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SESSION E:2. TRAINER'S NOTES

THE PROBLEM TREE

This is a group discussion project, using the material supplied.

You have been asked to create a 'Problem Tree', that is a visual representation of the various problems that the Community Radio Station is experiencing.

(See accompanying sample.)

Use the paper provided to draw the outline of a tree.
Write on the tree in the places identified , the agreed issues and topics.

There are three sections to the 'Problem Tree', these are;

  • The root causes, that is, deep-seated social, economic and political structures and attitudes,
  • Secondly, immediate symptoms of these structures, and finally,
  • The overt problems evident to those trying to deal with running the project.

The Code of the 'Problem Tree' is the starting point of an inductive questioning process that has three steps.

1. TO SEE; the Root Causes of the problems affecting the project,
as part of your society.

2. TO JUDGE; the situation created by the Immediate Causes, and

3. TO ACT; to resolve the Problems identified in the process.

You may not have time to organise a complete survey of the complex issues affecting any not-for-profit project in the present environment.
Try to identify the main strands of the problem and attach these to your Tree.

Ask one member of your group to report back to the larger group when finished.


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