- (+62)21-2002-2012
- Mon - Fri : 09.00-17.00
The main characteristics of problems are:
A problem is the GAP between the current state and the desired state.
At least one OBSTACLE has to be overcome to close the gap. (If there is no obstacle there is no problem.)
The desired state is typically the goal that has to be achieved in order to close the gap, i.e. to solve the problem.
Complex, real-life problems exist in systems that are open to their environments – on the one hand they are influenced by numerous factors in their environments and, on the other, they can have an effect on their environment.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
The complex problem-solving (CPS) process consists of a series of steps.
Solving complex, real-life problems usually involve a number of people working together, i.e. they collaborate.
In order to collaborate effectively, the participants need to cooperate and be flexible in the way they think so that they can adapt to changing circumstances.
The CPS process is influenced by the problem solvers’ experience and technical knowledge, as well as their cognitive, emotional, and social abilities.
All the elements of the CPS Framework are well-established in that they are based on sound research and have been in use for a long time.
STEP 1
BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM
Your awareness of a problem can be triggered by signs, clues, an intuition (gut feel) or by specific information generated by established measurement systems. Ideally, measurement and recording equipment and/or procedures should be installed to provide you with reliable information about important or key areas of the situation – the system in which the problem exists.
STEP 2
UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM/S
Get the facts, i.e. information that is accurate, comprehensive, up-to-date and relevant. Understanding the problem involves:
STEP 3
DEFINE THE PROBLEM/S
As illustrated in the figure below, problems are defined by the gap between the desired state and the actual state as well as the obstacles that have to be overcome. The desired and actual states should be described clearly
STEP 4
SET GOALS WITH TARGET DATES
Since complex problems usually consist of a number of interconnected problems, an overall or strategic goal first has to be set then goals should be set for each of the subordinate problems. The subordinate goals should be in line with the overall goal. The desired states become the goals but you also have to set target dates for them
STEP 5
THINK OF POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
The possible solutions you think of might be ones that you or other people have applied under similar circumstances or they could be entirely new solutions.
STEP 6
DECIDE WHICH SOLUTION/S TO APPLY
Once you have come up with a number of ideas for solving a problem the ridiculous ideas and those that are obviously impossible to implement can be eliminated and the remaining ideas can be evaluated with the aim of determining which solution or combination of solutions will be the most effective.
STEP 7
DRAW UP ACTION PLANS
A plan consists of three main aspects, a starting point (where you are now), an end point (where you want to be) and a series of action steps that should get you from the start to finish.
STEP 8
IMPLEMENT THE ACTION PLANS
The people involved should take action according to the plan.
STEP 9
MONITOR AND EVALUATE PROGRESS
Monitoring progress involves continual checking and following-up of the implementation of the solution to make sure that it is achieving or has achieved the goals.
Evaluation involves determining whether the solution has achieved the goal and has been worthwhile in terms of the time, money and effort expended on implementing it.
Critical thinking applies to all the steps in the problem-solving process as well as the other modes of thinking. It involves thinking logically, i.e. reasoning from a premise, assumption or belief that is based on substantiated information and follows a series of linked steps; each step leading clearly to the next in the argument or thought process.
A system is a combination of a set of parts (sub-systems or elements) that work together to achieve a common goal. The interaction between the parts is a process that transforms various inputs into outputs and is maintained by feedback of information and energy into the system. A crucial characteristic of a functioning system is that by working together the parts of the system create a whole whose properties are greater than the sum of the parts. Systems are also dynamic in that they are constantly developing and changing so in order to understand them thoroughly we must study the trends and patterns that occur within them and around them over time.
Real-world systems constantly interact with their environments and from this point of view they are referred to as open systems, which means that things that happen in the environment can cause problems in the system and the steps taken to solve those problems can affect the environment. So, to understand how a system works, one also has to understand how it is affected by its environment and how it affects that environment.
Analytical thinking and the scientific method involve breaking a problem down into its component parts and studying each one in detail to identify problems, find their causes, solve each one and then put the parts back together again so that the overall problem has been solved. The emphasis is on studying data (usually numerical data) about key areas relating to the problem, analysing and interpreting the data, then solving the problem on the basis of basic, established scientific principles.
Creative thinking is very important for solving real-life problems and is typically applied when thinking of possible solutions to a problem. We all have the ability to think creatively and, with practice, we can improve our creative skills by not being locked into the old ways of thinking and by inventing new ways of doing things – it involves thinking “out of the box.”
Thinking ethically means that you take into consideration moral principles of behaviour for deciding what is right or wrong. It applies especially to the decision making phase in the problem solving process.