Perspectives of Problem Solving

 Seeing the context you are “part” of, and understanding the context relevance, allows you to identify the leverage points of structural problem-solving and then choose the decisive factors, in an attempt to solve problems.

Problems become more complex today, and in many cases, people in different roles perceive problems from different angles. In the digital era, we would be confronting a number of highly complex problems in the hyper-connected world. Learning and gaining knowledge is only the first step in deepening understanding of issues you want to solve. 

In complex problem solving, a structural approach involves the steps of preparing, debating, and deciding. These steps facilitate a systematic method for navigating ill-structured problems that lack clear solution paths. 

Prepare for Complex Problem-Solving

-Problem Identification and Definition: Recognize and define the problem, detailing its nature.

-Resource Allocation: Determine the resources needed to solve the problem, including time and information.

-Problem Representation: Organize the information and establish criteria for a solution.

-Data Collection and Analysis: Systematically collect, clean, transform, and analyze data using statistical techniques to gain insights. Raw data must be processed into a usable format, and errors/inconsistencies should be minimized.

Perspectives of Problem-Solving

-Strategy Construction: Construct potential strategies, prioritizing criteria based on available resources.

-Divergent Thinking: Generate a diverse range of possible alternative solutions to the problem.

-Critical Thinking: Use deliberative reasoning and impartial scrutiny of information to arrive at a possible solution.

-Consider Heuristics: Use informal, intuitive, and speculative procedures such as means-ends analysis,  that may lead to a solution.

Decide via Multifaceted Thinking

-Convergent Thinking: Narrow down multiple possibilities to find the single best answer to a problem.

-Monitoring: Assess whether the problem-solving process is proceeding according to plan and adjust criteria if needed.

-Data-Driven Decision Making: Use insights gained from data analysis to guide decisions.

-Evaluation: Evaluate whether the problem-solving effort was successful.

-Implementation: Put the chosen solution into action.

The challenge for improving problem-solving effectiveness is in how to prioritize what you know about and keep an eye open for signs of things you don’t know about. Seeing the context you are “part” of, and understanding the context relevance, allows you to identify the leverage points of structural problem-solving and then choose the decisive factors, in an attempt to solve problems.

Posted in: Decision Making,Problem Solving