jenny
Assignment 1 Example — Jenny
Jenny is 16 years old, loves art, and lives in a small town in Canada.
My Problem
I receive more custom art orders than I can handle, and I have no system for managing them — which leads to missed deadlines, disappointed customers, and stress for me.
5W1H Analysis
What is the problem?
I make and sell custom t-shirts and art prints online and at local markets. I often receive more orders than I can realistically complete on time. I don't have a proper system for tracking orders, managing timelines, or communicating with customers about their orders. This leads to late deliveries, unhappy customers, and a lot of stress for me.
Who is affected?
I'm the most directly affected — I feel overwhelmed and anxious when I fall behind on orders. My customers are also affected — they've paid for something and are waiting for it, sometimes for important occasions like birthdays or events. My family is sometimes affected too, because I get stressed and they have to live with that!
Why does the problem exist?
When I started, I only got a few orders a month and could track everything in my head. But as my business grew through word-of-mouth and social media, the orders kept coming — and my informal system didn't scale. I don't have a proper order management system, and I didn't set clear boundaries about how many orders I would take each week. I also find it hard to say no to customers when they ask for custom work.
Where does the problem happen?
The problem happens primarily at home, where I do all my work. I take orders through Instagram DMs, which is messy and hard to organize. I also sell at local markets, where people sometimes place orders in person and I forget to write them down properly.
When does the problem occur?
The problem is worst during busy periods — before the holiday season (November–December), Valentine's Day, and the end of the school year when people want graduation gifts. During these times, I can receive 3–5 times more orders than usual, and my informal system completely breaks down.
How does it affect people?
When I miss a deadline, customers are disappointed — especially if they ordered something for a special occasion. Some have left negative comments online, which hurts my reputation. For me, the stress of falling behind makes me enjoy my art less. I've started to dread opening Instagram because I know there might be more messages about late orders. It's turning something I love into something stressful.