Problem Solving Techniques

#Summary

• Never just straight go to the solution.
• Involve other people in generating ideas.
• Separate the generation of ideas from the judging of them
• Use both logic and intuition.
• Don’t settle for the option if it’s still not good enough.

#What’s causing the problem?

• Search for Causes of the problem.
• Make a list of possible causes
• Narrow it down to possible causes.

#The Kepner-Tregoe process

1. Analyze Situation.
2. Look at Problem
3. Causes
4. Identify Solution.
5. Select best slution
6. Consider Possible Risks.

#Pareto analysis

• Pareto principle - 20%/80%.
• Fix 20% problems causeing 80% of issues.

#Look at the whole system

• Look around how change can be abused or used.
• Why Things Bite Back - https://www.amazon.com/Why-Things-Bite-Back-Consequences/dp/0679747567
• The Fifth Dicipline - humans a bad on thinking ahead.

#Fast and slow thinking

• Focused and Diffused mode

#Brainstorming

• Get and ideas first.
• Judge later.

#Mind maps

• Use midly or any other mind map applcaition.

#Decision trees

• subj
  • if this 1 then that 1 ->
  • if this 2 then that 2 ->
  • if this 3 then that 3 ->

#Intuition and logic

• equalize logick and fun while malking decision.

#How to view the options

• Waged factors/options.
• See also decision making with fuzzing advantages on alternatives set [1], [2]

#Rating charts

Similar to previous on Options. Simple charts for decision making.

FACTOR		CAR vs Bike	Total: CAR vs Bike
Safety	10	10 vs 1	10 vs 1
Park	2	4 vs 6	8 vs 12
Cool	10	5 vs 8	50 vs 40
			68 vs 53

Car won

#Don’t settle for second best

Check all Must have and Nice to have.

#Risk analysis

Try to calc a best possible option for you.

#Team decisions

• Team decision tends to be risky.
• Designated “black hat wearer”

#Sensitivity

How sensitive solution to change? Is small change eq big impact?

#The sunk cost paradox

You need to know when to stop wasting resources (time and money).

#Framing – subconscious and deliberate

• Ask question with different angles?
• With bias and without it.

#Four simple rules for decision making

• I decision is very close - option does not matter.
• Toss a coin with option in mind.
• Simplest solution.
• Delegate decision.

#Consider implementation

• Are you ready to implement solution? To use it? To learn it? TO fiddle with it?