Problem Chain
Problem Chain is a relationship mapping exercise that helps participants build useful connections and understand how people, roles, or ideas relate.
How to run it
- Explain the purpose of the activity and present the central problem.
- Write the problem in the center of a large sheet of paper or board.
- Ask the group: “What causes this problem?”
- Write the causes around the central problem, using arrows to show connections.
- Reflect: “What are the consequences of this problem?”
- Place the effects near the central problem, linking them with arrows.
- Identify relationships between causes and effects to build a chain showing how they interact.
Run this exercise live
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What participants need now
Materials:
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Prompts to use +
Explain the purpose of the activity and present the central problem.
Write the problem in the center of a large sheet of paper or board.
Ask the group: “What causes this problem?”
Write the causes around the central problem, using arrows to show connections.
Reflect: “What are the consequences of this problem?”
Place the effects near the central problem, linking them with arrows.
Run this with your AI assistant +
Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or your own local model: paste this prompt and your AI will co-facilitate this exercise with you.
Adapt this exercise for my exact room. Exercise: Problem Chain. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: Explain the purpose of the activity and present the central problem.; Write the problem in the center of a large sheet of paper or board.; Ask the group: “What causes this problem?”; Write the causes around the central problem, using arrows to show connections.. Return a concise facilitator script with timing, wording, safety notes, and remote/in-person adjustments.
Origin unverified
- Where we observed it: The strongest current observations come from Participatory Methods; aggregators are listed as additional observations, not origin proof. (1 source observed, including Participatory Methods.)
- What that means: we track where an exercise has been observed in public sources. We do not claim to know who created it, or how popular it is.
- No efficacy claims: appearing in this library is not a claim that the exercise is proven effective. Facilitator judgment and context decide whether it works for a given room.
- Corrections: if you have evidence of an earlier or more accurate source, read our methodology and trust boundary and tell us.