Looking at Google or Wiki we find most of the litertuer on this subject with regard to profession or carrier. But this question leads much farer. Think of Karl Popper "Alles Leben ist Problemlösen" (The whole live is Problem solving). And in his mind he looks at evolution, history, politics. So: "What is Problem solving" for you? Are there different meanings in different cultures? Are there different understandings at different ages, professions, countries? How is the influence of gender? Illness or health? Poor or rich? Easy answers we know. But behind them?
Peter
“Man is born, not to solve the problems of the universe, but to find out where the problem applies, and then to restrain himself within the limits of the comprehensible.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
To attempt to know about unknown and to know interrelations between known - is problem solving in my view.
The process of working through details of a problem to reach a solution. Problem solving may include mathematical or systematic operations and can be a gauge of an individual's critical thinking skills.There are four basic steps in solving a problem:
1 Defining the problem.
2 Generating alternatives.
3 Evaluating and selecting alternatives.
4 Implementing solutions.
In psychology , Problem-solving is a mental process that involves discovering, analyzing and solving problems. The ultimate goal of problem-solving is to overcome obstacles and find a solution that best resolves the issue. These are key performance indicators:-
Identifying the Problem,Defining the Problem,Forming a Strategy, organizing information,Allocating Resources,monitoring progress,evaluating results.
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"problem solving
Definition
The process of working through details of a problem to reach a solution. Problem solving may include mathematical or systematic operations and can be a gauge of an individual's critical thinking skills."
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/problem-solving.html
Dear Peter,
Here are two new interesting publications on the subject:
Wimmer L. Problem Solving As a Sufficient Condition of the Creative Process: A Case for Closer Cooperation of Creativity Research and Problem Solving Research. Front Psychol. 2016 Mar 31;7:488. http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00488/pdf
Donnarumma F, Maisto D, Pezzulo G. Problem Solving as Probabilistic Inference with Subgoaling: Explaining Human Successes and Pitfalls in the Tower of Hanoi. PLoS Comput Biol. 2016 Apr 13;12(4):e1004864. http://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/asset?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pcbi.1004864.PDF
Best wishes from Munich, Martin
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"Problem solving
Problem solving consists of using generic or ad hoc methods, in an orderly manner, for finding solutions to problems. Some of the problem-solving techniques developed and used in artificial intelligence, computer science, engineering, mathematics, or medicine are related to mental problem-solving techniques studied in psychology.
Definition
The term problem-solving is used in many disciplines, sometimes with different perspectives, and often with different terminologies. For instance, it is a mental process in psychology and a computerized process in computer science. Problems can also be classified into two different types (ill-defined and well-defined) from which appropriate solutions are to be made. Ill-defined problems are those that do not have clear goals, solution paths, or expected solution. Well-defined problems have specific goals, clearly defined solution paths, and clear expected solutions. These problems also allow for more initial planning than ill-defined problems. Being able to solve problems sometimes involves dealing with pragmatics (logic) and semantics (interpretation of the problem). The ability to understand what the goal of the problem is and what rules could be applied represent the key to solving the problem. Sometimes the problem requires some abstract thinking and coming up with a creative solution.".....
Please, see the rest of the article for more information...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_solving
dear Martin,
thank you ! Great. The first hint I could not open, but the secand.
Best
Peter
Creating solutions to defined problems using a well-structured and systematic approach.
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"Seven Steps for Effective Problem Solving in the Workplace, by Tim Hicks
...... Here are seven-steps for an effective problem-solving process.
1. Identify the issues.
- Be clear about what the problem is.
- Remember that different people might have different views of what the issues are.
- Separate the listing of issues from the identification of interests (that's the next step!).
2. Understand everyone's interests.
- This is a critical step that is usually missing.
- Interests are the needs that you want satisfied by any given solution. We often ignore our true interests as we become attached to one particular solution.
- The best solution is the one that satisfies everyone's interests.
- This is the time for active listening. Put down your differences for awhile and listen to each other with the intention to understand.
- Separate the naming of interests from the listing of solutions.
3. List the possible solutions (options)
- This is the time to do some brainstorming. There may be lots of room for creativity.
- Separate the listing of options from the evaluation of the options.
4. Evaluate the options.
- What are the pluses and minuses? Honestly!
