A New Problem Solving Method

A New Problem Solving Method Thomas Teepe
February 19, 2011

What is my aim?

I present my favourite
hands-on method of problem solving
(… and of thinking in general)

What are the basic ideas?

It's a combination of 2 things: This combination works
for me much better than
1.notemaking each of its 2 components
- using several clever tricks on their own.

2.tools
for problem solving
… with an emphasis on
reflective thinking! 'Reflective ' sounded
academic and boring.
I thought again ;-) -
reflection is central for
solving tough problems.

First: Second:
Problem Solving Tools
Notemaking

Why Notemaking? Some famous
notemakers:
● support concentration Leonardo da Vinci
● master complex thoughts Isaac Newton
● break down a problem into Charles Darwin
smaller parts Ludwig van Beethoven
● collect ideas first Thomas Edison
and examine them afterwards Pablo Picasso
● combine verbal and visual thinking Carl Friedrich Gauss
● see ideas from a distance Oscar Wilde
● document thoughts Alfred Hitchcock

● can be adapted in many ways

Basics of
the notemaking process 1

We use a
two-column layout
1.left column for the main material
2.right column for For me, the 'reflection
- reflection, column' is simple &
effective support to guide
- comments,
my thoughts
- questions
- etc.

Basics of
the notemaking process 2

I use Some basic ideas come
from mind mapping
several elements in combination
● keywords
● hierarchical arrangement of ideas
● combining words and images
● colours (sometimes)
I find tables very
● tables powerful - yet somewhat
● diagrams underrated and
underused in mind
mapping

Some remarks on writing materials

Goal:
● get lots of content on one page Surprisingly relevant.

● … and stay legible

This works well for me:
Imho, superior to 0,5 mm
● mechanical pencil 0,3 mm HB
● a bound notebook
blank pages, size A5
● small handwriting even tiny

Here is a
step-by-step example.

Main start with
Reflection
Column the separation
line
Column

add to do items
add checkmarks later

Second: First was
Notemaking
Problem Solving Tools

What is a problem solving tool?
naive but useful
● everything that may help defintion
to solve a problem

Examples
● brainstorm
● ask yourself questions
● ask a colleague
● search the internet
● sleep over it
● reflect:
● improve your ideas
● understand how you think

How to organize problem solving
tools?
● Step 1:
Split the problem solving process
into stages
● Step 2:
For each stage,
collect a number of useful tools

● Plus:
Reflection tools
that help at each stage

Stages of problem solving
- a simple model:

● understand the problem
● define reasonable goals
● develop plans for the goals
● choose a plan
● carry out the plan
● reflect reflection is useful
1) in each of the other
stages
2) for a final look back

Here comes
a small collection of tools
for each stage

Understand the problem
● start with a top-down analysis
● ask questions
● collect information about the
problem
● internet search
● literature
● interview people
● draw a diagram

Define reasonable goals
● What is the right thing to do?
● What would XY do? XY is a person I take as a
role model in the given
● state goals clearly problem situation.
● describe SMART goals
● S - specific
● M - measurable
● A - attainable
● R - relevant
● T - time bound

Develop plans for these goals
● start with the goal
and develop a plan backwards
● develop a plan top-down:
start with a general plan and make it
more specific
● ask repeatedly
'How can this be achieved?'
● exploit solutions from similar or
analogue problems
● brainstorm for unusual ideas

Choose a plan
● check the plans for obstacles,
gaps...
● compare plans pairwise
● list the pros and cons
● trust your gut feeling

Reflection
In my experience, these
● So what? simple questions are
What now? surprisingly powerful.
● collect shortcomings and criticism
● collect obstacles and barriers
● collect conflicts
● examine results

I often use only
two simple sets of tools
1.one for the main column:
I write these acronyms on
PrAnGoPlExCo stands for top of the columns – each
Problem Description time a useful reminder of
Analysis good problem solving
Goals practices.
Plans Constantly adapting
Execute plan these tools to my personal
Control needs is paramount.

2.one for the reflection column:
QOCS stands for
Questions
Obstacles
Conflicts
So what?!

How to combine notemaking and
problem solving tools?

Here is an example.

Start with
- separation line
- tool acronym PrAnGoPlExCo
- tool acronym QOCS

start with tool 'Pr' = Problem Description

use further tools
from PrAnGoPlExCo

Advantages
For me, the method is...
● effective:
notemaking + tools guide my
thinking through problems
● efficient:
no needless fuss -
simple, quick, cheap and
easily available
● flexible:
can be adapted to all sorts of
problems, domains, uses...
For a computerized
version, I use the fabulous
notebook software
OneNote.

Sources
● Tony and Barry Buzan:
The Mind Map Book
● David N. Perkins:
Outsmarting IQ
● John Bransford / Barry Stein:
The IDEAL Problem Solver

A New Problem Solving Method

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