Problem solving is a skill that is essential for success in any field or domain. Problem solving involves identifying, analyzing, and resolving a problem or a challenge that you face. However, before you can solve a problem, you need to understand and classify it. Understanding and classifying a problem is the first step in problem solving, and it can make a huge difference in the quality and efficiency of your solution.
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What is understanding and classifying a problem?
Understanding a problem means grasping the nature, scope, and context of the problem. It means knowing what the problem is, why it exists, who is affected by it. Understanding a problem helps you to define the problem clearly and accurately, and avoid any confusion or ambiguity.
Classifying a problem means categorizing or grouping the problem based on some criteria or characteristics. It means finding similarities and differences among the problem and other problems, and identifying the type or kind of the problem. Classifying a problem helps you to narrow down the problem domain and focus on the relevant aspects and factors.
Why is understanding and classifying a problem important?
Understanding and classifying a problem is important because it can help you to:
- Simplify and structure the problem, and break it down into smaller and manageable subproblems.
- Choose the appropriate methods, tools, and strategies to solve the problem, and avoid wasting time and resources on irrelevant or ineffective solutions.
- Compare and contrast the problem with other problems, and learn from previous experiences and best practices.
- Communicate and collaborate with others who are involved in or affected by the problem, and get their feedback and input.
- Evaluate and measure the effectiveness and impact of your solution, and identify any gaps or errors.
How to understand and classify a problem?
There is no one right way to understand and classify a problem, as different problems may require different approaches and techniques. However, here are some general steps that you can follow to understand and classify a problem:
- Identify the problem: The first step is to identify the problem that you want to solve. You can use various sources of information, such as observations, data, reports, surveys, interviews, etc., to find out what the problem is, when and where it occurs, how often it occurs, and how severe it is. You can also use tools such as brainstorming, mind mapping, fishbone diagram, etc., to generate and organize your ideas and thoughts about the problem.
- Define the problem: The next step is to define the problem in a clear and concise statement that summarizes the main issue or challenge that you want to address. You can use the 5W+H questions (who, what, when, where, why, and how) to guide you in defining the problem. For example, you can ask yourself: Who is affected by the problem? What is the problem? When does the problem happen? Where does the problem happen? Why does the problem happen? How does the problem affect me or others?
- Classify the problem: The final step is to classify the problem based on some criteria or characteristics that are relevant to your problem domain and goal. There are many ways to classify a problem, depending on the nature and complexity of the problem. Some common types of classification are:
- On the basis of urgency: This means classifying the problem based on how quickly it needs to be solved. For example, you can classify the problem as urgent, important, or routine, depending on the level of priority and impact of the problem.
- On the basis of geography: This means classifying the problem based on the location or region where it occurs or where it affects. For example, you can classify the problem as local, national, or global, depending on the scope and scale of the problem.
- On the basis of qualification: This means classifying the problem based on the skills, knowledge, or expertise that are required or available to solve the problem. For example, you can classify the problem as technical, legal, or managerial, depending on the type of domain or discipline that the problem belongs to.
- On the basis of quantification: This means classifying the problem based on the amount or degree of the problem or its solution. For example, you can classify the problem as discrete, continuous, or mixed, depending on whether the problem or its solution can be measured or counted in discrete or continuous units.
- On the basis of complexity: This means classifying the problem based on the number or diversity of the elements, variables, or factors that are involved or affected by the problem or its solution. For example, you can classify the problem as simple, complicated, or complex, depending on the level of difficulty or uncertainty of the problem or its solution.
- On the basis of dependency: This means classifying the problem based on the relationship or interaction between the problem and other problems or subproblems. For example, you can classify the problem as independent, dependent, or interdependent, depending on whether the problem or its solution can be solved or affected by other problems or subproblems.
Example of understanding and classifying a problem
To illustrate how to understand and classify a problem, let us take an example of a problem that you may encounter in your daily life. Suppose you are getting late to a very important meeting, but your car is out of fuel, your motorbike has a flat tyre, and your internet is not working. How would you understand and classify this problem?
- Identify the problem: You can use your observation and experience to identify the problem that you are facing. You can also use tools such as brainstorming or mind mapping to generate and organize your ideas and thoughts about the problem.
- Define the problem: You can use the 5W+H questions to define the problem in a clear and concise statement that summarizes the main issue or challenge that you want to address. For example, you can write the following:
I am getting late to a very important meeting that is scheduled at 10:00 am, but I have no means of transportation or communication, because my car is out of fuel, my motorbike has a flat tyre, and my internet is not working.
- Classify the problem: You can use various criteria or characteristics to classify the problem based on your problem domain and goal. For example, you can classify the problem as follows:
- On the basis of urgency: The problem is urgent, as it needs to be solved as soon as possible, otherwise you may miss the meeting or lose the opportunity.
- On the basis of geography: The problem is local, as it occurs and affects only you and your immediate surroundings.
- On the basis of qualification: The problem is technical, as it requires some technical skills, knowledge, or expertise to solve it, such as driving, repairing, or using the internet.
- On the basis of quantification: The problem is discrete, as it can be measured or counted in discrete units, such as liters of fuel, number of tyres, or megabytes of data.
- On the basis of complexity: The problem is complicated, as it involves multiple elements, variables, or factors that are interrelated or interdependent, such as the car, the motorbike, the internet, the meeting, the time, etc.
- On the basis of dependency: The problem is interdependent, as it is affected by and affects other problems or subproblems, such as the fuel problem, the tyre problem, the internet problem, the meeting problem, the time problem, etc.
Conclusion
Understanding and classifying a problem is the first step in problem solving, and it can help you to simplify and structure the problem, choose the appropriate methods, tools, and strategies to solve the problem, compare and contrast the problem with other problems, communicate and collaborate with others who are involved in or affected by the problem, and evaluate and measure the effectiveness and impact of your solution.
You can use various sources of information, tools, and techniques to understand and classify a problem, such as observations, data, reports, surveys, interviews, brainstorming, mind mapping, fishbone diagram, 5W+H questions, etc.
You can also use various criteria or characteristics to classify a problem, such as urgency, geography, qualification, quantification, complexity, dependency, etc. By understanding and classifying a problem, you can make your problem solving process more efficient and effective.
Stay tuned for our next article in this series on Formulating a Plan