What is a Solution? A commonplace definition of a solution is to 'make it go away'. This is a simple definition. It is used commonly and is understood to be that in that way. However, not all problems go away. Some problems cannot be eliminated entirely.
Another way a solution can be defined is the management of a problem in a way that successfully meets the goals established for treating it. The goals for solving the problem can either be ; to eliminate the problem entirely or to treat the effects of the problem.
What defines the goals of problem solving is the inherent possibilities in the problem; together with the ambitiousness, resources and values of the problem solver.
We have two approaches to problem solving;
Stop It ; this when we eliminate the problem in its entirety.
Mop It; this is when we treat the effects of the problem.
1. Stop It: The Stop It approach has three basic forms; prevention, elimination and reduction.
A. Prevent It: This is method prevents a problem form occurring, or recurring. It is a difficult one to apply as it needs predictive foresight, because something could become a problem if something drastic is not done now. It can also often be a costly method. As well as that, most problems occur without warning.
Example 1, if you can prevent a
cold, or an automobile accident, you will not have to deal any further with a
problem or its effects. Similarly, by preventing misunderstandings, the need
for lots of damage control and emotional healing can be avoided.
Example 2, if you drive carefully, you may not get into an accident. You will not have deal with the police, insurance companies, lawyers and car workshops. However, even if you are a careful driver, you could unexpectedly have a drunken driver crash into your car.
B. Eliminate It: this method gets rid of the problem once and for all. Once the cause of a problem has been identified, it can then be eliminated. However, this depends on the problem at hand. Elimination is also expensive and/or politically unpopular. hence, it is not always a feasible idea. There could be strong vehement resistance or opposition towards the idea of problem elimination.
Example 1, a neighbor where I used to live had chronic trouble getting TV reception to suit him. Every weekend he was on his roof installing another antenna (he eventually had three), rotating one, putting another up on a higher mast, and so on. He even put in a satellite dish. He might have eliminated the problem by subscribing to cable TV or moving to an area where the reception was better.
Example 2, the government wants to ban the sale of cigarettes in the light of mounting evidence of lung and throat cancer. But such a move will be deeply unpopular in the country among citizens and the Ministry of Finance. People will oppose the move and the sale of illegal contraband cigarettes will happen. The top civil servants, economists and financial experts will oppose the initiative because of the short fall in taxation revenue from the sale of cigarettes.
C. Reduce It: Reduction is where the source of the problem is reduced. This is so because not all problems can be prevented or eliminated.
Example 2, The sale of alcohol cannot be fully banned. Illegal home-brewed alcohol and smuggled alcohol will always be readily available. So, all that a government can do is to allow its sale but with high sales tax as a deterrent to increased alcohol consumption by high prices.
2. Mop It: The Stop It approach has three basic forms; Treat it, Tolerate It and Redirect It.
A. Treat It: In this case the effects or damage caused by the problem is repaired or treated. We must make note of two important things about this method, Firstly, it is not as nearly an effective solution as a form of stop it approach. Secondly, treat-it solutions are often needed in addition to the implementation of a elimination or reduction form of solution.
Example 1, For example, some of the drug and alcohol treatment programs are aimed at symptomatic relief of the effects of these problems rather than at eliminating the problems to begin with.
Example 2, the common cold is caused by a virus. Despite all the medical advances that have been made, yet there is not a cure in sight for it. As a result , doctors can only reduce its incidence by giving appropriate medication.
B. Tolerate It: In this approach, the effects of the problem are tolerated.
Example 1, a water heater in your house is leaky, but it still works. So, instead of buying a new heater, you mop the floor and drain it but still use the heater.
Example 2. A machine in a factory needs constant repairs, which are not expensive to do and it still works quite well. Moreover, it is also expensive to replace. So, instead of incurring the costs of replacing it, you carry on repairing and using till it finally breaks down and you have to finally replace it.
C. Redirect-It: In this method, the problem is deflected. It could be that the problem could be redefined.
Example 1, Some police departments in America have been known to buy bus or airline tickets for chronic offenders (prostitutes, usually) to send them to another state far across the country, thus "solving" their own problem.
Example 2. If the water heater in your house is leaking, but repairing it might cost too much. You decide that the leak is a small one that does not warrant an expansive repair, because the floor is not being damaged and the heater still works. You then say that since the water heater still works, the floor is not being damaged , the leak is a small one, and you could do with the humidity, especially on hot days, that the leak is actually a good thing.
Generally, one should be careful and take pains to investigate the implementation of a stop-it solution before focusing on a mop-it solution. Oftentimes, many are tempted to to focus on symptomatic treatments for problems when they should be looking for treatments for the underlying causes of the problems. Sometimes only a mop-it solution is available, such as in the case of the common cold,where no viable solution exists.
Example 1, a neighbor where I used to live had chronic trouble getting TV reception to suit him. Every weekend he was on his roof installing another antenna (he eventually had three), rotating one, putting another up on a higher mast, and so on. He even put in a satellite dish. He might have eliminated the problem by subscribing to cable TV or moving to an area where the reception was better.
