Writing problem statements can be tricky, as you may encounter some common pitfalls that can undermine your CPS process. To avoid this, instead of stating the problem as a solution, such as "How can we increase our sales by 20%?", you should phrase it as an inquiry, like "Why are our sales below our target and what are the factors that influence them?". Additionally, instead of stating the problem as a question, such as "Why do our customers leave negative reviews?", you should state it as an observation, like "Our customers are unhappy with our service and leave negative reviews". Further, instead of stating the problem as a blame, such as "Our employees are lazy and unmotivated", you should phrase it in terms of what needs to be improved, for example "Our employees are not engaged and productive". Finally, instead of stating the problem as a wish, like "We want to be the market leader in our industry", you should phrase it in terms of what needs to be achieved, for instance "We are losing market share and competitiveness in our industry".