MODULE 1
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Lesson 1 - Develop Macro Industry-
Problem Perspective
Presented by:
MARIAH KYLE B, SOLLER
Instructor
Department of Business and Management
Faculty of Management & Economics
BUSINESS IDEA
PRESENTATION
Let’s reflect:
1. What problem did each
group aim to solve?
2. Did they start with a
problem or with a
product?
Why do we
need to start
with a
Problem?
When you love the problem, you:
Understand it deeply
Stay committed even when the solution gets hard
Stay curious about how the problem evolves
Loving the problem means you're solving something
real, not just chasing a trend.
“Strong ventures begin with a clear, relevant problem and
entrepreneurs must first love the problem before creating the
solution.”
Developing a Macro-
Industry Perspective
It involves identifying not just the immediate
customer problems but also larger industry
trends, potential market shifts and related
emerging cosnumer behavior, technology,
urbanization, etc.
EXAMPLE
A student who wants to help the farmers sell
directly to the consumers.
1. Agricultural supply chains
2. Urbanization
3. Digital Platforms
Understanding its root cause and seeing it as a
system issue.
INDUSTRY
A group of companies producing similar
products or services, often characterized
by their primary business activities.
Exanple: Agriculture Industry,
Construction Industry, Banking and
Finance Industry
INDUSTRY
When students “zoom out” to see the
industry, they:
Understand why a problem exists not
just that it exists
Discover root causes and systemic
patterns
Design solutions that are realistic,
scalable, and aligned with market
dynamics Refill stations, reusable packaging cooperatives, or government-
backed incentives for eco-friendly products.
Example: Student’s saying let’s ban
sachet might ask “Why do manufacturers
prefer sachets? “
INDUSTRY
EXAMPLE OF INDUSTRIES:
Health
Food
Clothing
Shelter
Mobility
Energy
Finance
Software
Logic and Supply Chain
Education Refill stations, reusable packaging cooperatives, or government-
Hospitality backed incentives for eco-friendly products.
Travel and Tourism
Deeptech
Manufacturing
Business Services
Environmental Sustainability
DOMAIN
Domain refers to a specific area of
knowledge, expertise, or focus. It can
also refer to a particular environment or
context in which businesses operate.
DOMAIN
Domain refers to a specific area of
knowledge, expertise, or focus. It can also
refer to a particular environment or context
in which businesses operate. Industry is the
bigger picture, but the domain is the smaller,
specific part where you choose to focus
EXAMPLE:
“I care about plastic waste in my barangay,
which is part of the retail industry. My
domain is single-use packaging in sari-sari
stores, because that’s where I see the most
waste every day.”
SEATWORK
IN A ¼ SHEET OF PAPER, I WANT YOU TO COMPLETE THIS
SENTENCE BELOW:
“I CARE ABOUT [PROBLEM], WHICH IS PART OF THE
[INDUSTRY] INDUSTRY. MY DOMAIN IS [SPECIFIC AREA],
BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE THE PROBLEM SHOWS UP MOST
CLEARLY.”
PROBLEM
‘SPACE’
The set of challenges or issues in a
particular area that offers opportunities
for solutions or innovations.
It’s the “universe” of the problem — all
the things you need to consider to move
from the current state (the problem) to
the desired state (the solution).
Describe the problem space of your
business idea. What challenges exist?
What opportunities can you see? How is
this space shaped by industry trends?
PROBLEM
‘SPACE’
Current State: Farmers throw away
unsold or spoiled crops.
Goal State: Reduce waste and make it
useful.
Constraints: Budget, technology,
market demand.
Possible Moves: Turn waste into
animal feed, compost, or biofuel.
So, the problem space is the whole
setting where these factors interact.
MARKET
A set-up where buyers and sellers
interact to exchange goods, services, or
information, often facilitated by a
physical or virtual platform..
MARKET
NEED
It is an unmet demand or consumer
desire in a particular market.
A market need is a specific gap between
what consumers want and what’s
currently available.
SECTOR
Is a big group of businesses that
do similar work in the economy.
It’s like a “neighborhood” where
companies focus on the same
kind of products or services.
Example: Food Industry,
Technology Industry
MARKET RESEARCH
The process of gathering, analyzing,
and interpreting information about a
market, including information about
potential customers, competitors,
and the industry.
HISTORICAL MARKET
TRENDS
Historic market trends refer to
patterns of change in a market over
time, based on past data.
In the mobile phone market, past
data shows that from the early
2000s to 2010, people shifted
from keypad phones to
smartphones.
This trend tells us how consumer
preferences changed and helps
predict future demand for more
advanced features.
MACRO TRENDS
Big, long-term changes that affect many
industries, regions, and even
generations.
They usually last 5–10 years or more and
influence how people live, what they
buy, and how businesses work.
Example:
The rise of online shopping changed not
only retail but also delivery services,
payment systems, and even consumer
habits worldwide.
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
Deep understandings or revelations
about a specific sector or market based
on research and analysis.
Example:
A coffee shop researches customer
behavior and discovers that most young
customers prefer plant-based milk (like
soy or oat).
This insight helps the shop adjust its
menu, attract more customers, and
increase sales.
Prepare for a
Quiz
SEE YOU NEXT MEETING!
Thank you
very much!
