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How To Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills: June 2016

This document discusses how to improve problem-solving skills using a 5-step IDEA formula: 1) Identify the problem, 2) Define the main elements, 3) Examine possible solutions, 4) Act on resolving the problem, and 5) Look for lessons learned. The author explains each step in detail and provides examples from working with students to identify problems in their home city and develop research proposals. The author stresses that breaking large problems into smaller, defined elements is key to developing effective problem-solving abilities.

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24 views

How To Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills: June 2016

This document discusses how to improve problem-solving skills using a 5-step IDEA formula: 1) Identify the problem, 2) Define the main elements, 3) Examine possible solutions, 4) Act on resolving the problem, and 5) Look for lessons learned. The author explains each step in detail and provides examples from working with students to identify problems in their home city and develop research proposals. The author stresses that breaking large problems into smaller, defined elements is key to developing effective problem-solving abilities.

Uploaded by

Lahmarabderrahmane
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© © All Rights Reserved
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How to Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills

Article · June 2016

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Rafis Abazov
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
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2016 QS Top universities (UK)RA

Problem Solving Skills


By Rafis Abazov

The greatness of Apple’s Steve Jobs – in the words of his colleagues – lay in the fact that he was
the greatest problem solver of his time. Therefore, it is no surprise that many companies today
are hunting for problem solvers. After discussing with my students several approaches to
learning problem solving skills I decided to choose one of the most widely used and effective
five-step formulas from project management, which is called IDEA: Identify, Define, Examine,
Act and Look.
Here is how you can make the most of your time at university to improve your problem solving
skills…

1. IDENTIFY the problem


In a nutshell, my definition of problem solving skills is very simple: it is the ability to identify
the nature of a problem, deconstruct it (break it down) and develop an effective set of actions to
address the challenges related to it.
Indeed, in some challenging situations many students are overwhelmed with emotions and see
just big obstacles, barriers or trouble. However, great problem solvers try usually to identify the
very roots of the problematic situation – the nature of a particular problem, which can be clearly
distinguished, addressed and ultimately solved. It is not enough to say that the situation is bad or
out of control, as this is very abstract and unhelpful. It is more important to clarify where those
problems and challenges come from. Albert Einstein once said: “The formulation of the
problem is often more essential than its solution, which may be merely a matter of mathematical
or experimental skill.”
In my experience, the very first step in developing the valuable skills of problem solving is to
learn how to look at every situation as an identifiable problem.
For example, recently my students in the MDP/Global Classroom program at Al Farabi Kazakh
National University (KazNU) were preparing their applications for a semester abroad program to
study sustainable urban development. A host university – Hong Kong Polytechnic University
(PolyU) – asked them to identify a problem in their home city and prepare a research proposal on
sustainable urban development in order to find a solution for the problem. Of course, at the first
brainstorming session the students were only talking about what’s not good and what doesn’t
work. But that was too general for a problem solving proposal. My suggestion was to try to
identify the nature of the problem by summarizing a specific situation systematically and in one
paragraph.

2. DEFINE the main elements of the problem


The next step in problem solving – and in learning problem solving skills – is an ability to break
down the problem into small pieces, or smaller and more manageable parts by defining the main
elements of the problem.

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2016 QS Top universities (UK)RA

It is an essential step and a skill to develop both psychologically and managerially. Instead of
facing a giant, scary, impossible-to-climb monster-mountain, you have to learn how to define
smaller roads among the hills and rocks. When you break down a big problem into smaller
elements – then you are no longer facing an impossible task, and can tackle making several very
concrete steps to achieve the goal – to solve your problem.
For example, my students in the MDP program at Al Farabi KazNU met experts and policy
practitioners and identified several problems. However, those problems were so complex and so
big that they scared the students, who were not sure they could come up with a solution within
one semester. We had to conduct several additional rounds of exercises to define the main
elements of each problem and prepare a table where a large problem was broken down into
several elements.

3. EXAMINE possible solutions


Finding possible solutions is a very tricky step in the problem solving process, as on the surface
it looks like most of the work is already done and the ultimate goal is so close. In reality, the
students should not just look for simplistic ways to address the elements of the problem. They
should find the most effective ways and turn them into an opportunity to make a strong success
story. Steve Jobs often liked to suggest that when his team was confronted with a problem they
had to search for “an elegant, really beautiful solution that works.”
Here students also have to remember that there are risks and factors that are not easy to foresee
(but possible to try to predict). In order to become more effective, students need to master
creative approaches to searching for solutions, with the aid of techniques such as a problem
solving tree. In this tree for every branch (a problem element), students have to develop several
leaves (possible solutions). An important part of this step of the problem solving process is to
create logical links between different potential solutions, thus reinforcing solutions and creating
synergies.

4. ACT on resolving problem


Developing a step-by-step execution plan and acting effectively and decisively is the final touch
in the problem solving process. This is also an important skill as it doesn’t matter how
effectively students identify the problem, define its elements and examine possible solutions,
everything would boil down to the ability to perform concrete steps to execute the action plan.
Within this problem solving formula students should also master such skills as monitoring and
evaluating the entire action implementation process and – if it is group undertaking – learn how
to delegate certain parts of the work to each other or to external stakeholders.

5. LOOK for lessons to learn


At the moment when the problem is solved, I suggest that students sit down with all their
problem solving trees and action plans, either alone or together if it is a group project. This is the
moment to look back and see if there is a need to tune up the work that has been completed.
Especially valuable is taking the time to evaluate the entire process and formulating the lessons
to be learned so the next problem solving project will be more effective and produce even more

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2016 QS Top universities (UK)RA

elegant solutions.

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