How can we use computational thinking to solve business problems

How can we use computational thinking to solve business problems

We face many different problems in life. Sometimes at once at home, at the workplace, family issue, etc.

Imagine below scenario happens at the same time:

Your pump got broken.

Your boss is ignoring you.

Your co-worker seems not collaborative.

Your kids got sick.

How will you tackle them at the same time (if they appear all at once)?

Instead of ignoring them (pretending them not happened), let’s take the pain, face them head on, and try to “think about them”, “digest them” and “solve them” using “computational thinking mindset”

“Everybody in this country should learn to program a computer because it teaches you how to think”— Steve Jobs

When you watched the Steve job interview, he said something like “learning programming might not have to do with something practical, but it teaches you how to think”

The keyword is “Think”

He also said that Programming is like a “mirror” of your thought process.

So when you are able to tackle complex computer programming problems, it is like strengthening your “thinking metal muscle”.

In the morning after I wake up, I really like to take the first 1 hour to meditate, then start to do some “learning”, “journaling” and maybe “solving a simple puzzle” in order to activate your “thinking” and “problem solving” mode. That way, I have my “logical, rational problem-solving mode” activated before literally anything and everything happens later down the day. This better allows me to deal with anything (even disaster!) more calmly, rationally in a step by step approach avoiding any impulsive thinking getting into my way.

That way, you will see yourself like a Mario inside the game finding a way to get one gate to another gate. Actually, everyone should look at “tackling all your life problems” like Mario!

So what is computational thinking?

“Computational thinking is the new literacy of the 21st century.”

- Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Research, Jeannette Marie Wing

Decomposition:

The first component of Computational Thinking is Decomposition. This stage involves breaking the problem down into smaller components so they can be tackled easier. The more you can break a problem down, the easier it is to solve.

Imagine you said you want to develop a WeChat mini program. Well. How can we break it down into different components?

Then, from the business perspectives, below are the questions I will ask:

• What is WeChat mini program?
• Why do you need a WeChat mini program?
• What you want to achieve with WeChat mini program?
• What money and resources involved to build a WeChat mini program?

From the execution point of view, below are different sub-components me and my team will deliver for the client:

What are ALL the sub-components involved to build a WeChat mini program that fulfill the business objective (Identification) They might be:

• Home page
• Product page
• Service page
• Check out box
• Contact us form
• Social media sharing

The list goes on and on!

Pattern recognition

Upon decomposing a complex problem, we will arrive at a set of varied problems that require solutions. The next step then is to examine these smaller problems that share the same (or very similar) characteristics. There may be a chance that no common characteristic exists among problems, but look we still must.

For example, when you are looking at the monthly sales throughout the year, do you see some patterns which a certain season sell the most? Does a certain season sell the least? Is there a correlation between your sales with seasonality?

When you are looking at a complex problem, try to ask a lot of questions. Just ask. List them down. Try to spot some patterns and shed light on the existing problem.

Abstraction

This is a significant phase whereby selecting only the relevant variable factors to relate a hypothesis. By eliminating irrelevant attributes of a problem will results in a much leaner interpretation concept that enables human to determine the necessary tools or combined methods, and transform into an appropriate solution to resolve the problem effectively.

For example, no matter we are building a WeChat mini program or a mobile application, we need to identify the key features that deliver the value that the existing customers base are looking for in order to deliver real business value and case. Unnecessary features can be eliminated.

Algorithms design

• The ability to develop a step-by-step strategy for solving a problem
• It is often based on the decomposition of a problem and the identification of patterns that help to solve the problem
• In CS, it is often written abstractly, utilizing variables in place of specific numbers

I don’t have a computer science background but I do take coding class online to learn coding etc at night and during the weekend. While also running a digital marketing business Red Digital Lab (we help clients to supercharge their digital transformation powered by data analytics for the Greater China market).

The more I research about algorithms design, I more I find out there is some sort of similarities between algorithms design and running a business.

Designing algorithms and building a business, we need to have the right step-by-step strategy (given you had done some mental digestion), both require solving business cases and problems (that are in demand), and then tackling them as efficient as possible.

Why do I care so much about computational thinking?

Well, because for one thing, I see “computer thinking” can be life-changing.

It changes the way I think about “problems” and avoids falling into the “problems victims” thinking mode. Instead, let’s think about “problem-solving” mode.

It rewires my brain and turns me into a completely different person as a self-actualization purpose. That lights up my desire to discover more about computational thinking, coding, hoping it can change my thinking pattern and the way I look at "problems" where all the entrepreneurs face all the time..

"There's no destination. The journey is all that there is, and it can be very, very joyful." Srikumar Rao, From Visionary TED.com Speaker & America’s #1 Most Sought After MBA Lecturer 

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