- Separate the evaluation of options from the selection of options.
5. Select an option or options.
- What's the best option, in the balance?
- Is there a way to "bundle" a number of options together for a more satisfactory solution?
6. Document the agreement(s).
- Don't rely on memory.
- Writing it down will help you think through all the details and implications.
7. Agree on contingencies, monitoring, and evaluation.
- Conditions may change. Make contingency agreements about foreseeable future circumstances (If-then!).
- How will you monitor compliance and follow-through?
- Create opportunities to evaluate the agreements and their implementation. ("Let's try it this way for three months and then look at it.")"...
- Please, see the link for detail,,,
http://www.mediate.com/articles/thicks.cfm
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"Never bring the problem solving stage into the decision making stage. Otherwise, you surrender yourself to the problem rather than the solution."
---- Robert H. Schuller
Sorry, dear Peter,
Here is the paper of Dr. Lena Wimmer (Department of Psychology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany).
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"Innovation requires a novel approach to scientific problem solving, higher level of resource commitments over much longer time durations."
-------- Dilip Shanghvi
Dear Peter,
Here's another very interesting study for you:
Boonen AJ, de Koning BB, Jolles J, van der Schoot M. Word Problem Solving in Contemporary Math Education: A Plea for Reading Comprehension Skills Training. Front Psychol. 2016 Feb 17;7:191.
Have a good "solving" day, Martin
"Social problem solving strategies"
Hasegawa A, Nishimura H, Mastuda Y, Kunisato Y, Morimoto H, Adachi M. Is Trait Rumination Associated with the Ability to Generate Effective Problem Solving Strategies? Utilizing Two Versions of the Means-Ends Problem-Solving Test. J Ration Emot Cogn Behav Ther. 2016;34:14-30.
There are so many ways to understand your question because there are so many ways to solve a problem. Emperor Alexander took the sward and cut the gordian knot. He solved the problem by denying its existence.
“Man is born, not to solve the problems of the universe, but to find out where the problem applies, and then to restrain himself within the limits of the comprehensible.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
Dear Peter,
See if this helps you.
http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/samples/cam033/2002041238.pdf
There is one more
http://www.lamath.org/journal/Vol1/What_IS_P_S_Ability.pdf
Dear @Peter, Karl Poper was excellent in his old days!
"Knowledge is expectation. As such it can never be certain, only tentative. Expectations are a priori, and according to Popper it was Kant’s great revolutionary insight to understand that our a priori expectations precede perceptions, which by necessity are aposteriori. We are not instructed by the world through our senses. Expectation is prior to perception and observation. By just being born we know a lot, knowing in the sense of having expectations. But our expectations can be frustrated, we can become surprised. Surprise involves a problem, and a problem has to be solved. The outside world does not solve our problems, we need to come up with tentative solutions. The only thing that the environment does is to accept or not accept our solution. The environment selects. The only answers we get to our questions put are yes or no..."
I am bringing one fine thread about this issue and one fine resource.
Problem solving, reasoning, and analytical thinking in a classroom environment.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/openlibrary06/all%20life%20is%20problem%20solving%20karl%20popper.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_more_important_to_formulate_the_problem_or_to_solve_it
Article Problem Solving, Reasoning, and Analytical Thinking in a Cla...
Dear Sir,
The process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues. “an expert at creative problem-solving" The processor working through details of problem to reach a solution Problem solving may include mathematical or systematic operations and can be a gauge of an individual' scritical thinking skills. When you actively engage in problem solving, you should first identify the specific problem needing to be solved, and then you should weed out the obviously wrong solutions. Findings are discussed in terms of the influence of gender-related social experiences on the types of strategies and behaviors that may be viewed as competent for boys and girls of preschool age. Age and gender difference in social problem solving ability increases from young adoulthood age (17-20 yrs) to middle age(40-55 yrs)and then decreases in older age(60-80 yrs) social problem solving has received little attention in research on gender differences. In the present study, the Means-Ends Problem-Solving Procedure and the Personal Attributes. Some research studies have reported gender differences in strategy use among elementary school students. Over the last decades, reports on individual differences in students' performance across gender or nationality have strongly influenced educational policies. Mobilisation of prior knowledge is not sufficient to solve novel problems in many everyday situations. Gaps in knowledge must be filled by observation and exploration of the problem situation. This often involves interaction with a new system to discover rules that in turn must be applied to solve the problem.
