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 does and does not claim: we track where an exercise has been seen in public sources. We do not claim to know who created it, how popular it is, or that it works. See methodology and trust boundary.
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