The R1 is the problem that your reader is trying to solve or is likely to face, or the opportunity he could embrace. It is usually brought to the surface by the Disturbing Event (the source of which was external internal, or recently recognized). In consulting, the undesired result is typically the stated trigger for a consulting engagement, although the underlying causes of the R1 may in some cases not be apparent to the client.

It may be that the Disturbing Event revealed the existence of a hitherto unrecognized or unavailable opportunity. More likely, however, is that it will have:

- Adversely affected the company's processes or structures

- Disrupted the performance of a particular area

- Triggered (or should have triggered) a rethinking of the business, its products, or its processes

- Challenged (or should have challenged) basic assumptions about customers, markets, competition, core competencies, processes or technology.

There may also be more than one R1 resulting from this disturbance. You want to state R1 as briefly as possible in your diagram. For example, it may be that the company is now unable to serve the market or is losing its market share. It may see its sales decreasing, its profit margins declining, or its financial performance eroding. Or a forecast market opportunity may not be realizable, etc.