Regards,
Prem Baboo
This seems to be good too
http://pages.uoregon.edu/moursund/Books/IAE-PS/PS-in-IA.pdf
G. Polya was a hungarian mathemetician that wrote a celebrated book with title: "How to solve it". He terminated his career in U. Stanford.
If you need anything else just contact me again.
http://www.al-edu.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Davidson-Sternberg-The-Psychology-of-Problem-Solving-2003.pdf
http://www.lean.org/FuseTalk/Forum/Attachments/PowerPoint%20-%20Problem%20Solving.pdf
http://www.deakin.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/51240/problem-solving.pdf
http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ841561.pdf
http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1153&context=jps
http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/journals/ed_lead/el_196102_hermanowicz.pdf
A problem has at least two major interpretations:
1) A gap in the state of knowledge
2) A matter that is uncomfortable to deal with and usually also carries the gap in knowledge as 1)
The objective of problem solving is to bridge the gap between a state of lack of knowledge with a feasible information to fill the gap and arrive at a state where one has the answer. With respect to 2) it also means to deal with a resolution to the current state of discomfort and reach a feasible "comfortable" state.
What is problem solving?
Problem solving is delivering the right action / resolution to bridge the identified gap between different states. One of the states can be e.g. current state, issues, problems, where you are now etc. The other state can be e.g. future state, aspired goals, desired outcomes, what you planned to achieve etc.
Does a lawyer, a scientist, or a doctor, think like an engineer? All are trained to think logically; work for society’s benefit; take their responsibilities seriously and observe the ethics of their profession, but all use different methods of problem solving, as they have been trained differently. Their training and experience influences the way they think.
There are different philosophies of problem-solving as different thinking styles lead to different problem-solving strategies. Engineers use questions to understand the problem and search for the information needed to resolve it. Such questions are driven by engineers’ intellectual curiosity and need for information. The manner in which these questions are articulated is a key to the successful outcome. Questions need to be posed specifically enough to guide the search for information. They should not be posed if the answers do not result in constructive actions. This framework enables practitioners to incorporate latest research findings into their daily decision making.
A Scientist looks at a problem in the abstract and uses testable hypotheses to isolate all the component parts of a problem and solve them (individually, if possible). Breaking down the problem into its component parts can determine the independent root causes. Solving problems in this way is more resource and time-intensive than the physicians’ approach, but if the right hypotheses are posed, this system can handle a broader range of problems and generate new data that are applicable to other problems.
A physician uses a pattern seeking approach known as differential diagnostics. It consists of four steps. First, the doctor collects the patient's medical history, and makes a list of the patient's symptoms. Next, the doctor makes a list of possible diseases or conditions that might cause each of these symptoms. Third, the doctor organizes this list by priority. The ranking must take into account the likelihood, as well as the potential severity, of each possible condition. Finally, the doctor begins testing for each of these conditions, starting with the top of the list and working down. If the test results rule out a possible condition, the doctor moves on to the next one on the list. Sometimes, test results may prompt the doctor to reprioritize the items on the list. This mode of thinking is used by engineers to find fault in a system.
Physicians, scientists and engineers are all work from a testable hypothesis, and their world is constantly evolving, expanding and improving. How does a lawyer’s way of thinking compare to these groups of professionals? Lawyers also have precision of thought, analytical capability, logic, abstraction, and assertiveness
I agree with Kiran and Hazim. Problem solving starts by clearly defining the problem. Next is to consider different approaches to solving the problem. Last is to test each approach to see which one works or works best.
Dear Peter,
Problem solving is synthesis after one was able to recognise and characterise the problem itself. After analysis comes the synthesis. Many cannot arrive to recognising the real problems, and many work in vain to solve already solved troubles. This is the black hole of pseudo-intellectual activity.
Problem solving does not depend on culture, society, gender, age, etc. It's universal. Along the life everybody independant of profession, social activity meets with so called " problems" , which represemt a small or big questiones ans always faced with two options at least to choose the best as a solution for his/her "problem"
Dear Peter Eyerer , What is Problem Solving ?
