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Problem Solving Techniques
There are many approaches to problem solving, depending on the nature of the problem and the people involved in the problem. The more traditional, rational approach is typically used and involves, eg, clarifying description of the problem, analyzing causes, identifying alternatives, assessing each alternative, choosing one, implementing it, and evaluating whether the problem was solved or not.
Another, more state-of-the-art approach is appreciative inquiry. That approach asserts that "problems" are often the result of our own perspectives on a phenomena, eg, if we look at it as a "problem," then it will become one and we'll probably get very stuck on the "problem." Appreciative inquiry includes identification of our best times about the situation in the past, wishing and thinking about what worked best then, visioning what we want in the future, and building from our strengths to work toward our vision.
1. divide and conquer: break down a large, complex problem into smaller, solvable problems.
2. Hill-climbing strategy, (or - rephrased - gradient descent/ascent, difference reduction) - attempting at every step to move closer to the goal situation. The problem with this approach is that many challenges require that you seem to move away from the goal state in order to clearly see the solution.
3. Means-end analysis, more effective than hill-climbing, requires the setting of subgoals based on the process of getting from the initial state to the goal state when solving a problem.
4. Trial-and-error (also called guess and check)
5. Brainstorming
6. Morphological analysis
7. Method of focal objects
8. Lateral thinking
9. George Pólya's techniques in How to Solve It
10. Research: study what others have written about the problem (and related problems). Maybe there's already a solution?
11. Assumption reversal (write down your assumptions about the problem, and then reverse them all)
12. Analogy: has a similar problem (possibly in a different field) been solved before?
13. Hypothesis testing: assuming a possible explanation to the problem and trying to prove the assumption.
14. Constraint examination: are you assuming a constraint which doesn't really exist?
15. Incubation: input the details of a problem into your mind, then stop focusing on it. The subconscious mind will continue to work on the problem, and the solution might just "pop up" while you are doing something else
16. Build (or write) one or more abstract models of the problem
17. Try to prove that the problem cannot be solved. Where the proof breaks down can be your starting point for resolving it
18. Get help from friends or online problem solving community (e.g. 3form, InnoCentive)
19. delegation: delegating the problem to others.
20. Root Cause Analysis
21. Working Backwards
22. Forward-Looking Strategy
23. Simplification
24. Generalization
25. Specialization
26. Random Search
27. Split-Half Method
Problem Solving for business;-
*Introduction to Problem Solving Techniques
*Appreciation - Extracting maximum information from facts
*Drill-Down - Breaking problems down into manageable parts
*Cause & Effect Diagrams - Identifying likely causes of problems
*Systems Diagrams - Understanding how factors affect each other
*SWOT - Analyzing your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
*Cash Flow Forecasting with Spreadsheets - Analyzing whether an idea is financially viable
*Risk Analysis
*Porter's Five Forces - Understanding the balance of power in a situation
*PEST Analysis - Understanding "big picture" forces of change
*Value Chain Analysis - Achieving excellence in the things that matter
*USP Analysis - Finding your competitive edge
And sometimes one should be little slow.....
~IrmaKhan
There is an important factor when looking at anything and that is how a person perceives what it is that they are looking at - and therefore the challenge for anyone living in an environment where there are so may variable and strong influences - not to see anything as a problem - everything can be broken down into thoughts and motion and without any emotion applied to any of these thoughts or motions they all become very different than if there is any emotion charged into them at all - in fact the emotions can be removed simply by thinking about anything differently - and therefor since there are no problems without the emotions - there are then no problems at all.
Irma Khan is one of those few unique and interesting people who have dedicated themselves to the wellbeing of others. In the short time that I have known her I have been very much impressed by her knowledge, expertise, dedication and enthusism. An excellent example of hard working person and a very good role model for young people around the world. Her knowledge of human mind and problem solving ideas are examples of her excellence. We are all very proud of her and wish her lots of luck.