How to Improve Problem Solving Skills
The ability to solve problems applies to more than mathematics homework. Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills are part of many jobs, ranging from accounting and computer programming to detective work and even to creative occupations such as art, acting, and writing. While the skills need to solve individual problems may vary, there are approaches that can help you improve your problem-solving skills in general. The steps below describe some of these approaches and how to improve your problem-solving skills using them.
1
Alert people affected by the problem, if any. This gives them a stake in resolving it.
As you work through possible solutions, keep these people informed of your progress. This lets them know what to expect and when to expect it. Be as optimistic as you can, but also as realistic as you can.
2
Define the problem clearly. Avoid making snap judgments based on a few symptoms but look for root causes whenever possible. Poor performance may not be caused by an individual’s lack of skills but by ineffective communication of expectations and insufficient training in how to meet those expectations.
Defining the problem clearly may require looking at it from several angles and perspectives, not just one or two. This will avoid identifying a prospective solution as a problem.
3
Choose a problem-solving strategy. The approach to solving the problem, once it has been defined, can be handled through a number of methods, some of which are listed below:
Brainstorming is the generation and recording of ideas as they occur to you, either alone or in a group. You do this for a set period of time, then go through the list of solutions to evaluate their suitability.
Appreciative inquiry develops solutions by analyzing what’s currently going right and determining whether it can be applied to solve the problem at hand.
Design thinking means thinking like a product designer, observing how people interact with a product or service and noting what problems they are having with it.
In some cases, a combination of strategies may be the best approach to solving a problem.
4
Gather information. Coupled with clearly defining a problem is gathering information about it. This may meaning consulting with people closer to certain aspects of the problem to get a proper grasp of its scope, or researching similar situations elsewhere to see what the root causes of those problems were and how they were resolved, if at all.
Gathering information is also essential in directing a seemingly undirected problem-solving strategy such as brainstorming. An informed mind can generate better, more appropriate solutions than an uninformed mind.
5
Analyze the information. The information needs to be analyzed for its relevance to the problem and its importance. The most critical, or key, information should be drawn upon in formulating a solution, while the remaining information may be need to ranked for its importance and relevance.
Sometimes, information needs to be organized graphically to be useful, using tools such as flow charts, system diagrams, cause-and-effect diagrams or other such devices.
6
Develop possible solutions based on the information you’ve collected and your strategy.
7
Evaluate the solutions generated. Just as it was necessary to analyze the information found for its relevance to the problem, prospective solutions must be analyzed for their suitability to determine which is best to handle the problem. In some cases, this means constructing prototypes and testing them; in other cases, this may mean using computer simulations or “thought experiments” to analyze the consequences of using that solution.
8
Implement your solution. Once the best solution is determined, put it into practice. This may be done on a limited scale at first to verify that the solution is indeed the best, or it may be implemented system-wide if the need for it is critical.
9
Get feedback. While this step should be implemented while testing prospective solutions, it is also helpful to continue getting feedback to verify that the best solution will perform as expected and to find ways to adjust it if it isn’t.
The ability to solve problems applies to more than mathematics homework. Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills are part of many jobs, ranging from accounting and computer programming to detective work and even to creative occupations such as art, acting, and writing. While the skills need to solve individual problems may vary, there are approaches that can help you improve your problem-solving skills in general. The steps below describe some of these approaches and how to improve your problem-solving skills using them.
1
Alert people affected by the problem, if any. This gives them a stake in resolving it.
As you work through possible solutions, keep these people informed of your progress. This lets them know what to expect and when to expect it. Be as optimistic as you can, but also as realistic as you can.
2
Define the problem clearly. Avoid making snap judgments based on a few symptoms but look for root causes whenever possible. Poor performance may not be caused by an individual’s lack of skills but by ineffective communication of expectations and insufficient training in how to meet those expectations.
Defining the problem clearly may require looking at it from several angles and perspectives, not just one or two. This will avoid identifying a prospective solution as a problem.
3
Choose a problem-solving strategy. The approach to solving the problem, once it has been defined, can be handled through a number of methods, some of which are listed below:
Brainstorming is the generation and recording of ideas as they occur to you, either alone or in a group. You do this for a set period of time, then go through the list of solutions to evaluate their suitability.
Appreciative inquiry develops solutions by analyzing what’s currently going right and determining whether it can be applied to solve the problem at hand.
Design thinking means thinking like a product designer, observing how people interact with a product or service and noting what problems they are having with it.
In some cases, a combination of strategies may be the best approach to solving a problem.
4
Gather information. Coupled with clearly defining a problem is gathering information about it. This may meaning consulting with people closer to certain aspects of the problem to get a proper grasp of its scope, or researching similar situations elsewhere to see what the root causes of those problems were and how they were resolved, if at all.
Gathering information is also essential in directing a seemingly undirected problem-solving strategy such as brainstorming. An informed mind can generate better, more appropriate solutions than an uninformed mind.
5
Analyze the information. The information needs to be analyzed for its relevance to the problem and its importance. The most critical, or key, information should be drawn upon in formulating a solution, while the remaining information may be need to ranked for its importance and relevance.
Sometimes, information needs to be organized graphically to be useful, using tools such as flow charts, system diagrams, cause-and-effect diagrams or other such devices.
6
Develop possible solutions based on the information you’ve collected and your strategy.
7
Evaluate the solutions generated. Just as it was necessary to analyze the information found for its relevance to the problem, prospective solutions must be analyzed for their suitability to determine which is best to handle the problem. In some cases, this means constructing prototypes and testing them; in other cases, this may mean using computer simulations or “thought experiments” to analyze the consequences of using that solution.
8
Implement your solution. Once the best solution is determined, put it into practice. This may be done on a limited scale at first to verify that the solution is indeed the best, or it may be implemented system-wide if the need for it is critical.
9
Get feedback. While this step should be implemented while testing prospective solutions, it is also helpful to continue getting feedback to verify that the best solution will perform as expected and to find ways to adjust it if it isn’t.
