Identifying a Need or Opportunity

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Does a need describe a problem people currently face?

A False

B True

2. Is an opportunity always something invented from scratch?

A False

B True

3. Can observation help identify needs and opportunities?

A No

B Yes

4. Which comes first: identifying a need, or writing functional requirements?

A Identifying a need

B Writing functional requirements

5. Can needs or opportunities be identified through user surveys?

A Yes

B No

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1A problem that people are currently facing		AObservation
2A gap or possible improvement not yet addressed		BA need or opportunity should be identified before development begins
3Watching how people behave to notice unmet needs		COpportunity
4The very first step before designing any solution		DNeeds should be identified through research such as observation or surveys
5The team built a full solution before deciding what problem it solved		ENeed
6The designer assumed everyone had the same need without asking any users		FIdentifying a need or opportunity

Definitions

Need or opportunity

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

1. A ____ 2. An opportunity

1. A need 2. An ___________

A need is a problem people currently ____

An opportunity is a gap not yet _________

___________ helps uncover needs and opportunities

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A A need is a problem people currently face.

B A need is always something brand new to the world.

C Needs can be identified through observation.

D Needs form a starting point for solution ideas.

Question 2

A Opportunities are identical to needs in every way.

B An opportunity is a gap not yet addressed.

C Opportunities can come from improving existing solutions.

D Opportunities can inspire new digital solutions.

Question 3

A Observation is one way to identify needs.

B Questioning users can reveal unmet needs.

C Only developers can identify needs or opportunities.

D Talking to potential users helps uncover opportunities.

Question 4

A A need or opportunity is the starting point for a solution.

B It is identified only after the solution is fully built.

C It should be clearly identified before development begins.

D It helps guide the direction of the whole project.

Question 5

A They can never come from analysing existing solutions.

B Needs and opportunities can come from everyday observation.

C They can also come from feedback or complaints.

D They form the basis for functional requirements later.

Answer Key

Identifying a Need or Opportunity

Section A: Quick Questions

B — True

A — False

B — Yes

A — Identifying a need

A — Yes

Section B: Match the Pairs

A problem that people are currently facing → Need

A gap or possible improvement not yet addressed → Opportunity

Watching how people behave to notice unmet needs → Observation

The very first step before designing any solution → Identifying a need or opportunity

The team built a full solution before deciding what problem it solved → A need or opportunity should be identified before development begins

The designer assumed everyone had the same need without asking any users → Needs should be identified through research such as observation or surveys

Section C: Definitions

Need or opportunity — A problem worth solving or a gap worth exploring, forming the starting point for developing a digital solution

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

1. A need
2. An opportunity

1. A need
2. An opportunity

A need is a problem people currently face

An opportunity is a gap not yet addressed

Observation
 helps uncover needs and opportunities

Section E: Spot the Error

B — A need is not always brand new — it's simply a current problem people face, which may already be known.

A — Opportunities and needs are related but different — an opportunity is a gap, while a need is a current problem.

C — Anyone can identify needs or opportunities, not only developers — users and stakeholders often notice them first.

B — A need or opportunity must be identified before development begins, not after the solution is built.

A — Needs and opportunities can absolutely come from analysing existing solutions and looking for gaps.