors made any moves?
Have there been internal changes within the company?

I call this process "increasing the resolution of the problem".

The Same Applies to Development, Design, and UX
This applies equally to system development, UI/UX design, and graphic design.

 

Instead of accepting surface-level complaints and requests, we must dig deeper to identify and articulate the underlying structural problems. That’s the true starting point of any meaningful development or design process.

In design, when someone says, "Make it look cool", understanding the real purpose behind that request or the impression they want to convey leads to more effective, intentional design.

My Experience as a Business Owner
As a business owner myself, I constantly ask myself, "What is the essence of this challenge?" when making management decisions, such as:

 

Every time, I start by gathering data such as numbers, feedback from the field, market changes, and redefining the problem itself.

Listening Skills and Writing Skills are Crucial
To clarify problems, listening skills and writing skills are essential. As a business owner, I consciously make an effort to listen carefully to employees and customers, and then organize those thoughts by writing them down on a whiteboard or in a notebook.

When the fuzzy thoughts in your head become written words, you can better organize and share that information, and the clues that point toward solutions start to appear.

So, the next time you face a challenge or a problem, try asking yourself:

Is this truly the 'problem' that I need to solve?
Have I accurately articulated this problem in words?

These questions are the first step in practicing Kettering's Law.
And if you can do that, perhaps you’ve already achieved half of the solution.