{"id":95406,"date":"2023-03-04T13:38:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-04T17:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=95406"},"modified":"2023-03-14T09:03:50","modified_gmt":"2023-03-14T13:03:50","slug":"step-by-step-problem-solving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/step-by-step-problem-solving\/","title":{"rendered":"Step-by-Step Problem-Solving: The 5 Steps to a Solution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What’s the 5W2H<\/a> framework for identifying a problem? How can a logic tree<\/a> help you find a solution? What should you do after you solve a problem?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a big question to answer or a decision to make, you have a problem to solve. Problem-solving is directed specifically at bridging a gap between your current state and a desired state\u2014getting from here to there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue reading to learn a step-by-step problem-solving process from the book Critical Thinking, Logic & Problem Solving<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Step-by-Step Problem-Solving<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let’s say that you know you currently have a job that you don\u2019t enjoy. Your desired state is to have a job that you do enjoy. The gap\u2014or problem\u2014you need to solve is how to go from having a job you don\u2019t enjoy to having one you do enjoy. You can use critical thinking to bridge that gap with step-by-step problem-solving. There are five steps in this process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Critical thinking is only one aspect of problem-solving. Another vital one is creative thinking<\/a>, which allows you to produce new solutions that may not directly arise from the information you\u2019re thinking critically about. Like critical thinking, creative thinking can be learned and honed, but it often requires different techniques. If you\u2019re struggling to think creatively, rather than powering through, it may help to take a break from what you\u2019re thinking about and clear your mind, sometimes even by distracting yourself with another task or topic until creativity strikes. It can also help to change up your environment and expose yourself to new stimuli\u2014for example, by working outdoors or taking a walk.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Identify the Problem<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The authors provide two frameworks for identifying the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 5W2H Framework<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
  1. What?<\/strong> What is your current state, your desired state, and the gap between them?<\/li>
  2. Where?<\/strong> What is the location of your problem?<\/li>
  3. When?<\/strong> When did or does the problem occur? Is it ongoing? Will it happen again in the future?<\/li>
  4. Who?<\/strong> Which people are impacted by the problem? Who caused it? Who may know more about it?<\/li>
  5. Why?<\/strong> Why did the problem occur or why does it continue to occur? Why is the problem important to address?<\/li>
  6. How?<\/strong> How could you solve the problem? What process should you use?<\/li>
  7. How much or how many?<\/strong> How big is the problem? How much harm is it causing? How long will it take to solve?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The SCQH Framework<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    1. Situation<\/strong>: Identify your current situation and its context.<\/li>
    2. Complications<\/strong>: What things are not working about the situation?<\/li>
    3. Question<\/strong>: What questions do the situation and complication bring up?<\/li>
    4. Hypothesis<\/strong>: Come up with some hypotheses that could address your questions.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Step 2: Form Solutions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Next, form solutions by first identifying potential solutions. You can use a tool such as a logic tree, which allows you to visually lay out potential solutions so you can easily consider them. First, write down your problem or question. Then, add branches that show the options and further branches that provide the details of those options, such as benefits or consequences. See the example below.<\/p>\n\n\n

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      Step 3: Select a Solution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Once you\u2019ve laid out your potential solutions and weighed them against each other, explain the authors, it\u2019s time to select a solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      One tool you can use to help you choose is a pros and cons assessment. To do this, you can list your pros and cons on a two-column chart and then rate each item based on how important it is. Once you\u2019ve listed all your pros and cons and given them a weight rating, add up the sum for each column and then subtract the cons sum from the pros sum. If the result is a positive number, this suggests the overall benefit of the option outweighs the negatives, making it a good solution to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      (Shortform note: Other tools for weighing and selecting your solutions include a risk-re<\/a>ward assessment. As with the pros and cons assessment, you write out your potential solutions in a chart and then rate them based on how much reward they offer and how much risk they come with. Options that have a high-risk score like 4 out of 5 or<\/em> a low reward score like 2 out of 5 may not be worth considering and can be quickly eliminated. Another tool is a consequences table<\/a>, which is similar to the pros and cons assessment except that you simply describe the consequences\u2014positive and negative\u2014for each option rather than assigning them a numerical value.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Step 4: Implement Your Solution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      According to the authors, it\u2019s now time to put your solution into action. You can use the 5W2H method again to help implement your plan:<\/p>\n\n\n\n