When solving a problem one might think that the easiest part of the process is the problem statement, after all that is probably where you started. However, so often reality is far away from that expectation.

The Blinkers of Limited Perspective

The problem is that, superb though are minds may be, they are constrained by patterns of perception and thinking that have been developed through our previous experiences. (see Creativity: Mind Expanding Business Thinking) It’s like our minds are on tram lines, and unless we can switch tracks our thinking is funneled in specific directions. This not only dictates the solutions sets we can find but it also limits how we see the problem. The net result is that we cannot be certain that we actually have the best starting point for a journey to the solution. It’s a bit like the joke punch line “If that is where you want to go I wouldn’t start from here”.

Finding the Right Problem

At first sight it may seem a hopeless task. After all, if it’s our minds that constrain us how can we find a different starting point?

Well, fortunately we can do things to shift our perspective and find other starting points. There are some simple things we can do to disturb the pattern of our thinking to develop different perspectives and so change our problem statement. Here are two:

Rephrasing

This is what it says on the tin. Rephrase the problem statement using different words. The rephrased statement may itself be a sufficient change of perspective, but the real goal is to force us to think more deeply about the problem and look at it from different perspectives so that better, more useful statements emerges.

Problem Stretching – or the curse of the 7 year old!

 What is the most annoying thing about a 7 year old child? The question “Why?”. Well now you can be 7 again! Take the initial problem statement and ask the question “Why?”. A different, but closely related and broader issue will emerge. Ask “Why?” again and another issue will emerge. Carry on until it can go no further. Here is an example:

“How can I sell more of product x?”

“Why?”

“So I can increase revenues”

Why?

“So I can make more profit”

And so on….

It’s plain to see that these are a set of closely related issues that emerge from a root motive which should be the last answer, in this example to make more profit.

Each of these new statements can be re-presented as problems to solve and now a whole set of degrees of freedom have opened up for us and we haven’t yet tried to solve the problem! Selling more of product x would increase revenues and hopefully increase profit but there are many more ways to increase revenue than simply limiting activity to product X. Likewise with making more profit, there are other ways to increase profit besides increasing revenues.

It’s Those Tram Lines Again

In the Problem Stretching example another interesting and limiting characteristic of the way our minds work can also be seen. That is the tendency to express problems and requirements in terms of a perceived or assumed solution. In this case the problem is how to increase profit. The assumed solution is selling more of Product X and so the initial problem gets expressed in that light. This example shows the huge step of logic (or lack of it) that occurs between how the problem has been stated and the nature of the real problem. It’s easy to see how the end result might not be the one desired.

This tram line effect is an easy trap to fall into but testing the declared problem with the question “Why?” is a good remedy.

Switching Tracks and Changing Perspectives

Becoming trapped in our clichéd perspectives is what we do naturally and unless we take account of it we can start problem solving by pointing in entirely the wrong direction. No wonder that we so often end up with disappointing results.

Creative thinking is about changing our perspectives to find different, previously unconsidered ways of addressing challenges. Effective problem solving requires that we use creative thinking to find ways of jumping track to arrive at better, more accurate, more appropriate problem statements and avoid pre-determining the outcome from the start.

The two techniques considered in this blog are great ways to help change perspectives and switch tracks and so come up with a “better class” of problem and with that more effective solutions.

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