Problem-definition techniques have three uses:
- They force you to go beyond the obvious to truly unique definitions. Remember that, because ill-defined problems are one-of-a-kind problems, they need original (new and useful) solutions. Often the most interesting, and useful, options appear 10 or 20 items down your list.
- They change your perspective on the problem so your definition encapsulates the most relevant pieces of information.
- They move you from subjectivity to looking at the problem from various angles.
Problem definition is a subjective process. You interpret the situation in a particular way, and tailor a problem statement to fit. Obvious or subjective definitions are not necessarily wrong, but they can limit your search for solutions. Remember that, because ill-defined problems are one-of-a-kind problems, you need original (new and useful) definitions that will lead to the most original solutions.
Defining the ill-defined: Part 4(a) shows how asking the right question and setting diverse goals lead to more insight about the problem. The current post looks at perspectives and the pieces of a problem. We’ll use the same sample problem we’ve used in that post to illustrate problem-definition techniques. We’re still working with a situation where the information we have about a problem is inadequate or vague.
Find alternatives
Look at the sample problem again: try to find at least five more ways to define the problem.
Alternative definitions excel at evoking divergent perspectives and moving you beyond the obvious. You find them by identifying different goals for solving the problem, even though the situation remains the same.
You can create more definitions by substituting keywords with synonyms. Words that mean more or less the same thing can evoke contrasting images, leading you down interesting paths to find solutions.
(Look at the “identify your goals” section of the previous post for a list of possible goals for the sample problem.)
So how did you do? What other goals can you set for the problem? List as many as you think of, even if (as in the example), these definitions contradict each other or cancel each other out.
Change perspective
Looking at a problem from different perspectives is a critical skill in solving ill-defined problems. Here are ways you can alter your perspective deliberately.
From the perspective of …
Personality, values, attitudes, and circumstances all influence how you interpret a situation.
Values
Identify your values by asking yourself what is important to you. It could be people, facts, emotions, relationships, solitude, productivity, finding humour, and so on. Then find values that contradict these, and try to see the problem from that perspective.
Look at the various possible definitions for the sample problem. You will see that they represent a variety of values, including
- family,
- confronting a problem directly,
- avoiding confrontation,
- communication,
- looking for causes,
- valuing the past,
- focusing on the future,
- regarding people as more important than facts,
- believing facts carry more weight than emotions,
- efficiency, and
- speed.
Some of these values contradict each other, but none of them are ‘wrong’ unless they are based on a misunderstanding of the situation. And all these definitions are valuable perspectives from which to work.
People
Try to imagine how someone else—a friend, a celebrity, a mentor, your mother, someone you dislike—would interpret the problem.
How would a child define the problem? Or a wise old man? A creative person? The Magician? An empathetic person? A psychopath?
Resources
How would you approach the problem if you were rich? Or if you had superpowers? If you had only 20 seconds to come up with a solution, or could use people who had all the requisite skills?
Attitudes
What if you were lazy, crazy, sad, happy, impatient, energetic, or angry?
More definitions
Which action(s) would be the most effective in ending these arguments?
How can I restore the peace?
Which topics are most likely to lead to arguments?
How can I express my anger without causing an argument?
How can we argue more effectively?
What has changed, and how do we change it back?
What would be the easiest way to resolve these conflicts?
What would make him happy so we don’t argue?
What would make him laugh instead of argue with me?
How can I express my sadness at the conflict between us?
How can I lessen the tension between us?
What essential conflict is causing these arguments between us?
How can we change arguing into a discussion?
How can we find common ground from which to discuss the issues?
Appreciative inquiry
Appreciative inquiry looks at problems positively, focusing on strengths, benefits, and improvement.
Most problem definitions focus on the negative, asking what needs to be fixed, what is bad about the situation, or what we want to avoid.
Possible definitions from an appreciative perspective could include:
How can I use what is good about our relationship to resolve the arguments?
How can I use the arguments to learn more about how my brother thinks?
How can we turn arguments into a debate?
How can I use my listening skills to prevent arguments?
Explore assumptions
Assumptions can limit the search for problem definitions or ideas by excluding some goals. Not all assumptions are wrong: you just need to be aware of them and identify those in your way.
In the sample problem, possible assumptions are:
- Brothers and sisters should get along.
- It is a communication problem.
- Arguments indicate a problem in a relationship.
- Arguments are unpleasant.
- Talking about it will resolve the problem.
- Arguments are a serious business.
Suppose you assume communication is the best way to solve problems. When you eliminate this assumption, you might look for other ways to spend time together.
When you remove the assumption that communication is about ‘talking it out,’ you might explore the possibility that your body language is causing problems, or use gestures to communicate your distress.
Removing the assumption that arguments are always unpleasant and serious, you could ask:
How can I use these arguments to improve my relationship with my brother?
