# analyse-problem

This skill turns a problem into a one-page A3 document: background, current condition, goal, root cause and an action plan.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1200 installs · ★ 1787
- Author: NeoLabHQ
- License: GPL-3.0 · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit/tree/HEAD/skills/analyse-problem/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-08-26
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/analyse-problem

## What it does

The skill walks the agent through seven sections: background and impact, current condition with facts and metrics, a measurable goal, root cause analysis via 5 Whys or a fishbone diagram, countermeasures, an implementation plan with owners and dates, and follow-up. Output is a single-page document in markdown or plain text, named after the A3 paper format.

Invoke it with `/analyse-problem [problem_description]`. Leave the description out and the skill asks for it. OUTPUT_FORMAT controls the output, markdown by default.

It earns its place when an incident keeps coming back and you want the cause, not another patch on the symptom. The catch: the skill needs data. The current condition section is built on facts and metrics, so without logs, measurements or examples the agent fills it with platitudes.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --skill analyse-problem -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/analyse-problem/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/analyse-problem/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --skill analyse-problem -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/analyse-problem/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --skill analyse-problem -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/analyse-problem/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit analyse-problem
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/analyse-problem/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --skill analyse-problem -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --path skills/analyse-problem
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/analyse-problem/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --skill analyse-problem -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit/tree/HEAD/skills/analyse-problem/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- trace a recurring incident back to its root cause
- write up a problem on one page for the team
- separate facts and metrics from opinions when describing a failure
- build an implementation plan with owners and dates
- check that countermeasures target the cause, not the symptom

## Example prompts
- /analyse-problem API goes down 2-3 times a week during peak hours
- /analyse-problem figure out why the build fails at the test stage
- /analyse-problem response times keep growing, OUTPUT_FORMAT: text

## Similar
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- [scientific-problem-selection](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/scientific-problem-selection.md) — skill · 2400 installs
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- [sequential-thinking](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/sequential-thinking.md) — skill · 1800 installs
- [define-problem-statement](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/define-problem-statement.md) — skill · 816 installs

From the same set: [neolabhq/context-engineering-kit](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/neolabhq/context-engineering-kit.md) — 64 cards

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md