8. Problem solving

• Problem-solving


  The mental process that people go through to discover, analyze, and solve problems
• Problem solving


  The act of defining a problem; determining the cause of the problem; identifying, prioritizing, and selecting alternatives for a solution; and implementing a solution

  
• Problem-solving process


  1. Define the problem

  2. Determine the root cause(s) of the problem

  3. Develop alternative solutions

  4. Select a solution

  5. Implement the solution

  6. Evaluate the outcome

  
• Define the problem


  • Diagnosing the problem, encompassing an understanding of the context, background, and symptoms associated with the issue
  • Interviewing technique
  • Questionnaires technique
• Determine the root cause(s) of the problem


  • Initiating an exploration into the root causes of the problem
  • Pareto analysis is premised on the idea that 80% of a project's benefit can be achieved by doing 20% of the work—or, conversely, 80% of problems can be traced to 20% of the causes
• Develop alternative solutions


  • Assessing the potential for combining different solutions to derive a more effective answer to the problem
  • Examining the relevance of each solution to the root cause and symptoms of the problem
  • Generating numerous solutions, even considering unconventional ones

  
• Select a solution


  • Evaluating of all selected potential solutions, ultimately narrowing down to a single option
• Implement the solution


  • Putting the selected solution into action
• Evaluate the outcome


  • Assessing the effectiveness of the implemented solution
• Problem-solving strategies


  • Root cause analysis
  • Brainstorming
  • SWOT analysis
  • Decision trees
  • Fishbone diagram
  • Pareto analysis
  • Cost-benefit analysis
  • Force field analysis
  • Benchmarking
  • Six thinking hats
  • Gamestorming
  • Agile problem solving
  • Mind mapping
  • Scenario planning
  • TRIZ
  • Kaizen
  • DMAIC

  
• Algorithms


  Step-by-step procedures that follow specific rules to find solutions
• Advantages of algorithms


  • Ensure accurate results
• Disadvantages of algorithms


  • May not always be the quickest way to solve problems, especially when identifying patterns takes a lot of time
  • Concerns when machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI) is involved, particularly regarding their ability to predict human behaviors accurately
• Heuristics


  Quick strategies people use to solve problems by simplifying them
• Advantages of heuristics


  • Handy for smaller problems
• Disadvantages of heuristics


  • Don't guarantee a successful solution
  • May not be suitable for major decisions
• Problem-solving strategies


  • Trial and error
  • Insight
• Obstacles to problem-solving


  • Lack of information
  • Fixed mindset
  • Emotional barriers
  • Overthinking
  • Confirmation bias
  • Groupthink
  • Poor communication
  • Lack of resources
  • Fear of failure
  • Unrealistic expectations
  • Cognitive biases
  • Resistance to change
  • Sunk cost fallacy
  • Cultural and organizational barriers
• Cognition


  The process of knowing or acquiring knowledge
• Cognitive processes


  • Attention
  • Thinking
  • Remembering
  • Reasoning
• Cognitive processes are very much specific to human beings and are guided by concepts, facts, propositions, rules, and memories
• Thinking


  A complex mental process which involves manipulation of information
• Thinking continues in our sleep as well
• The difference between what is thinking and what is not thinking, is just our awareness about the particular thinking process
• Thinking


  A constructive process as it helps in forming a new representation of any object or event by transforming available information
• Mental activities involved in thinking


  • Inferring
  • Abstracting
  • Reasoning
  • Imagining
  • Judging
  • Problem solving
  • Creative thinking
• Thinking process


  1. Judging

  2. Abstracting

  3. Inferring

  4. Reasoning

  5. Imagining

  6. Remembering
• Concepts


  • Mental structures which allow us to organize knowledge in systematic ways
  • We cannot observe them directly, but we can infer them from behaviour
• Reasoning


  A process that involves inference, used in logical thinking and problem solving, goal directed, conclusions or judgments drawn from a set of facts
• Types of reasoning


  • Deductive reasoning
  • Inductive reasoning
• Deductive reasoning


  Deducing or drawing conclusion from a set of initial assertions or premises
• Inductive reasoning


  Starting from available evidence to generate a conclusion about the likelihood of something
• Most cases of scientific reasoning are inductive in nature
• Problem solving


  Directed, thinking focused towards dealing with a specific problem, with three elements: the problem, the goal, and the steps to reach the goal
• Problem solving methods


  • Means-end-analysis
  • Algorithms
  • Heuristics
• Means-end-analysis


  A specific step-by-step procedure followed for solving certain types of problems
• Algorithms


  A well-defined procedure or set of rules used to solve a problem, accomplish a task, or conduct a series of computations
• Heuristics


  Also called the rule of thumb, where the individual is free to go for any kind of possible rules or ideas to reach the solution
• Mental set


  A phenomenon in problem solving where previous success with a particular rule produces a kind of mental rigidity/fixedness, which hinders the process of generating new ideas to solve a new problem
• Creativity


  A particular kind of thinking which involves reaching out to the solution of a problem in a unique and novel way which was nonexistent earlier