DEFINITION

PROCESSES

The Problem Solving process consists of a sequence of sections that fit together depending on the
type of problem to be solved. These are:

 Problem Definition.
 Problem Analysis.
 Generating possible Solutions.
 Analyzing the Solutions.
 Selecting the best Solution(s).
 Planning the next course of action (Next Steps)

The process is only a guide for problem solving. It is useful to have a structure to follow to make
sure that nothing is overlooked. Nothing here is likely to be brand new to anyone, but it is the pure
acknowledgement and reminding of the process that can help the problems to be solved.

1. Problem Definition

The normal process for solving a problem will initially involve defining the problem you want to
solve. You need to decide what you want achieve and write it down. Often people keep the problem
in their head as a vague idea and can so often get lost in what they are trying to solve that no
solution seems to fit. Merely writing down the problem forces you to think about what you are
actually trying to solve and how much you want to achieve. The first part of the process not only
involves writing down the problem to solve, but also checking that you are answering the right
problem. It is a check-step to ensure that you do not answer a side issue or only solve the part of
the problem that is most easy to solve. People often use the most immediate solution to the first
problem definition that they find without spending time checking the problem is the right one to
answer.

2. Problem Analysis

The next step in the process is often to check where we are, what is the current situation and what
is involved in making it a problem. For example, what are the benefits of the current
product/service/process? And why did we decide to make it like that? Understanding where the
problem is coming from, how it fits in with current developments and what the current environment
is, is crucial when working out whether a solution will actually work or not. Similarly you must have a
set of criteria by which to evaluate any new solutions or you will not know whether the idea is
workable or not. This section of the problem solving process ensures that time is spent in stepping
back and assessing the current situation and what actually needs to be changed.

After this investigation, it is often good to go back one step to reconfirm that your problem definition
is still valid. Frequently after the investigation people discover that the problem they really want to
answer is very different from their original interpretation of it.

3. Generating possible Solutions

When you have discovered the real problem that you want to solve and have investigated the
climate into which the solution must fit, the next stage is to generate a number of possible solutions.
At this stage you should concentrate on generating many solutions and should not evaluate them at
all. Very often an idea, which would have been discarded immediately, when evaluated properly,
can be developed into a superb solution. At this stage, you should not pre-judge any potential
solutions but should treat each idea as a new idea in its own right and worthy of consideration.

4. Analyzing the Solutions

This section of the problem solving process is where you investigate the various factors about each
of the potential solutions. You note down the good and bad points and other things which are
relevant to each solution. Even at this stage you are not evaluating the solution because if you do
so then you could decide not to write down the valid good points about it because overall you think it
will not work. However you might discover that by writing down its advantages that it has a totally
unique advantage. Only by discovering this might you choose to put the effort in to develop the idea
so that it will work.

5. Selecting the best Solution(s)

This is the section where you look through the various influencing factors for each possible solution
and decide which solutions to keep and which to disregard. You look at the solution as a whole and
use your judgement as to whether to use the solution or not. In Innovation Toolbox, you can vote
using either a Yes/No/Interesting process or on a sliding scale depending on how good the idea is.
Sometimes pure facts and figures dictate which ideas will work and which will not. In other
situations, it will be purely feelings and intuition that decides. Remember that intuition is really a
lifetimes experience and judgement compressed into a single decision.

By voting for the solutions you will end up with a shortlist of potential solutions. You may want to
increase the depth in the analysis of each idea and vote again on that shortlist to further refine your
shortlist.

You will then end up with one, many or no viable solutions. In the case where you have no solutions
that work, you will need to repeat the generation of solutions section to discover more potential
solutions. Alternatively you might consider re-evaluating the problem again as sometimes you may
not find a solution because the problem definition is not well defined or self-contradictory.

6. Planning the next course of action (Next Steps)

This section of the process is where you write down what you are going to do next. Now that you
have a potential solution or solutions you need to decide how you will make the solution happen.
This will involve people doing various things at various times in the future and then confirming that
they have been carried out as planned. This stage ensures that the valuable thinking that has gone
into solving the problem becomes reality. This series of Next Steps is the logical step to physically
solving the problem
Learn how to improve problem-solving skills

1. Identify the problem.

The very first step for you will be to identify the problem. Then try to identify the roots of the problem
and the nature of a particular problem by asking questions and looking at the problems from
different angles. It is very important to understand the problems and the challenges you would face
while addressing them. Once you clearly understand the problems, you find the right solutions for
that problem by using your problem-solving skills.

2. Collect Information.

Once you have a clear understanding of the problem, the next step is to dig a little deeper into the
situation and collect as many facts as you can about the problem to get a clear picture of it. The
best way to gather information is by asking questions to those who are connected or related to the
problem or situation.

3. Analyze the problem with the help of the collected information.

After you have identified the problem and collected the information, the next step for you is to
organize all the collected information and then analyze it. While you do your analysis, try to build
links and relationships in the hope of better understanding the problem.

Once you have done the proper analysis, breaking down the big problem into smaller small pieces
will help you find different solutions to the problem.

4. Figure out different possible solutions.

Finding solutions to any problem is a very tricky step, but with good problem-solving skills, you can
do it uncomplicatedly. As I have already mentioned in the above point, breaking a big problem into
smaller small pieces will help you find different solutions.

After you have done the above step, you just need to use your critical thinking ability and analytical
thinking ability to create logical links between different potential solutions. Finally, note down all the
different possible solutions to the problem.

5. Evaluate and select the best solution.

Now then, after you have figured out the different solutions to the problem with the help of your
problem-solving skills, the next major step is to choose a solution that best suits your needs, and
does not create further problems.

To do proper evolution of the solution you have, it is good to note down the pros and cons of the
solutions you have and then choose. A suitable solution which can fix your problem.

6. Don’t make decisions based on emotions.

Once you have figured out the best solution to the problem, it’s time to make a decision. Decision-
making skills are an integral part of problem-solving skills. While making any decision one must
keep aside their emotions because we often have different preferences between our feelings and
thinking.
We should think analytically and logically while making decisions about any problem. Making
decisions based on logical and analytical thinking will also help in developing a reasoning mind and
improve problem-solving skills. So while making any decision, we should try to keep our emotions at
bay.

7. Implement the solution and put it into action.

After you have chosen the best solution according to your requirement and are committed to that
particular solution, now it’s time to put it into action.

Implementation of the solution and putting it into action is key to get the best possible outcome, and
hence this process needs careful attention.

Sometimes even the best solution could fail because of ineffective implementation, so it’s necessary
to do it most efficiently to avoid unforeseen problems.

8. Evaluate the result and adjust it.

After you are done with the implementation process, it is now time to evaluate the results. While
doing so, you need to check the outcome and ask yourself if the solution is working or not.

If the solution is working, and it satisfies, you mean everything has panned out as your plan. But if it
does not satisfy you, then you have to reassess your initial solution and adjust it.

Try to put another solution into action and again review the outcome. You need to repeat the same
process until you get the desired outcome.

9. Ask for help when required.

This is a step in which we rarely give much weightage. However, my suggestion is that even if you
can solve the problem on your own, ask for help because working with others can bring fresh ideas,
new points and improve problem-solving skills,

But the main question is whom you should ask for help or assistance? and how will they help you
improve problem-solving skills

People who can provide you support and encouragement are the ones to whom you can ask for
help. Your friends and family are the best to go start with. Even your colleagues can offer intuitive
feedback. You can also ask mentors, coaches, or people you admire and think that they can help.