Well , Fulfillment of our Needs ; Touch through the problems like a Shine Wave and Achieve the Goal at End .
Te look the question in pieces, first, a problem is something that challenges our intellect, lives and science and solving problems means understanding these challenges and difficulties, devise procedures of logic and reasoning using the existing fundamental theories to come up with answers to these problems. The unintended consequence of attempting to solve a problem whose solution exists outside of the existing domain is the developing of another theory different from the existing ones, that leads to a mega theory and thereby finding a solution. This is one of the reasons how scientific theories develop.
The better and the more you can solve Problems the more homo xy survived and could have offsprings.
Is it still like this or what are the benefits now???
Dear Peter,....
to solve a problem means that you have to recognize that there is a real problem and somebody or someone suffers more or less as consequence of this.
I also means that there must be a person who has an inner impulse to change this uncomfortable situation. He also must be able to change the situation standing out from the crowd which is only palavering.
These problem solvers mostly are a minority.
With best regards
Michael
Every Human beings have their own problem & the problem must come out with the reasoning & also with the solution ,otherwise they will remain a lots of confusion in the mind of the personal concerned .
In their life we have to come across our individual problem of our family which may be totally personal & even sometime for the individual health of the family & in such case of our family problems we have to find out the solution of the same so as to make the members our family comfortable.
Besides ,for carrying our day to day action of our life we have to surmount with the problems of different nature & we have to find the solution of the same as it is the problem against our action .If we fail to fine the right type of solution ,it may have different repercussion as it may affect the other part of our activities .
This is my personal opinion
Problem solving is for me finding a clarifying way of looking at something that was not clear before.its dimention of creative behaviour, ability or skills in thinkinging
A problem is "that which I consider a problem". Identifying that this or that is a problem is likely the first step in solving the problem. At the moment, I'm working toward making better observations so that I might identify "situations" that might turn into "problems" (for me) when I fail to "identify" them OR making better observations so that I might identify "solutions"... to those inevitable "future problems"...
What is a problem to me IS largely personal, I'd agree... dictated by what I consider to be important --which is to say, influenced by my "conscious" and "unconscious" likes/dislikes (based on a "world view" influenced by environment, gender, race, the culture at large, my DNA, etc.) or those issues with which I am "paid" to concern myself (but which job I wouldn't take unless I "choose" to (so again, largely based on "conscious"/"unconscious" likes/dislikes, etc.))
I think life is one problem after another ..."Alles Leben ist Problemlosen" indeed! No better words to mirror my experience. I spend most of my free time asking and attempting to answer questions (that is, solving problems) ... while I manage (or not manage) the natural "problems" of mere living.
I most like those problems that resist my efforts to solve them (on first pass). On the other hand, I don't care for "puzzles" and don't cotton to board games.
Yes, I too am convinced that indeed "Alles Leben ist Problemlösen." Else, we would be idle all of the time.
Even when people have no meaningful problems to solve, they do puzzles or play games, to solve (objectively speaking) pointless problems. And I think this is universally true.
Even in the animal kingdom, creatures are busy solving problems. And some animals also play games, having to solve unnecessary problems. (Ever see a cat chasing a mouse?)
The relationship between the problem and its solution in science is well expressed by the following quotes from Albert Einstein:
・The formulation of the problem is often more essential than its solution, which may be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skill.
・We can not solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.
・If I had an hour to solve a problem I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.
(Taken from https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/problem-solving?page=1)
Problem solving can mean different things to different people.
As far as Sir Karl Popper is concerned, he probably (I am not Peopper) meant the existential condition of human beings. The essence of this idea is contained in his schema of knowledge growth P>TT>EE>P'
Ultimately, it is the heuristics that sustains life by trial and error. And it can and should be applied not only to one aspect of human life and knowledge but across all "three worlds" (equally, Popperian categories). An interesting passage I always remember is that in evolutionary theory, lack of ability to solve a problem lead to death of an organism.
I discuss this in my doctoral dissertation. If you are interested
Sometimes solution itself becomes a problem. For example, if one developa amodel to explain some observed phenomenon. The model itself poses several problems. One has to solve them to justify his model. From these also problems may regenerate......
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
“If I had an hour to solve a problem I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.”
― Albert Einstein
Problem solving may include systematic operations and can be a gauge of an individual's critical thinking skills.
