A New Problem Solving Method Thomas Teepe

February 19, 2011

What is my aim?

I present my favourite
hands-on method of problem solving
(… and of thinking in general)
What are the basic ideas?
It's a combination of 2 things:
1.notemaking
- using several clever tricks
2.tools
for problem solving
… with an emphasis on
reflective thinking!
This combination works
for me much better than
each of its 2 components
on their own.
'Reflective ' sounded
academic and boring.
I thought again ;-) -
reflection is central for
solving tough problems.
First: Second:
Problem Solving Tools
Notemaking
Why Notemaking? Some famous
notemakers:
● support concentration Leonardo da Vinci
● master complex thoughts Isaac Newton
● break down a problem into Charles Darwin
smaller parts Ludwig van Beethoven
● collect ideas first Thomas Edison
and examine them afterwards Pablo Picasso
● combine verbal and visual thinking Carl Friedrich Gauss
● see ideas from a distance Oscar Wilde
● document thoughts Alfred Hitchcock

● can be adapted in many ways

Basics of
the notemaking process 1

We use a
two-column layout
1.left column for the main material
2.right column for For me, the 'reflection
- reflection, column' is simple &
effective support to guide
- comments,
my thoughts
- questions
- etc.
Basics of
the notemaking process 2

I use Some basic ideas come

from mind mapping
several elements in combination
● keywords
● hierarchical arrangement of ideas
● combining words and images
● colours (sometimes)
I find tables very
● tables powerful - yet somewhat
● diagrams underrated and
underused in mind
mapping
Some remarks on writing materials

Goal:
● get lots of content on one page Surprisingly relevant.

● … and stay legible

This works well for me:

Imho, superior to 0,5 mm
● mechanical pencil 0,3 mm HB
● a bound notebook
blank pages, size A5
● small handwriting even tiny
Here is a
step-by-step example.
Main start with
Reflection
Column the separation
line
Column
add
headline
arrange ideas
in hierarchies
add diagrams
add tables
add to do items
add checkmarks later
add reflections
Second: First was
Notemaking
Problem Solving Tools
What is a problem solving tool?
naive but useful
● everything that may help defintion
to solve a problem

Examples
● brainstorm
● ask yourself questions
● ask a colleague
● search the internet
● sleep over it
● reflect:
● improve your ideas
● understand how you think
How to organize problem solving
tools?
● Step 1:
Split the problem solving process
into stages
● Step 2:
For each stage,
collect a number of useful tools

● Plus:
Reflection tools
that help at each stage
Stages of problem solving
- a simple model:

● understand the problem

● define reasonable goals
● develop plans for the goals
● choose a plan
● carry out the plan
● reflect reflection is useful
1) in each of the other
stages
2) for a final look back
Here comes
a small collection of tools
for each stage
Understand the problem
● start with a top-down analysis
● ask questions
● collect information about the
problem
● internet search
● literature
● interview people
● draw a diagram
Define reasonable goals
● What is the right thing to do?
● What would XY do? XY is a person I take as a
role model in the given
● state goals clearly problem situation.
● describe SMART goals
● S - specific
● M - measurable
● A - attainable
● R - relevant
● T - time bound
Develop plans for these goals
● start with the goal
and develop a plan backwards
● develop a plan top-down:
start with a general plan and make it
more specific
● ask repeatedly
'How can this be achieved?'
● exploit solutions from similar or
analogue problems
● brainstorm for unusual ideas
Choose a plan
● check the plans for obstacles,
gaps...
● compare plans pairwise
● list the pros and cons
● trust your gut feeling
Reflection
In my experience, these
● So what? simple questions are
What now? surprisingly powerful.
● collect shortcomings and criticism
● collect obstacles and barriers
● collect conflicts
● examine results
I often use only
two simple sets of tools
1.one for the main column:
I write these acronyms on
PrAnGoPlExCo stands for top of the columns – each
Problem Description time a useful reminder of
Analysis good problem solving
Goals practices.
Plans Constantly adapting
Execute plan these tools to my personal
Control needs is paramount.

2.one for the reflection column:

QOCS stands for
Questions
Obstacles
Conflicts
So what?!
How to combine notemaking and
problem solving tools?

Here is an example.
Start with
- separation line
- tool acronym PrAnGoPlExCo
- tool acronym QOCS
add headline
start with tool 'Pr' = Problem Description
use reflection tools
use further tools
from PrAnGoPlExCo
Advantages
For me, the method is...
● effective:
notemaking + tools guide my
thinking through problems
● efficient:
no needless fuss -
simple, quick, cheap and
easily available
● flexible:
can be adapted to all sorts of
problems, domains, uses...
For a computerized
version, I use the fabulous
notebook software
OneNote.
Sources
● Tony and Barry Buzan:
The Mind Map Book
● David N. Perkins:
Outsmarting IQ
● John Bransford / Barry Stein:
The IDEAL Problem Solver