Problem Perspectives: Solve your best problem!

Problems have been described as the discrepancy between the current state and some desired future state (your objective). Your desired outcomes may be an internal change (e.g., in creating new habits) or an external change in the world around you. The first step in solving your problem is to define the problem with a problem statement so that you can focus on the important aspects of your problem and remove the distractions that obscure its essential features.

A problem-cause-solution pattern is common as a critical thinking approach providing argumentation supporting proposed solutions. Rushing to assign causation and propose solutions without understanding the problem risks - not only the wasted time and resources solving the wrong problem, but also potential liabilities from implementing the wrong solution.  Solving the right problem makes a world of difference for problems that matter.  Identifying the right problem to solve is not a matter of waiting for inspiration, but can be approached systematically by refining your statement of the problem. In good economic times the costs of solving the wrong problem may be minimal, but in harder economic times, solving the right problem becomes crucial.

Creative problem-solving starts by framing the problem from a perspective that enables viable solutions. A child with a hammer sees everything as a nail. Structuring the problem statement carefully can avoid introducing bias from particular solution techniques. Systematically changing perspectives on the problem reveals new aspects that can be used to refine the problem statement.

This course provides a template for your problem statement. The method to use new perspective positions to create new problem statements is developed.  Exemplary perspective positions are developed so that you can see how to develop additional perspective positions for your problem. Exercises along with lectures, enable you to develop a set of problem statements based on diverse perspective positions. The set of problem statements that you develop, enables you to refine your initial problem statement.  Being intentional in the evaluation of problem statements and the refinement of your initial problem statement lets you identify your best problem to solve.