Self-Study Assignment 2.4: Think & Act💡 Problem First Thinking

Learning Outcomes Addressed:

• Identify examples of industries experiencing disruption due to AI advancements.
• Interpret the implications of AI-native economics such as increased productivity and reduced time-to-output.

What You’ll Do

This activity is intentionally structured to stop “AI brainstorming” and force problem-first thinking.

Your task is to identify a real business problem first — then explore how GenAI could create structural change around it. 

Start with the question, not the tool.

Step 1 — Choose the Function 

Choose one real business function.

Examples:

• HR
• Customer Service
• Supply Chain
• R&D
• Marketing

Choose something real — something you can observe, understand, or relate to.

Cues

• Where does work slow down?
• Where do teams experience friction?
• Where are people repeating manual work?
• Where do customers or employees feel frustration?

Step 2 — Define the Pain Point 

Define what it is:

• Inefficient
• Costly
• Slow
• Fragmented
• Outdated

If you can’t name the friction, you can’t design value.

Do not jump to the AI solution yet.

Cues

• What process feels broken or unnecessarily difficult?
• What creates delays or wasted effort?
• What depends too heavily on manual coordination?
• What are people tolerating because “that’s just how it works”?

Step 3 — Explore the Disruption 

Now brainstorm how GenAI could radically disrupt the problem.

Do not think about incremental improvement.

Think about:

• Automation
• Augmentation
• Personalisation
• New value creation
• Entirely different workflows

Cues

• What could disappear completely?
• What could become real-time?
• What decisions could AI support or automate?
• What new experience becomes possible?
• What changes structurally, not just operationally?

Step 4 — Leadership Call 

Make one directional call:

If this disruption becomes real, what would organisations need to rethink?

Cues

• Roles and skills
• Workflows
• Management structures
• Customer expectations
• Speed of decision-making
• Human vs AI responsibility

Reflection

Did you begin with the technology — or with the problem?
What changed once you focused on friction first?

Estimated Duration: 30 minutes

NOTE: This is a practice activity and will not be graded or impact your programme completion. However, we strongly encourage participation for a more holistic learning experience.