Author:
Laura McKinney
Date Of Creation:
10 August 2021
Update Date:
20 June 2024
Content
Problem solving is applied in many situations rather than just solving math problems. Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills are part of many different jobs, from accountants and computer programmers to detectives and even creative occupations such as in painting, acting, and writing. Although everyone's problem is different, there are a number of approaches that give you a specific approach to problem-solving such as the one first proposed by the mathematician George Polya in 1945. Following his four principles - Understanding the Problem, Building a Plan, Implementing the Plan, and Looking Back - you can improve your problem-solving abilities and systematically cope with any problem.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Understanding the Problem
Clearly define the problem. This is a step that looks quite simple, but very important. If you don't understand the problem well, your solution may not work or fail completely. To be able to identify a problem, you need to ask yourself questions and observe things from different angles.For example, are you having a single problem or is it actually comprised of many different problems? Can you restate the problem in your own words? By spending time on the problem, you will more easily understand it and will be more thoroughly equipped to set up a solution.- Try to formulate a question. For example, as a student you don't have a lot of money and you want to find an effective solution to this problem. What is the problem here? Is it about income - aren't you making enough money? Is it about overconsumption? Or perhaps you are just experiencing unexpected expenses or have your finances changed?
Determine the target. State your goals clearly so you can define the nature of the problem. What do you want to achieve? What do you want to explore? Remember that you need to explain what you already know or don't know about the problem and find ways to find data that can help you accomplish your goals.- Your problem, for example, still revolves around money. What is your goal? You will probably never have enough money to go out on a weekend and go to the movies or go to a pub. You decide that your goal is to have more money to spend. Good! With specific goals, you will be able to better identify the problem.
Systematically gather information. Along with identifying the problem and goal, you should also gather more factual data relevant to the problem so you can better understand it. Collect data, consult people or experts involved in the issue, find resources online, in books, or from any other medium. Once you have your data available, organize it. You can try to do this by rewriting, summarizing, or summarizing them. You can also write them in chart form. You probably won't need to use this step for simple problems, but it's crucial for more complex problems.- For example, to deal with a lack of money, you should find out as much details about your financial situation as possible. Collect data through your bank's latest expense reports and by meeting your bank staff in person. Track your income stream and spending habits on a notebook, and then create a spreadsheet or chart that shows your income and expenses.
Part 2 of 4: Planning
Information analysis. The first step in finding a solution is to look at the data you've gathered about the problem and analyze its significance. When analyzing, you should look for the association and relationship between information so that you can better understand the general situation. You can start from raw data. Sometimes, you need to break information down into smaller, more manageable chunks, or arrange them in order of their importance or relevance. Tools such as graphs, graphs, or cause and effect models will be very helpful in this process.
- For example, now you have on hand every expense report from the bank. Let's see them. When, how, and where did the money come from? Where, when, and how do you spend your money? What is the general pattern of your finances? Is your principal balance outstanding or insufficient? Are there any items that you can't explain?
Forming a possible solution. You go through the data and realize that you run out of principal money - this means you spent more than you earned. The next step is to formulate a potential solution. You don't have to rate them right away. You just have to brainstorm, or reverse the thought. This includes asking yourself "how am I going to cause this problem?" and then reverse your answer. You can also consult other people what they are going to do.
- Your problem is the lack of money. Your goal is to have more money to spend. What are your options? Come up with possible solutions without having to evaluate them. Perhaps you will make more money by taking a part-time job or by joining a student loan program. On the other hand, you can also try to save by cutting down on your spending or by minimizing the costs of other factors.
- There are several strategies you can use to formulate a solution:
- Divide and conquer. Break the problem down into small chunks and brainstorm separate solutions for each part.
- Use similarities and similarities. Try to find resemblance to a previously resolved problem or a common problem. If you can find similarities between your situation and the situation you have faced in the past, you can apply some of the solutions you used to use in your current situation.
Solution evaluation and selection. After you have analyzed the raw data, you must also analyze the appropriateness of all possibilities. In some cases this may mean testing a script or conducting a test; in many other cases it may mean using a simulation or "thought experiment" to consider the consequences of some solution. Choosing the solution that best suits your needs, the one that is likely to deliver results, and should not cause other problems.
