Rea Lavi, PhD

DIMES® Method for Problem Structuring

 

Contact me for my DIMES Application Expert GPT

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the DIMES Method, a domain-agnostic, systematic, and teachable approach for structuring ill-structured problems. These problems that are often multidisciplinary, with no clear boundaries, and no predetermined success criteria ('right' answers). 

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While some problems can be solved directly using known methods or tools, ill-structured problems demand something deeper: understanding and structuring/defining the problem itself before jumping to solutions.

 

DIMES stands for:

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 1️⃣ Describe the problem in plain language, allowing for omissions and inaccuracies - creating a thread from which to start the structuring process.
2️⃣ Inquire into the problem by asking the 5W questions: Who, What, Where, When, and Why, creating a problem case.
3️⃣ Model the problem as a hierarchical conceptual structure to reveal its layers, creating a problem model.
4️⃣ Extract key leverage points deep within the problem, where focused action can have the greatest impact.
5️⃣ State the problem in a concise, solution-neutral way based on the problem case and the identified leverage points.

 

Each step in DIMES includes detailed guidance, reflection, and assessment tools — making problem structuring learnable, assessable, and scalable for both novices and professionals.

 

Based on prior research into systems, conceptual modeling, and problem-solving, DIMES provides a rigorous yet accessible framework for anyone who wants to think systematically about ill-structured problems.​​

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​​Peer-reviewed publications involving the DIMES method:

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• Lai, Y., & Lavi, R. (2025). Problem structuring in urban science education: Why, what, and how. Frontiers of Urban and Rural Planning, 3(1), 13. view article