Creating something is all about problem-solving.
--- Philip Seymour Hoffman
Be a curious student of nature when I find Physics,Chemistry, Biology and principle behind that are still not unifying. I have a little doubt that what we say "problem solving" is nothing but the understanding the nature and universe what our eyes can see and what our brain can imagine!
the process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues.
problem-solving is redefining or overcoming our boundaries or limits of understanding.
Hence :
- all will have different boundaries, so the problem is different to each of us .. defining it is a key effort ( as given by the Einstein quotes )
- the solving is never really final because one will encounter new limits or boundaries, so "new" problems arise ..
it is a key element indeed throughout life, in growing our understanding. We should stay as long as possible inquisitive and "learning student" to avoid a complecency of believing we know it all or best. Others will still have different views and insights wich define new boundaries again.
"Never try to solve all the problems at once — make them line up for you one-by-one.
— Richard Sloma
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
“Well, if it can be thought, it can be done, a problem can be overcome,”
― E.A. Bucchianeri, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly
What is Problem Solving ?
Every Problem is Human Error ,
It can be solvable ;
Exactly the Sequence of activity without fail Must be done very Comfortably
As per Principles / Standards [ $$$ Professional Ethics $$$ ].
What is Problem Solving ?
Problem = Finding Non-fulfillment the activity is showing under Error in lagging.
Solving = Bringing in Level of Sequence the Activity and fulfillment to Achieve the Goal.
Dear all and dear Peter,
sorry for responding to you invitation so late, I was rather busy. I had some time to read (not all but some) of the answers so far and I thought I try to provide a response to your question in the form of another question.
What is a problem?
I guess if we unpack the various notions the term 'problem' can have then it should be easier to come up with fitting suggestions to solve these so-defined problems. At the end of the day the problem of falling in love (or not / or with the wrong person / or with more than one person at a time) is fundamentally different from the problem of trying to solve the problems of climate-change or space-exploration.
Ponkumar seems to be on that track as well, if every problem is nothing but human error, than the problem might be nothing more than our own perception of a matter of fact? Would it be all in our head then?
Best
Tom
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
“a problem well put is half solved.”
― John Dewey
"Ideas may also grow out of the problem itself, which in turn becomes part of the solution."
--- Paul Rand (1914 - 1996), American Graphic Designer
The greatest impediment to problem solving is human procrastination.
JAG
Thanks Dear Peter for the invitation for another good question. Problem solving in the field of Civil Engineering is the work of Civil Engineers for the direct benefit of the persons and populations, an important and wonderful enterprise, particularly in my area of hydraulics water resources and environment. Civil Engineers are trustable, all things must work properly. In my opinion, competent researchers in Civil Engineering develop research works theoretical, theory-practical, practical or experimental that allows the development of the physical laws, innovative models, innovative methods, new computational techniques, computer programs, procedures, innovative techniques of construction or others that need be useful and work properly too.
Problem solving is finding answer to your questions (problems). To do this you breakdown the original question and ask more questions on the constituent’s elements. But now hopefully it is easier to find answer.
Problem solving is based on the best available information, which is consistently and systematically identified, evaluated and selected. The process broadly follows the following five steps.
Step 1: What is the question?
Asking the right questions to understand the problem, the boundaries and the environment that the “outcome” should exist. The outcome is generally a system whose elements, the relationship between them and their iterations within and with the outside world must be understood.
Step 2: Identifying the Evidence
Engineers may search the literature for information to supplement what they know, hence searches could be limited to the information they deem important.
Step 3: Selecting the Best Available Evidence
Each piece of information is assessed for its relevance and each relevant information is further assessed for validity and applicability. Determining relevance is the first consideration in systematically selecting the best available information from that identified. The relevance of information may be different for every engineer, based on their range of experience and interests.
Step 4: Synthesizing information from multiple sources
Deciding on the best course of action requires synthesizing multiple sets of data from multiple sources. When multiple data are present on the same topic, preference for inclusion and organization must be based on the quality of methodology, depth of investigation, adherence to reality.
Step 5: Basing Conclusions on the collected data
Conclusions and recommendations from the evidence synthesis required for decision making. The overall conclusions provide a way forward (a solution).