How can I bring humour into these arguments?
This problem is about …
What is the problem about? You cannot compose a useful definition if you cannot answer this question.
What is the sample problem about? Possible keywords are siblings, arguments, anger, relationships, and love.
See if you can find 10 more keywords. And another 10.
By this time, you have gone beyond the obvious keywords to those that represent your true feelings (which may include the obvious keywords). Note that this list need not make sense to anyone else.
Possibilities are fear, changes, humour, sadness, being alone, understanding, mother, lies, embarrassment, and home.
Nonsense statements
A problem definition should lead to solutions for the problem. Obvious, huh? But they don’t all have to be sensible definitions. An unexpected or humorous statement can shake loose some unusual suggestions.
How can I make him like me again? (from the perspective of a child).
What might I learn if I could read his mind? (if you had superpowers).
Let’s look at techniques that might lead to non-sensible definitions.
Maximize
Make the problem bigger. Maximize something, exaggerate something. How would you define the problem if your brother were a giant, an army, or planning to kill you? What if your arguments could start the third world war? What if the whole family were to argue with you?
How can I prevent my brother from killing me?
How can I stop the war?
How can I make the giant like me?
How can I make my brother speechless with anger?
How can I save the relationship on my own?
Minimize
Do the opposite: minimize, decrease, lessen, or shrink something. Understate the problem. What if you could argue only a single word at a time? Or in 140 characters? Or in whispers? What if you could communicate only in drawings, or gestures?
What if you were a child? What if your brother were a child? What if you were both children?
Compile a list of keywords, one for each argument. Do you spot a pattern?
What is less threatening than an argument? Try to replace ‘argument’ with disagreement, bickering, differences of opinion, or debate. How does this change the way you see the situation?
You might want to explore a single argument in depth.
How can I be friends with my brother again?
How can I use body language to improve communication?
What would a drawing of our arguments look like?
How can I state my opinion without making my brother angry?
How can I raise the issue of the party without getting into an argument with him?
Reversals
What if you reverse the problem? Reversals are a good way to get a fresh perspective. They are particularly helpful when you have tried everything you could think of, but haven’t found a definition that satisfies you.
Reverse anything about the problem. What if you were arguing with your sister? What if you are the one who starts the arguments? What if arguing is the only way you can communicate? What if you and your brother never argue?
How can I stop arguing with my sister?
How would my brother make me stop arguing with him?
How can I make the arguments worse?
How can I cause the arguments?
How can I listen instead of argue?
What is the funniest thing about the arguments?
Once you have brainstormed ideas for these definitions, look for solutions either in these ideas or when you modify or reverse the reversed statements.
Break it into pieces
Several techniques for problem definition and idea generation have as their basis breaking a problem into pieces. So does designing a Tarot spread.
What could be the pieces of the sample problem? Or to ask it another way: What are the components of this situation? They might include:
- you
- your brother
- the arguments (themes)
- siblings
- family relationships
- relationships (his)
- relationships (yours)
- assumptions you are both making
- beliefs that affect the situation
- words or phrases often used
- emotions
- time
- place
You could also add attitudes that you discern, other people involved, or topics that always cause problems.
Chunking
Chunking works well for problem definition, adjusting your focus from broad to narrow and back again. (Please see the post on chunking for more information and examples.)
Chunking up
Chunking up occurs when you move up in a hierarchy, or group pieces together.
Perhaps you decide that your brother’s way of relating to people in general is worth examining, thus grouping ‘family relationships,’ ‘siblings,’ and ‘relationships (his)’ together.
You might group ‘time’ and ‘place’ together under ‘environment.’
If you move up the hierarchy from ‘argument,’ you may get communication.
How may I help my brother improve his relationships with people?
Under which circumstances do we argue most frequently?
How can I improve the way we communicate?
Chunking down
When chunking down, you break the pieces into more pieces, and zoom in on one. Alternatively, you move down a hierarchy.
Perhaps you can identify a particular assumption, belief, emotion, or theme in the arguments that you want to explore.
Debate, discussion, altercation, bickering, or disagreement are types of arguments. If you replace ‘arguments’ with one of these, how does it alter your perception of the problem?
How can I soften my brother’s anger so we can discuss the problem?
How can I change my brother’s belief that I always treat him like a child?
How can I talk with my brother about his manners without making him angry?
How can we discuss access to my brother’s children without making him feel defensive?
Using Tarot cards
Another way to use the pieces of a problem is to create a Tarot spread with the pieces—or groups of pieces—as card positions. For example, you might have card positions for you, your brother, the relationship, and the environment (which includes time, place, and the general circumstances around your brother).
Tarot cards force you to look at a problem differently by adding a random element. Going through the spread also leads you to examine the pieces one by one, thus getting to understand the problem better.
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