- The issue is still mixed and difficult to name
- Several concerns are being treated as one problem
- The first need is clearer framing, not yet a full solution
- You know something is wrong, but cannot yet explain it well
Practice / Diagnostic
Clarify what the issue actually is.
Diagnostic is for situations where something feels important, but the issue is still mixed, vague, or difficult to name clearly enough to work on well.
When it fits
- The issue keeps returning in slightly different forms
- Discussion starts too early before the frame is stable enough
- You need to know what to work on first
- The next move matters more than a complete theory
What we work on
Problem decomposition
Separate the visible request from the deeper issue and avoid treating every concern as one thing.
Clarifying what is known
Distinguish what is already visible from what is still inferred, assumed, or missing.
Finding the next useful move
Identify the smallest worthwhile next step instead of staying in mixed uncertainty.
What you leave with
A clearer issue frame
You can explain what the issue actually is with less confusion and less overlap.
Separated concerns
Mixed concerns become more distinct, which makes later work more grounded.
A more sensible next step
You know what to work on first and whether the next layer is Structuring, Deliberation, or something else.