Problem and Issue are two words that are often confused as two words that give the same meaning, although they are not so and there are some differences between the two words.
Both problem and issue are to be solved somehow. While issue can be solved more easily, with relatively less brainwork because one already has some applicable plan how to solve it, problem means something more. Solving it requires more thinking and forethought. Thus, an issue is “smaller”, a problem is “bigger” and more serious. Issue might cause some annoyance, but problem can affect even the circumstances or other people around. Also, an issue may hold potentials, for example, to cause harm. A problem develops when the harm or the impact comes to surface.
When you have an issue, you generally can readily come up with the solution. Often, you even know how you would solve an issue before it even presents itself. An issue is smaller, not life altering, and it doesn’t present such a degree of difficulty that you have to seek out the counsel of others in order to figure out the impact of the issue.
The word issue is also used in the sense of controversy.
On a corporate or governmental level, an issue is something that can be handled behind closed doors, impacting no one but the people of highest authority in the situation.
An issue is always organizational in character.
A problem, on the other hand, is personal. It is not something that you can solve without forethought, and even a certain amount of guesswork. A problem is larger in scale, often large enough to alter your life either temporarily or permanently. A problem can easily require the advice and guidance of those around you, in order to solve it. A problem can impact people and situations around you, even if they are not directly related to the problem. On a corporate or governmental level, a problem involves information that must be released, because there will be cause to involve employees, or citizens, in the solution to the problem.