I like the following story from an old book (Art of problem solving, Russell L. Ackoff, 1978). I searched and I found a link which describes the story. This example may be taken as an example on importance of correct problem definition in problem solving process.
This classic story involves a multistory office building in New York. Occupants began complaining about the poor elevator service provided in the building. Waiting times for elevators at peak hours, they said, were excessively long. Several of the tenants threatened to break their leases and move out of the building because of this.
Management authorized a study to determine what would be the best solution. The study revealed that because of the age of the building no engineering solution could be justified economically. The engineers said that management would just have to live with the problem permanently.
The desperate manager called a meeting of his staff, which included a young recently hired graduate in personnel psychology…The young man had not focused on elevator performance but on the fact that people complained about waiting only a few minutes. Why, he asked himself, were they complaining about waiting for only a very short time? He concluded that the complaints were a consequence of boredom. Therefore, he took the problem to be one of giving those waiting something to occupy their time pleasantly. He suggested installing mirrors in the elevator boarding areas so that those waiting could look at each other or themselves without appearing to do so. The manager took up his suggestion. The installation of mirrors was made quickly and at a relatively low cost. The complaints about waiting stopped.
Today, mirrors in elevator lobbies and even on elevators in tall buildings are commonplace.
https://signalvnoise.com/posts/1244...e-problem-of-elevator-waiting-times
http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Problem-Solving-Accompanied/dp/0471858080
Thanks Peter Eyerer for your invitation. To me problem solving is a perfect combination of logic, intelligence, vision and sensitiveness. For few years I had to work as a Teacher-in-Charge of a college in absence of a full time principal. The then Head clerk of mine taught me a lesson on the first day: "Don't try to solve a problem quickly, take time and follow the ABCD Principle. At the first step avoid (A) the problem, at the second step try to bypass (B) the problem. At the third step continue with conversation (C). At the last stage defer (D) the problem. Maximum problems will be solved automatically" . Is this lesson useful to you? Regards. Sarada
TRIZ is a problem solving method based on logic and data, not intuition, which accelerates the project team’s ability to solve these problems creatively. TRIZ also provides repeatability, predictability, and reliability due to its structure and algorithmic approach. “TRIZ” is the (Russian) acronym for the “Theory of Inventive Problem Solving.” G.S. Altshuller and his colleagues in the former U.S.S.R. developed the method between 1946 and 1985. TRIZ is an international science of creativity that relies on the study of the patterns of problems and solutions, not on the spontaneous and intuitive creativity of individuals or groups. More than three million patents have been analyzed to discover the patterns that predict breakthrough solutions to problems.
TRIZ is spreading into corporate use across several parallel paths – it is increasingly common in Six Sigma processes, in project management and risk management systems, and in organizational innovation initiatives.
TRIZ research began with the hypothesis that there are universal principles of creativity that are the basis for creative innovations that advance technology. If these principles could be identified and codified, they could be taught to people to make the process of creativity more predictable.
Much of the practice of TRIZ consists of learning these repeating patterns of problems-solutions, patterns of technical evolution and methods of using scientific effects, and then applying the general TRIZ patterns to the specific situation that confronts the developer.
https://triz-journal.com/triz-what-is-triz/
@Ponkumar Ilango: I do not agree with you that all problems are human errors. Imagine we are going to meet a person. When we moved, we saw that there is a river in the way and one can't go to its side by swimming. A problem generated. How it is error?
At present we have lot of information and lot of technologies, therefore the problems in past have not remained in present.
May be that I am wrong. Therefore please clarify your statement.
Thank you, Peter, for the invitation to contribute to this thought-provoking issue.
Karl Popper relates to the Big Picture. However, problem solving is the lifelong task of every living thing, plants and animals alike. Of course, the nature of the problem changes, in space and time, and progress is almost always preceded by success (or failure) in solving the problems. Nonetheless, there continues to be many unanswerable questions. As related to the humankind, some of the most interesting of these unanswerable questions were raised, about the cosmos, by the Cosmologist, Paul Davies in "Devout Sceptics”, namely:
“Why did we come to exist 13.7 billion years ago in a Big Bang? Why are the laws of electromagnetism or gravitation as they are? Why these laws? What are we doing here? And, in particular, how come we are able to understand the world? Why is it that we're equipped with intellects that can unpick all this wonderful cosmic order and make sense of it? It's truly astonishing....” (See "Devout Sceptics", Bel Mooney, ed., Hodder & Stoughton Religious (London, August 21, 2003) p. 57. ISBN-10: 0340862025; ISBN-13: 978-0340862025.
problem solving means which givens results or solutions which will satisfy ur that particular need
The term 'Problem Solving' is an adjective of a noun such as method, technique, measure, policy, approach, etc. it is means to an end.
