--- sourceDocument: Australia IT Service Management sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/it-service-management Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia IT Service Management ft:clusterId : - itsm bundleId : - itsm workflow : - Technology --- # Work on a problem in Service Operations Workspace # Work on a problem in Service Operations Workspace {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Australia Updated March 12, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 minutes to read Manage problems and problem tasks through their life cycle, share workarounds or fixes with related incidents, and create known error articles to help deflect incidents. ## Before you begin If you aren't using the base problem life cycle, you will continue to use the classic experience to manage problems or problem tasks through their life cycle. From the problem record page, select Continue problem to be redirected to the ServiceNow AI Platform user interface where you can make state transitions. For information about state transitions of a problem, see [Life cycle of a problem](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/EMvQfnNznG_IqlOVW4zP0Q "Problem Management is responsible for managing the life cycle of underlying problems. State transition of a problem guides you through the stages of a problem life cycle, from creation to closure."). The base problem life cycle is included with the Problem Management  Best Practice - Madrid - State Model (com.snc.best_practice.problem.madrid.state_model) plugin. Use the Problem Management Migration Utility [store application](https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/application/d03b7539dbbb3300f21e7ffdbf9619a8) to enable this plugin and migrate your records to the base problem life cycle. Role required: itil, problem_coordinator or higher (for managing the life cycle of the problem), problem_admin (for deleting the problem) ## Procedure 1. Open a problem. For information about creating a problem in Service Operations Workspace, see [Create a problem in Service Operations Workspace](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Se0BWzeC~HgXObZkG8O_Ug "Investigate the root cause of recurring incidents or a major incident. Provide a permanent fix to help prevent them from happening again."). 2. Perform any of the following actions on the problem record page. | Option | Description | | View the unified dependency CMDB map in a new tab within the workspace view | For the reference fields such as Configuration item, Service offering and Service, select the Dependency view icon (![Dependency icon]()). | | Create a problem task associated with the problem | Select Create problem task, or select New from the Problem Tasks tab. For more information about creating a problem task, see [Create a problem task in Service Operations Workspace](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/6WJIhwZhz_e~swNyjYUhXg "When you need to engage another team or agent for help, create and assign a problem task."). | | Assess a problem | Select Assess and fill the mandatory fields. | | Confirm a problem | Select Confirm to move the problem from the Assess state to the Root Cause Analysis state. | | Investigate the root cause of a problem | * If you are the subject matter expert for this problem area, carry out the investigation and select Fix to provide the cause notes and fix notes. * If you are not the subject matter expert and you want help from another team to investigate, create a problem task. For more information about creating a problem task, see [Create a problem task in Service Operations Workspace](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/6WJIhwZhz_e~swNyjYUhXg "When you need to engage another team or agent for help, create and assign a problem task."). {#work-on-problem-sow__investigate-root-cause_ul_fqh_nzt_ktb} | | Create a change request from the problem | From the drop-down list next to Create problem task, select Create change request, or select New from the Fix Tasks tab. For information about creating a change request, see [Create a change request in Service Operations Workspace](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/GzFC9QFFC4Mf7lR2iJAZXw "Track modifications to a supported configuration item (CI) by using a change request. You can record information such as the reason for the change, and the change type, priority, and risk."). | | Create an outage associated with the problem | From the drop-down list next to Create problem task, select Create outage. | | Create a known error article | From the drop-down list next to Create problem task, select Create known error article. Known error articles document the root cause and the workaround of the problem. For a description of the field values, see [Known error article form](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/gCvE9RAP8bkqFtIBsnCVgQ "Description of the field values for the legacy problem form."). | | Assign the problem to yourself | Select Assign to me. | | Mark a problem as a duplicate of an existing problem | From the drop-down list next to Cancel, select Mark duplicate and fill the mandatory fields. | | Cancel a problem | Select Cancel problem and fill the mandatory fields. | | Delete a problem | Select the more actions icon (![more actions icon]()) and select Delete. | | Create a known error article for a high-impact problem | Note: This option is available when you have the problem-coordinator role and the following conditions are applicable for a problem: * Impact is high. * A known error article is not already attached. * Work notes are not empty. {#work-on-problem-sow__ul_fbs_j5r_dfc} 1. From the contextual side panel, select the recommendations icon (![recommendations icon]()). 2. From the Recommended actions tab, select Create article. For a description of the field values, see [Known error article form](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/gCvE9RAP8bkqFtIBsnCVgQ "Description of the field values for the legacy problem form."). {#work-on-problem-sow__ol_nwk_hsr_dfc} | | Attach knowledge articles or records that help a quick resolution of a problem | 1. From the contextual side panel, select the agent assist icon (![agent assist icon]()). 2. Search for a resource and perform the required action. {#work-on-problem-sow__ol_ur3_xrq_cbc}The knowledge articles attached here are displayed in the Related records tab. | | Add an attachment to a problem | From the contextual side panel, select the attachments icon (![attachments icon]()). | | Copy the record page URL to easily access the record | Select the more actions icon (![more actions icon]()) and select Copy URL. | | Share a workaround | Select the more actions icon (![more actions icon]()) and select Share workaround. | | Share a fix | Select the more actions icon (![more actions icon]()) and select Share fix. | | Create templates for reuse | From the contextual side panel, select the templates icon (![templates icon]()). | | Acknowledge the problem while recognizing there is currently no permanent resolution | From the drop-down list next to Cancel, select Accept risk and fill the mandatory fields. Note: You can apply workaround notes to a risk-accepted problem. | | Re-analyze a problem | From a problem in the closed or resolved state, select Re-analyze. The state is changed to Root Cause Analysis. | |-|-| {#work-on-problem-sow__choicetable_ptk_vnq_cbc} **Related concepts** * [Problem Management models in Service Operations Workspace](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/m9cI328n7MsB5bj19o41Vg "You can use Problem Management models to tailor processes for specific use cases.") * [Problem Management in Service Operations Workspace reference](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/mxGJ3pIhNSYmhc9mtcMHuw "Reference topics provide additional information about Problem Management in Service Operations Workspace.") **Related tasks** * [Create a problem in Service Operations Workspace](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Se0BWzeC~HgXObZkG8O_Ug "Investigate the root cause of recurring incidents or a major incident. Provide a permanent fix to help prevent them from happening again.") * [Create a problem task in Service Operations Workspace](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/6WJIhwZhz_e~swNyjYUhXg "When you need to engage another team or agent for help, create and assign a problem task.") * [Work on a problem task in Service Operations Workspace](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/AL_xxvBfe4MNieEjfYBbmA "Manage problems and problem tasks through their life cycle, share workarounds or fixes with related incidents, and create known error articles to help deflect incidents.")