R2 (Desired Result)

The R2 is what the reader wants his structure or process to produce in place of the R1. (Or if the R1 is an opportunity, he wants to be able to take advantage of the opportunity.) You want to state the R2 as specifically and quantifiably as you can, so that you will be able to tell when you have achieved it. Without an end-product description of the Desired Result, you cannot easily choose between the various possible Solutions you are likely to generate in the course of your thinking.

Try to state your R2 in end-product terms that either have a specific number or indicate a specific end state:

- Meet year-end growth goals

- Reduce time to market by 1/3

- Permit supermarket testing at reasonable cost

- Revise the system to function properly

- Have sufficient capacity to cope with projected demand.

It is possible that you will not be able to state the R2 as a specific end product, or that you may not be able to state it at all. In that case, simply write down in the R2 section the general state you want to find yourself in when the problem is solved. Then the first step in your problem solving should be to determine the specific R2.

What you are trying to do in laying out the parts of the problem is to erect a rough, but recognizable, scaffolding that will allow you to identify gaps in your understanding, and around which you can wrap the words of your introduction.

As you will see, your definitions of the Opening Scene, the Disturbing Event, the R1 and the R2 may very well change during the problem solving process. Once you begin gathering data, for example, you may find yourself getting a better fix on the extent of external changes, and thus can refine and restate the essence of the R1 and R2. But always the relationship between the parts of the framework will prevail.