Problem Solving Strategies
To solve a problem you must first understand what it is. If it is a stated problem, then read it through very carefully several times; and if necessary reformulate the problem to state it as clearly and as succinctly as you can. If it is a practical problem you are trying to solve, then be sure to also state it very clearly and accurately.
Do not make any assumptions at this stage, this is notoriously dangerous but easy to do and can lead to much fruitless endeavour down the line.
Once you have a clearly stated problem in front of you, how can you solve it? Here are some possible methods of attack to consider:
- Trial and error
This can be an effective, if slow and slightly hit and miss, method of resolving a problem. There is usually a better method so this is 'sub-optimal', however it can be effective with some problems.
Consider the trivial example where you have a maths problem to solve - what the answer to 2y + 5 = 10 is. If you don't know anything algebra and re-arranging equations, you could simply plug in values for 'y' until you happen to hit upon the answer.
Whilst a trivial example, it does reveal something about trial and error - it can still be intelligent in the sense that if one attempt gives an answer too high/too low, then you simply adjust the number you try accordingly getting closer each time, rather than simply plugging away randomly. - Patterns
Look for patterns in the data that you have supporting your problem, and see if there are trends that you can spot. For instance, if your problem is to analyse the traffic to a website and work out why people aren't doing what you want them to on your site, or a particular element is not as successful as it should be, data is your friend.
By analysing the data carefully you may start to spot some trends - for instance an unusually high drop-off rate at a certain page. By identifying where the bottlenecks are you are well on the way to solving that particular problem.
If your problem is mathematical in nature, spotting patterns may even help you develop a formula to solve the problem. For instance if you have a problem of finding the next number in a sequence, then spotting a pattern will be the key to mastering the sequence. - Don't Reinvent The Wheel
Most problems to be solved have been tackled by others in the past. Do some research and see how others have approached the problem you are tackling - there are sure to be ideas on the internet you can glean from how others have approached the issue. Even if it turns out no-one has attacked the same problem you are, there are sure to be similarities with other projects and seeing how others have got on with a related issue may inspire an idea as to how you can tackle your particular problem.
These are three methods you can use to help you in your problem solving. For more problem solving strategies, read the Ways of Tackling a Problem article.
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