Overview of the Problem-Solving Process
|
Problem-Solving Step |
Focal Question |
Project Milestone |
1. Choosing a problem |
The Problem Base What is the nature of the problem? What are the desirable ends? Who is working on the problem? |
Project teams formed General project description |
2. Defining the problem |
What are the available means? What is the state of knowledge? |
Contacting and contracting with sponsor |
3. Structuring the problem |
What is the context of the problem? How did the problem become a problem? What needs to be done to achieve the desirable ends |
Background research and preliminary literature review |
4. Breaking down the problem |
Analysis What are the objectives of the problem solver? What are the costs and benefits of the objectives? |
Problem statement |
5. Evaluating the objectives |
What knowledge and skills are needed to evaluate the objectives? Where and how can such knowledge and skills be found among stakeholder expertise? Where and how can such knowledge and skills be found among disciplinary expertise? |
Problem restatment, goals, and methodology |
6. Bringing it all together |
Synthesis How do the objectives influence one another? What ends get priority, and to what extent should resources be reallocated to achieve them? |
Synthesizing results and preparing an abstract |
7. Communication |
Communication and Next Steps What are your communication goals and who is the audience? How should you organize effective communication skills and techniques? How should the communication be evaluated and improved? |
Final communication and extended peer reviews |
8. Changing the world |
How can your work help change the world? How can your project inform policy and management reform? How can you increase the odds your work is carried out? |
Plant a seed, hand off to sponsor |