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Problem solving is a skill that is essential for many aspects of life, whether it is personal, academic, or professional. However, problem solving is not always easy, and there are some common mistakes that people make when they approach a problem. In this blog post, I will discuss some of these mistakes and how to avoid them.
Being biased towards the outcome
One of the most common mistakes in problem solving is being biased towards the outcome. This means that we have a preconceived idea of what the solution should be, and we ignore or dismiss any evidence that contradicts our expectation. This can lead us to jump to conclusions, overlook important details, or make faulty assumptions.
To avoid this mistake, we need to be objective and open-minded when we analyze a problem. We should not let our emotions, preferences, or beliefs cloud our judgment. We should also use root cause analysis to identify the underlying cause of the problem, rather than focusing on the symptoms or the effects. Root cause analysis is a method of finding the fundamental reason why a problem occurs, and it can help us avoid solving the wrong problem or creating new problems.
Ambiguous/inaccurate problem definition
Another common mistake in problem solving is having an ambiguous or inaccurate problem definition. This means that we do not have a clear and precise understanding of what the problem is, what the goals are, and what the constraints are. This can lead us to waste time and resources, pursue irrelevant or unrealistic solutions, or miss important aspects of the problem.
To avoid this mistake, we need to spend enough time and effort to understand the problem and plan for the solution. According to Polya, a famous mathematician and educator, problem solving consists of four steps: understand, plan, execute, and reflect. He suggested that we should spend 90% of the available time and resources in the first two steps, i.e., understanding and planning. Why? Because understanding a problem is half the solution, and what is left is just implementing the solution, which is usually not that costly.
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