Three Problem Analysis Techniques

[Tomcat]

Before you can solve any problem, you need to understand it. As Einstein once remarked: "If I were given an hour to save the world, I would spend 55 minutes analyzing the problem and 5 minutes solving it." This approach seems a little too abstract, but it gives excellent results. Remember, the human brain has two thought systems. One is based on fast instinctive processes, it is because of it that we commit rash (note, rash) actions. And the second, deliberate, which takes more time, but contributes to the development of the most rational approach. Today we will look at techniques that allow you to thoroughly and comprehensively analyze a problem, which will provide further food for generating ideas and making decisions.

The Why Chart Method

We analyze something first of all in order to penetrate the essence of the subject, identify cause-and-effect relationships, break the problem into small bricks that are much easier to deal with. Remember how three-year-old children learn about the world - this is the main problem. They ask a thousand simple "Why?" Questions, digging as deep as possible. For each of your answers, they have a new "Why?"

This technique is also quite suitable for solving adult problems. Its essence is simple. State the problem in a few words on a piece of paper. Ask yourself why it happened and write down the main reasons next to it. Then ask the same question again to each of them, and continue until you come to the "atoms" of the problem under study. It is very convenient to use the method of mental maps for this purpose.

Once you get to the root cause of the problem, you can see the big picture. And you will immediately have ideas on how to influence the situation, affecting the most vulnerable elements of the system. This method works especially well for solving complex problems.

The task can be somewhat complicated. Set for yourself a certain limit of answers, without reaching which you cannot go to the next level. For example, you must find at least 6 answers to a question. For each of them, you ask this question again, and again you are looking for 6 reasons. It may seem a little artificial, but such a framework stimulates and disciplines the brain. In the future, it will be possible to discard some of the explanations if they turn out to be far-fetched.

Twelve Questions Method

There is another way that can expand the capabilities of the previous one. It allows you to look at the problem from a much larger number of angles. The method consists of six basic questions: "What?", "Why?", "When?", "Where?", "How?", "Who?" Each of them is set in a positive and negative context. Here's what it looks like in an example. Let's say we are analyzing the problem of accidents at nuclear power plants:
What happens at nuclear power plants during accidents?
What does NOT happen at nuclear power plants during accidents?
Why do disasters happen at nuclear power plants?
Why do they NOT happen at other stations?
When do emergencies occur at nuclear power plants?
When do they NOT occur?
Where do nuclear power plant accidents occur?
Where do they NOT occur?
How does this happen?
How can this be avoided or prevented?
Who influences the risk of accidents?
Who DOES NOT influence the possibility of disasters?

So, we got twelve questions that address many sides of the problem, including touching on the negative aspect, which is usually forgotten by everyone.

The path to the ideal

If in previous cases we were more aware of the causes of some problems, we looked at them from the past, then in this case we will rather talk about ways of resolving them. Here we need a look from the future.

Take three sheets. On the first, write down the problem, its causes, features, pros and cons. Head the second with the word "Path". Finally, on the third, describe the ideal state of affairs after solving the problem.

And now, write on the second sheet of the main actions and stages that will allow you to move from the first sheet to the third. There is no need to go into too much detail, in this case it is enough just to indicate general milestones, some "magic points", by embodying which, you will reach the ideal. This will allow you to re-evaluate the problem from the standpoint of its solution.

Going forward, you can turn these milestones into pivotal questions for brainstorming by applying idea-generating techniques to them.

Summary

A deep understanding of the essence of the problem contributes to its solution.

To get to the bottom of the problem, ask yourself the "Why?" Question until you get to the root cause.

Discipline your brain by limiting the number of responses.

Use the 12-question technique to get more perspectives on the problem.

The "Path to Ideal" technique allows you to look at the problem from the point of view of its solution.