Problem Shaping
Apr|5|2010 Laura Savard and Mark Gallagher
How you define a problem is perhaps the most important step in finding a solution. After all, every subsequent act is based on how the problem is shaped. Problem solving begins with problem shaping, and that’s where most people go wrong. They immediately define the problem within their own skill set.
Let’s take a common problem often found on standardized tests. This focuses on a predetermined solution. However, there is more than one way to solve the problem.
In an elimination boxing tournament, boxers are paired for competition. The loosing boxer from each fight is eliminated, and the process repeats itself until only one boxer is left. If 512 fighters enter the tournament, how many fights must be fought to determine the winner?
The above problem is stated in such a way as to measure your ability to both determine and solve the “correct” equation. Following this course of logic requires an algebraic approach. An approach which leads to an equation that is quite lengthy. So the odds of making a mistake are reasonably high. However, if we re-frame the problem to focus on the losers rather than the winner, the approach requires only simple math. How many fighters must lose in order for there to be one winner?
In another example, when a truck managed to wedge itself under a “LOW CLEARANCE” bridge, a team of police, firefighters and engineers limited their focus to how to raise or remove the bridge. A child proposed a far more elegant solution: “Let the air out of the tires!”
As you can see, people have a tendency to work towards predefined solutions. Properly framing a problem is a matter clarifying what success looks like, turning stumbling-blocks into stepping-stones.
“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” – Albert Einstein
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Indeed, it's how people frame situations that determines what they see. As Goethe wrote, "The hardest thing to see is what's in front of your eyes."
Regarding Ken's observation, slight of hand magicians are wary of young children, because childrens' perceptions – especially of cause and effect – have not been rigidly formed.
Thus, when the magician palms an object, adults follow the hand they're "suppose" to follow, and are amazed when the object disappears. Very young children, on the other hand (pun intended), watch the hand that last held the object. Until the magician opens that hand and proves otherwise, the object should still be there.
Ken and Tom,
We all enter situations with certain preconceptions and a preference for seeing things a certain way. In other words, children are simply less distracted by the magician's beautiful, half-naked female assistant!
Mark Gallagher
Brand Expressionist®
They say that children are more apt to figure out a magician's trick because they don't over-intellectualize it to the extent that adults do. As the father of a 4 year old son I'm constantly amazed at how clearly and simply my son views the world compared to my own view. Sometimes, looking at things like a child is the straight line between two points.
Great Topic! I've seen this happen in the executive round-table… It's as if the person presenting the problem delivers the solution on a silver platter by framing the issues in a certain way. If the presenter is the senior person in the room, many would follow like sheep to the solution he/she wants.
You're so right, we have to allow the creativity + knowledge of all to participate by presenting the problems objectively. More like a scientist approaching a problem. Ouch, my head hurts now.
Beth,
You bring up a great point. While in our post we addressed this from an individual's perspective, you are correct that in group situations, superiors may push towards their way of thinking. Let's consider that the inverse is also true. Employees sometimes push solutions that center around their boss' perspective.
Oh the joys of group dynamics! Thanks for sharing.
Laura Savard
Brand Expressionist®
Really enjoyed this article. The trick in my experience is finding a person in any given situation with the rare talent to re-imagine the problem. The best person I've ever seen do this time and again is @brandscientist Peter Singline from Brand DNA.
Dave Ansett
Brandamentalist