ACADEMIC PLANNING

Success Strategies

Problem Solving

Problem solving involves approaching new situations, confronting challenges, and working through obstacles strategically to uncover the best solution. Problem solving is not only a critical component of technical and scientific subjects, it is basic life skill. Students who are good problem solvers do better in college and beyond. In fact, problem-solving skills are among the top skills employers look for in college graduates.*

* http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2012/12/10/the-10-skills-that-will-get-you-a-job-in-2013

TRY IT
Apply These Steps to a Problem
INTERACTIVE ACTIVITY
Steps to Solving Problems

Problem solving often involves the following steps:

Step 1. Identify the problem you are trying to solve. You can’t solve a problem unless you know what the real problem is. Before you start looking for solutions, spend time identifying the root problem. This is not always obvious. So how do you identify the problem?

Ask yourself :

  1. “What tells me that a problem exists?” In other words, what is going wrong that made you realize there is a problem in the first place? These could be symptoms of the problem rather than the actual problem that needs to be solved.
  2. “Are there other, related things going wrong?” One root problem can have several negative effects. If you can list all the issues, you may see the problem more clearly.
  3. “What makes these things an issue?” When you have identified specific things that are going wrong (the symptoms of the problem), go one level deeper and look behind the symptoms. Can you pinpoint what is causing the negative effects? This will give you a better chance of spotting the actual problem.

Step 2.Gather information. After you have pinpointed the problem, learn more about the situation. Gathering information can help you clarify the problem so you can come up with possible solutions. So how do you go about gathering information?

Ask yourself:

  1. “Why is this a problem? What makes this interfere with the situation (my studies, my life, etc.)?” Use your background knowledge and experiences to come up with an answer to this question. Each time you answer, ask “Why?” again until you get to the cause that is at the core of the problem.
  2. “If I find a solution to this issue, will the problem go away?” If there would still be a problem, think again. Maybe you did not get to the root problem and need to ask “Why?” again.
  3. “Have I considered the entire issue?”  Consider whether you have thought about the whole problem. If finding a solution to the issue would not make the problem go away completely, maybe the problem is bigger than you first thought.
  4. “Can the problem be broken down into smaller chunks?” If the problem seems too big to tackle, maybe you can break it into sub-parts. Information gathering can help you view one big problem as a collection of more manageable issues that can be tackled one by one.

Step 3: Brainstorm possible solutions. Come up with a list of all the things you might do to try to solve the problem. How do you go about brainstorming solutions?

Ask yourself:

  1. “What are possible solutions to the problem?” Think of everything you can. This is not the time to worry about whether or not a solution will work. Sometimes just generating lots of ideas can help you see the problem from more angles.
  2. “What are the advantages of each solution?” Think about the possible benefits of each solution on your list. During this process, you can weed out some less helpful options.
  3. “What are the disadvantages of each solution?” You may find that some of your “solutions” might create new problems, or may be too difficult or expensive to implement. This will help you whittle down your initial list further.

Step 4: Choose the best solution and put the plan into action. When you have considered the advantages and disadvantages of each possible solution on your list, decide which solution is best. This is easier said than done since problems often do not have right-and-wrong, black-and-white answers. Rather, you must look at the problem from all angles and choose the best solution. This involves critical reasoning skills. How do you know which solution is best?

Ask yourself:

  1.  “Do I have all the information I need to come up with the best solution?”  Complicated problems may require more research so you may need to spend more time on Step 2 Gather Information.
  2. “Have I thought about all aspects of my life?” Sometimes a solution that would be best for you socially may not be best for you financially. Or a solution that seems good financially may not be good for you academically. Keep your major life goals in mind as you think through possible solutions to problems you face. (Learn more about Goal-Setting.)
  3. “Which options are realistic?” Have you considered if the solution can realistically be implemented? Does the solution require money, cooperation from others, special equipment, or a particular timeline? For example, if your car will be in the shop for two weeks, you may think the best solution is to rent a car or take a taxi every day, but both these solutions may be too expensive to be practical.
  4.  “Which option will have the most positive effects in the long term?” Think about your future. Avoid solutions that provide a fix to a short-term problem but that are not wise over the long run. For example, you are tired of taking public transportation, and your friend offers you a good deal on a car. This would solve your immediate problem, BUT:  (1) Besides the initial cost of the car, you will have to pay for insurance and parking—will this interfere with school expenses? (2) Friendships rarely survive used car deals—will you be sad if this friendship is strained? It may be wiser to take the bus for another semester or two or check into another option such as a bicycle.
  5. “How do I to put the plan into action?” After you have chosen the best solution, you need to figure out how to implement it. Make a list of the resources you will need to put the plan into action and decide when you will implement the solution. Then outline the steps you will take, ordering them backward from the time the solution will be fully implemented until now. Your plan will show what has to happen before the next step can be taken (get permission to enter the lab on the weekend, order a tool, etc.). Make a checklist or a visual chart so you can track all steps in the process.

Step 5. Evaluate the results. After you put your plan into action, you need to look at the results. How do you examine the outcome to decide if the solution you chose is best?

Ask yourself:

  1. “Is the problem solved to my satisfaction?”  If yes, great! If not, you may need to gather more information, revisit the other possible solutions on your list, or refine your proposed solution to address issues that arise.
  2. “Is the problem partially solved?”  Maybe your solution has been a partial but not total success, try breaking the problem into major components. If you feel your solution has taken you in the right direction, see which parts of the problem have been solved and which have not been solved. Then refine or expand your solution to cover the parts of the problem that still need to be solved.
  3. “Is the problem still not solved?” Keep in mind that problem-solving is a way of thinking, a process that may need several go-rounds before a satisfactory solution is achieved. Look at problems as opportunities to refine your strategic thinking skills. Become the person who keeps an eye on the rosebush and trims it back when needed instead of running around bandaging up scratches from the thorns every day.