Methods and Techniques for Problem Resolution
- Chunking
Chunking is the process of splitting the problem up into smaller, discrete chunks. For instance, breaking it down into smaller steps. Many problems are actually several smaller problems masquerading as one large one. By splitting it up logically into smaller steps it can not only help you see the problem more clearly, but also make it more manageable and less daunting.
So always try to see when you are struggling to resolve a problem if there is a way of cutting it into little bits that you can tackle one at a time. - Outside the Box
An annoying and overused phrase perhaps, however there are some virtues to it. The more you look at a problem, the more assumptions you inevitably start to make, sometimes without realising it, and this can hinder progress.
Try to take a step back when a problem is proving intractable, and look at it from different perspectives. Sometimes getting the view of someone who thinks in a different way to you can help - for instance an arty person if you are more methodical and logical, and vice versa.
Asking different questions can also help - replace your 'whats' with 'whys' and so on. - Reverse The Problem
One very useful technique is to reverse the problem. For instance, instead of asking how you do something, ask how not to do something. Often answering questions this way round is easier and can give useful insight as to what to do.
For instance if you are tackling a business problem about how to sell more of a product, it is often easier to think first of ways that would NOT help sell more: increasing the price, lowering the quality of the product, reducing the channels to market, increasing the time it takes you to supply it, having more competitors enter the market, and so forth. This can prove useful into then going back to the problem you face of increasing sales. - Document Everything
Write down everything to do with a project, all thoughts and all ideas. The methodical approach can reap dividends and often unexpectedly - reviewing them at a later date can lead to ideas and 'I wonder if...' type thoughts jumping out at you unexpectedly at a future date, so do be sure to write everything down.
- The Team is Everything
This one is more about the team you use rather than the problem itself, however is still important so we include it here. Try to have a mix of skills and experience in your team. People who look from the logical, analytical, scientific point of view mixed with the creative, inventive, flight-of-fancy blue sky thinkers can all help.
The mix of experience is also helpful - those with experience of the product and similar problems who can draw parallels with previous problems. Also those who are relatively fresh will have the benefit of not being stifled or pigeon-holed in their thinking which can come with overfamiliarity with a problem or issue and lead to fresh impetus into resolving the problem from a different viewpoint.
In summary, by using a range of different methods, in isolation or ideally in combination, it should be possible to make real progress towards solving even very tricky and complicated problems that you need to solve.
We would be very interested to hear in any methods for problem solving you find particularly useful; or indeed examples of real problems themselves you have solved using a particular approach - so please do send them to us.
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