# problem-framing-canvas

Guides teams through the MITRE problem framing model to clarify messy assumptions before writing code. Designed for 30–45 minute interactive sessions.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 2600 installs · ★ 7673
- Author: deanpeters
- License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills/tree/HEAD/skills/problem-framing-canvas/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-16
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/problem-framing-canvas

## What it does

The agent walks you through the MITRE Innovation Toolkit v3 framework across three stages. First, Look Inward examines internal biases and team assumptions. Next, Look Outward investigates who experiences the friction and which groups were ignored. The final Reframe stage consolidates these observations into an actionable problem statement and a targeted "How Might We" query.

The session runs step by step. The assistant asks single prompts and accepts rough initial notes up front. If stakeholders already committed to a specific implementation, running this exercise is useless. It specifically targets discovery ambiguity rather than routine bug fixes.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill problem-framing-canvas -a claude-code
```

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

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill problem-framing-canvas -a codex
```

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

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill problem-framing-canvas -a cursor
```

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills problem-framing-canvas
```

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

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill problem-framing-canvas -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --path skills/problem-framing-canvas
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill problem-framing-canvas -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/deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills/tree/HEAD/skills/problem-framing-canvas/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- strip internal team bias before writing code
- uncover overlooked user groups during churn spikes
- turn vague stakeholder demands into clear problem definitions
- generate actionable "How Might We" statements for discovery

## Example prompts
- problem-framing-canvas Help reframe the sales CRM adoption issue
- problem-framing-canvas Analyze onboarding drop-off before designing solutions
- problem-framing-canvas Explore user retention drops in our mobile product

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From the same set: [deanpeters/product-manager-skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/deanpeters/product-manager-skills.md) — 69 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