What Problem Traversal Theory Is
Created by Shadow Smith, Problem Traversal Theory (PTT) is a practical, critical thinking framework for uncovering clarity, focusing efforts, and solving the right problems. Built on the simple yet profound idea that:
Every problem is a desire.
Without desire, there are no problems—only neutral observations of the world. This distinction matters because it prevents energy from being wasted on ideas that don’t truly need action. Instead, it focuses your efforts on solving authentic, meaningful problems that drive real change.
This framework empowers professionals to:
- Uncover what truly matters in complex, multi-layered challenges.
- Focus efforts on solving high-impact problems.
- Turn ideas into actionable solutions that create meaningful change.
Why Learn Problem Traversal Theory
Solving the right problem wrong is better than solving the wrong problem right.
Problem Traversal Theory is for uncovering clarity in complexity. It’s for finding the root of a problem quickly and charting a clear path forward. Its activities, while structured and logical, are designed to be intuitive and flexible, so you can start using them right away without feeling overwhelmed by process.
Problem Traversal Theory helps you refine your understanding, align your actions with vision, and validate solutions as you go. The goal with Problem Traversal Theory is to help you spend less time stuck in ambiguity, guessing at priorities, or struggling to persuade others—and more time solving problems that actually matter.
Compared to other problem-solving approaches, which can feel rigid or overly theoretical, Problem Traversal Theory is highly practical and action-oriented. It’s adaptable to any role or industry, and its focus on aligning actions with vision ensures that your efforts always make an impact.
Put simply: with Problem Traversal Theory, you’ll solve more right problems.
Problem Traversal Theory is Clarity-Focused
Problem Traversal Theory cuts through ambiguity by mapping problems, solutions, and vision into a cohesive, logical chain. It ensures you know exactly why you’re doing something and what you’re aiming to achieve.
Problem Traversal Theory is Vision-Aligned
Problem Traversal Theory ensures that every effort ties back to a higher-order goal or vision. It avoids irrelevant work that doesn’t truly move the needle.
Problem Traversal Theory is Action-Driven
Problem Traversal Theory bridges the gap between abstract ideas and concrete execution by breaking problems into manageable steps. It ensures clarity at every level of detail, from vision to implementation.
Problem Traversal Theory is Iterative and Flexible
Problem Traversal Theory encourages continuous refinement by traversing up (“Why does/do...?”) and down (“How could/can...?”) the problem-solution hierarchy. This flexibility ensures solutions remain relevant as priorities or contexts change.
Problem Traversal Theory is Persuasive and Empowering
Problem Traversal Theory helps you build compelling artifacts—whether proposals, specs, or presentations—that inspire alignment. By grounding your arguments in clarity, vision, and actionable steps, Problem Traversal Theory ensures your ideas resonate.
Who Problem Traversal Theory Is For
Problem Traversal Theory is for anyone who wants to approach problems differently—focusing on uncovering what truly matters, aligning efforts with broader goals, and creating impactful solutions. Whether you’re solving technical challenges, managing products, or driving strategic initiatives, this website provides the tools and guidance to help you apply Problem Traversal Theory in your work.
Here’s who will benefit most:
- Engineers and Technical Professionals
Use PTT to create clear, actionable proposals, break down complex systems, and ensure your solutions address the right problems. - Product Managers
Leverage PTT to clarify priorities, navigate trade-offs, and align stakeholders around meaningful outcomes. - Leaders and Strategists
Apply PTT to cut through ambiguity, connect actions to broader goals, and inspire alignment across teams and organizations. - Entrepreneurs and Consultants
Use PTT to analyze client or market challenges, develop solutions that resonate, and communicate your vision effectively. - Anyone tackling complex problems
From researchers to designers to program managers, this website equips you with tools to navigate complexity and focus your energy on what matters most.
If you’re ready to stop wasting time on irrelevant problems and start solving the ones that truly matter, Problem Traversal Theory is for you.
Why Problem Traversal Theory Was Created
Back in 2020, I learned of a failed startup valued at $120 million called Juicero.
The story of this company, created to solve a non-problem, captivated me, but I was hooked less on what ultimately took them under and more on this idea that many people were working on problems that felt real to them that weren’t.
I needed to know how this was possible.
I needed to know how a bunch of incredibly talented people could come together and over-engineer such a complex piece of machinery for, ultimately, no reason.
This stuck with me because I’ve seen, and had been a part of, many situations like this, where a problem was taken extremely seriously only for it to not matter.
I also began noticing that people I work with across all career levels and disciplines were regularly facing situations similar to Juicero, such as Software Engineers executing on solutions to ill-defined problems.
While mentoring team members through these situations, I coined the term Misproblem to represent this idea that an ancestor problem to something that feels like a real problem might, in fact, be a non-problem.
After seeing the positive impact of raising awareness of this often hidden and expensive phenomenon, I wanted to become a master of problems, but I didn’t know where to start.
The timeless concept “mastery comes from mastering the basics” has been echoed by great minds throughout history from Aristotle to Bruce Lee, but if you want to become an extraordinary problem expert, where do you begin?
What are the fundamentals of a problem you need to master to become a master of them?
At the start of my journey while seeking the answer to this question, I came across many definitions for problem, but none decomposed the idea down to the atomic level I hoped to study.
So I devoted many years of my life and developed my own mechanistic understanding of problems instead.
Now, I’m sharing my discoveries and techniques with you as Problem Traversal Theory to increase your ability to solve root problems, create lasting change, and improve lives—starting with your own.
About the Author
I’m Shadow Smith, a self-taught, Principal Software Engineer passionate about solving complex problems and helping others do the same. Since 2014, I’ve worked in the business credit and insurance industries, collaborating with Business, Product, and Engineering professionals to eliminate assumptions, minimize waste, and maximize the impact of executed solutions.
You can learn more about me and my work at shadowsmith.com.