Example 2, the government wants to ban the sale of cigarettes in the light of mounting evidence of lung and throat cancer. But such a move will be deeply unpopular in the country among citizens and the Ministry of Finance. People will oppose the move and the sale of illegal contraband cigarettes will happen. The top civil servants, economists and financial experts will oppose the initiative because of the short fall in taxation revenue from the sale of cigarettes.
C. Reduce It: Reduction is where the source of the problem is reduced. This is so because not all problems can be prevented or eliminated.
Example 1, Current approaches to
the flow of illegal , drugs into the country include reduction strategies. The
flow of drugs cannot be eliminated as long as demand continues, so interdiction
focuses on "as much as possible."
Example 2, The sale of alcohol cannot be fully banned. Illegal home-brewed alcohol and smuggled alcohol will always be readily available. So, all that a government can do is to allow its sale but with high sales tax as a deterrent to increased alcohol consumption by high prices.
2. Mop It: The Stop It approach has three basic forms; Treat it, Tolerate It and Redirect It.
A. Treat It: In this case the effects or damage caused by the problem is repaired or treated. We must make note of two important things about this method, Firstly, it is not as nearly an effective solution as a form of stop it approach. Secondly, treat-it solutions are often needed in addition to the implementation of a elimination or reduction form of solution.
Example 1, For example, some of the drug and alcohol treatment programs are aimed at symptomatic relief of the effects of these problems rather than at eliminating the problems to begin with.
Example 2, the common cold is caused by a virus. Despite all the medical advances that have been made, yet there is not a cure in sight for it. As a result , doctors can only reduce its incidence by giving appropriate medication.
B. Tolerate It: In this approach, the effects of the problem are tolerated.
Example 1, a water heater in your house is leaky, but it still works. So, instead of buying a new heater, you mop the floor and drain it but still use the heater.
Example 2. A machine in a factory needs constant repairs, which are not expensive to do and it still works quite well. Moreover, it is also expensive to replace. So, instead of incurring the costs of replacing it, you carry on repairing and using till it finally breaks down and you have to finally replace it.
C. Redirect-It: In this method, the problem is deflected. It could be that the problem could be redefined.
Example 1, Some police departments in America have been known to buy bus or airline tickets for chronic offenders (prostitutes, usually) to send them to another state far across the country, thus "solving" their own problem.
Example 2. If the water heater in your house is leaking, but repairing it might cost too much. You decide that the leak is a small one that does not warrant an expansive repair, because the floor is not being damaged and the heater still works. You then say that since the water heater still works, the floor is not being damaged , the leak is a small one, and you could do with the humidity, especially on hot days, that the leak is actually a good thing.
Generally, one should be careful and take pains to investigate the implementation of a stop-it solution before focusing on a mop-it solution. Oftentimes, many are tempted to to focus on symptomatic treatments for problems when they should be looking for treatments for the underlying causes of the problems. Sometimes only a mop-it solution is available, such as in the case of the common cold,where no viable solution exists.
General Guidelines for Problem Solving
Here are some guidelines that will help you analyse, define, and solve problems in an orderly way. These guidelines can be used to help to create a habit of mind and to give some structure to any problem solving activity. Remember, though, that problem solving does not proceed by recipe, nor is it necessarily linear, as these guidelines might imply. Problem solving is a recursive process; you must continually go back and forth between steps and do some parts again. Similarly, you might not always proceed in exactly this order. Thus, these guidelines are not meant to be rigid and absolute. Think of them rather as a checklist designed to assure that you include all the important features of problem analysis in your thinking. (After the outline of the guidelines you'll find a commentary and elaboration on them.)
I. Problem Exploration
1. State the Problem.
A. State what the problem is
B. Restate the problem
C. State the problem more
2. Clarify the Problem.
A. Define the Key terms of the problem.
B. Articulate the assumptions
C. Obtain needed information
3. Explain the Problem.
A. Discuss the problem with someone else.
B. Look at the problem from different viewpoints.
C. Ask a series of whys.
4. Put the Problem in Context.
A. What is the history of the problem?
B. What is the problem environment?
C. What are the constraints?
1. State the Problem.
A. State what the problem is
B. Restate the problem
C. State the problem more
2. Clarify the Problem.
A. Define the Key terms of the problem.
B. Articulate the assumptions
C. Obtain needed information
3. Explain the Problem.
A. Discuss the problem with someone else.
B. Look at the problem from different viewpoints.
C. Ask a series of whys.
4. Put the Problem in Context.
A. What is the history of the problem?
B. What is the problem environment?
C. What are the constraints?
II. Goal Establishment
1. Consider Ideal Goals.
2. Establish Practical Goals.
1. Consider Ideal Goals.
2. Establish Practical Goals.
III. Idea Generation
1. Generate Ideas for Possible Solutions.
1. Generate Ideas for Possible Solutions.
IV. Idea Selection
1. Evaluate the possibilities.
2. Choose the solution(s).
1. Evaluate the possibilities.
2. Choose the solution(s).
V. Implementation
1. Try the solution.
2. Make adjustments.
1. Try the solution.
2. Make adjustments.
VI. Evaluation
1. Determine whether the solution worked.
1. Determine whether the solution worked.
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