Problem solving is the process of working through details of a problem to reach a solution.
"Successful problem solving requires finding the right solution to the right problem. We fail more often because we solve the wrong problem than because we get the wrong solution to the right problem."
~ Russell L. Ackoff
Dear All, For me Problem solving is a way of living a fruitful life and to achive hat it is a continuous life long process. Thanks
Dear Peter,
in Russian problem is a feminine gender word (sic!). Its meanings are: 1. Complex issue which requires special study; smth that has no solution yet. 2. Difficult situation, difficult circumstances. 3. Smth that is difficult to perform or difficult to achieve (drinking water is the problem number one in the world). It's possible to solve a problem in its all three meanings.
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
“If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.”
― Isaac Asimov
To resolve any problem, first, we need to a good know of it, second develop an action plan to solve them according to our experience, or the experience of others.
Dear Khan Muhammad,
I like your joke. Maybe I had to share some information more, because problem is an abstract word in Russian, so its semantic links with other words in contexts show that it is conceptualized with the help of visual and other perceptual metaphors. As a concept problem has:
(1) spatial images, including the images of obstacle, barrier and similar ones; water spatial images are also popular (wave, stream, sea, ocean, swamp of problems);
(2) object images, such as of acute/non-acute, amorphous/with clear contours, small/ huge objects (and mechanisms);
(3) demonic images of active or passive demonic beings, who are young or old.
So in Russian we can (in figurative sense):
(1) limit a problem, enter in it and exit out, overcome, pass it, and so on;
(2) approach it, examine it from different angles or sides, measure or regulate it, light it, break to pieces, and so on.
(3) As a demonic creature, a terrible or terrifying problem arises by itself, grows, transforms, getting younger or older. It smothers, kills, but in its turn it can disappear, die, be reborn, revive, and so on. The military metaphors are used often: a person struggling with problems, takes a beating or wins. Evil men/evil society grow problems like the plants.
I forgot to mention that problems are able to reproduce. "Independently" of a human will or action, of course, from language "point of view"!
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"Patience Is the Key to Solve All Problem."
------ Sudanese Proverb
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"Successful problem solving requires finding the right solution to the right problem. We fail more often because we solve the wrong problem than because we get the wrong solution to the right problem."
------ Russell L. Ackoff
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"The real problem is what to do with the problem-solvers after the problems are solved."
----- Gay Talese
Problem solving for me is finding answer to question(s) in pursuit of inquiry (scientific or otherwise). The way we solve our problem depends on our frame of mind which is shaped by our education/experience. Solution for a scientist is just to know why, while an engineer is seeking for make something useful. A physician looks for a pattern to diagnose, while a lawyer tries to find the best way to serve justice (or something the society thinks the outcome is fair). Different people are looking for different things and different answer is a solution to their problem. For Fleming the content of the Petri dish was “a problem solved”, while for an engineer, that is the beginning, and a solution should bring ready benefit for many.
Please see my more modest inquiry along the same linehttps://www.researchgate.net/post/How_to_think_like_an_engineer
The process of solving engineering problems using software's (MATLAB, mathematics, matcad,maple, etc.) can be described in the attached flowchart.
Engineers eventually formulate aa engineering/ mathematical problem which needs to be solved. Time and accuracy is commonly of importance, meaning we have to have access and knowledge to efficient computer software. Software that will help us, not only with the mathematics, but also with the visualization of the answer. Of course the software can’t do the engineering for us, but it can help us along the way and make the data manipulation and visualization easy, fast and efficient.
Dear Colleagues,
Thank you all for your valuable comments. I had been out of town for the last 5 days. Now I have to work myself through everything. Optically I am very happy about your interesting messages. Probabely I will respond more deeply.
Thank you again!
Peter
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