Build a Problem Tree

What is the Problem Tree page about? #

On this page, you can create the problem tree of the issue your project is addressing. This is especially useful for your thinking about the project activities and outcomes when designing the Project Logic. Simply start by adding the items (the causes, problems, and effects) and drag them to the levels of the Problem Tree. It is best to start by adding the highest-level items (the effects) and the continue by adding the lower-level items (the problems and causes).

What can you do on this page? #

As a Member

• View the Problem Tree and its translations
• Export the Problem Tree to PDF
• Comment on the Problem Tree

As a Project Admin

• All that members can do and:
• Add new item to the Problem Tree
• Edit the text of the item added
• Delete the items from the Problem Tree
• Change the color of the tile
• Adjust (names and the number of) levels of the Problem Tree
• Create translated version of the Problem Tree

Adding new items to the Problem Tree #

You can add an item to the Problem Tree by using the “+ Add item” button below the Problem Tree graph on the left side of the page. Once you click this button you can type in your desired description and confirm by clicking “Create”.

Once the item is created it will appear in on the left below the Problem Tree, where the “+ Add item” button was. Now you can simply drag the result into the desired position in the Problem Tree.

Please note that you can add results to lower-levels of your Problem Tree only once some results in all the higher levels are already created (e.g. you can only add a Cause once you added a Problem).

Adding, Editing and Deleting Items in the Problem Tree #

Editing the items added to the Problem Tree

To edit an item that was already added to the Problem Tree simply click the pencil button at the top-right corner of the item’s tile.

Deleting items from the Problem Tree

To delete an item that was added to the Problem Tree simply click the X button at the top-right corner of the item’s tile. Only results that do not have any lower-level items belonging to them can be deleted.

Changing colors of the result tile

You can change the color of the result’s tile by using the edit (pencil) button of the top-right corner of the tile. Next use the “Background color” button, select your button and confirm by “Ok” and “Update”. It is possible to select a custom color or to use one of the Kinaki’s default colors.

Adjusting names and the number of levels

To change the names or number of the levels (the Effects, Problems, causes, and Root Causes) use the settings button above the Problem Tree on the right.

In the Problem Tree settings, you can change the name of the level by clicking on its name. To add a new level, click the “ADD NEW” button, and to delete the level click the X button next to the name of the level to be deleted.

Adjusting names and the number of the Problem Tree levels

Viewing and creating translations of the Problem Tree #

To create localized versions of the Problem Tree, you first need to have multiple languages added to your project. See the Project Settings page of the guide for advice how to do so.

To view the different language versions of the Problem Tree, use the language selector on the top-right just above the Problem Tree graph. Translations can be manually created by clicking the edit (pencil) button on the selected item and changing the text.

Problem Tree levels can be translated the same ways on the settings page. See the paragraph “Adjusting names and the number of levels” for detailed information on how to change the names.

Exporting the Problem Tree #

To export the Problem Tree, please use the “Export” button above the Problem Tree on the left.

Commenting on the Problem Tree #

Please see details on comments in Kinaki in the section Navigation and Basics of the User Guide.