- How can you save money? Consider costs - you only use money for basic needs such as tuition, food, and housing. Can you cut costs in another way such as finding someone to live with you to divide your rent? Can you borrow money from the student aid fund just to have fun on the weekends? How can you cut the amount of time you study for part-time jobs?
- Each solution will bring its own situation that requires you to evaluate. Conduct an assessment of each situation. Your money problem will require you to set a budget. But it also requires a personal consideration. For example, can you cut the cost of basic things like food or housing? Are you willing to prioritize your money over studies or borrowing?
Part 3 of 4: Implementation and Evaluation of the Plan
Implementation of the solution. Once you have selected the best solution, go ahead with it. First, you should implement this solution on a limited scale, experiment to check results. Keep in mind that unforeseen problems are likely to emerge during this stage, which are factors you didn't plan to deal with during the initial analysis and evaluation, especially if you were does not form the structure of the problem properly.
- You decide to cut costs because you are not willing to borrow, to divert study time, to live with a roommate. You can set up a detailed budget, cut a few pennies on a few expenses, and commit to try this out within a month.
Review and evaluate the results. Now that you've implemented the solution, you need to track and review the results. Ask yourself if this solution will help you. Will it help you to achieve your goals? Have you encountered new problems that you could not anticipate? You should review the problem and the process of resolving it.
- The results of the test you've run will be pretty messy. On the one hand, you've saved enough money for a month to have fun on the weekends. But new problems arise. You find that you have to choose between spending money and buying necessities such as food. You also need a new pair of shoes but don't have the money to fit your budget. You may need another solution.
Adjust if needed. Remember that problem-solving skills cycle. It will form a multitude of different potential solutions, and you need to conduct an evaluation of each one. If you can solve the problem, you have found the right solution.If not, you need to look for another workaround and start the process again. Reexamine your original solution and adjust it if it doesn't work. You can try another solution, do it, and see the results. Repeat this process until you are fully able to resolve the issue.
- After a month, you decide to skip the first draft of budget and look for part-time work. You find a job while studying and working at the university. Set up a new budget for your income and expenditure and now you have more income without having to cut back too much study time. You have found an effective solution.
Part 4 of 4: “Sharpening” Skills
Regularly exercise your brain. Similar to physical muscle, you need to practice your problem-solving skills if you want to improve its strength and function over time. In other words, you will need to regularly "exercise" for it. Studies have shown that activities such as brain training games can help your brain become more flexible. There are lots of games or activities you can try.
- Crosswords will be pretty awesome. For example, in the game "Split Word", you need to arrange letters to form words related to a certain topic such as "philosophy". In the game "Tower of Babel" (Tower of Babel), you need to memorize and then incorporate words from the foreign language into the right picture.
- This math game will also help you test your problem solving skills. Whether it is a matter of numbers or words, you will need to activate the parts of your brain that are used to analyze information. Example: “Hung's current age is half his age when he was 60 years older than 6 years ago, when his age is half his current age. How old will Hung be when his age is twice his age 10 years after he is half his current age? "
Play video games. For many years, video games have been described as a tool that makes you "lazy to use your mind". However, the latest research has shown that they can help improve parts of the brain such as spatial perception, reasoning, and memory. But not all types of games bring the same results. While first-person shooters can improve your spatial reasoning, it's not as effective in developing problem-solving skills as other genres of games.
- You should play games that force you to think strategically or require analysis. Try a puzzle game like Tetris. Or if you prefer the RPG or strategy genre more, you can play the game "Civilization" or "Sim-City" (City Building).
Pursue a hobby. Hobby is another way you can continue to improve your problem-solving skills. You can choose a hobby that is related to active problem solving or helps activate the right brain part. For example, you can start learning a new language. Language function is located in both hemispheres of the brain, so learning a new language can activate the area that controls analysis as well as reasoning and problem solving. This is where problem solving
- Website design, software programming, puzzles, Sudoku, and chess are also hobbies that will force you to think strategically and systematically. Any one of these activities will help improve your overall problem solving skills.
