| name | problem-first |
| description | Ensures problem-first framing before solutioning. Use when defining work, discussing features, handling requests that sound like solutions, or when someone says "we should add" or "let's build". |
| allowed-tools | Read, Glob, Grep |
Problem-First Framing
Reframe solution-loaded requests as problems before proceeding.
The Principle
"What is true?" before "What should we do?"
Detecting Solution-Loaded Requests
| Input Pattern | Response |
|---|
| "We should add caching" | "What performance problems are users experiencing?" |
| "Let's build a dashboard" | "What decisions do users need to make? What data do they need?" |
| "Add a button for X" | "What task are users trying to accomplish?" |
| "We need microservices" | "What scaling or development problems are we facing?" |
Reframing Process
- Identify the embedded solution — What are they proposing?
- Surface the assumption — Why do they think this solves something?
- Ask about the problem — What triggered this request?
- Explore evidence — What data supports this need?
JTBD Framing
When the request involves users, apply Jobs-to-be-Done:
"When [situation], [user] wants to [motivation] so they can [outcome]."
Example:
- Solution: "Add export to PDF"
- JTBD: "When preparing for client meetings, account managers want to share usage reports so they can demonstrate value and justify renewal."
Questions to Ask
- What problem triggered this request?
- Who experiences this problem?
- How often does it occur?
- What's the impact when it happens?
- What workarounds exist today?
- How would we know if we solved it?
Output Format
When reframing, structure as:
## Original Request
[What was asked]
## Reframed Problem
[Problem-focused version]
## Assumptions to Validate
- [Assumption 1]
- [Assumption 2]
## Questions to Answer
- [Question 1]
- [Question 2]
## Suggested Next Step
[Discovery, clarification, or proceed if problem is clear]
When to Proceed Without Reframing
- Problem is already clearly stated
- User has explicitly validated the problem
- This is a bug fix with clear reproduction steps
- User says "I know the problem, just do X"
