Before implementing any problem solving strategy, make sure you’ve identified the real problem. Many problems we face are complex, and ambiguous, and there’s usually more than one solution available. To help figure out the best solution for the identified problem, we must take a few minutes to examine our assumptions about the problem, and any solutions we may be considering.

To do this, we can use the dialectical inquiry, or the devil's advocacy approaches used in conflict-based problem solving. Conflict-based problem-solving stresses critical evaluation.

Dialectical Inquiry

To use the dialectical inquiry approach, come up with two separate and opposing solutions, and then critically compare these potential solutions, based on your understanding of the problem, and what you want your solution to do for you. Through intense scrutiny, and evaluation, we can gain a clearer understanding of the situation, and hopefully figure out an effective solution.

For example:

PROBLEM: Need more money

SOLUTION #1

Take a full-time position Key assumption: I can get a full-time job, as a programmer, or a trainer (never been without work) Key assumption: There’s little contracting jobs available (based on the last nine months).

SOLUTION #2 Take more consulting jobs, and or a part-time job
Key assumption: a part-time job would still enable me to continue the other type of contracting jobs I’ve been given Key assumption: There are professional part-time jobs available.

Talking out loud helps, while critically comparing solutions, and any related assumptions we may have about the problem, and the potential solutions. There’s something to our hearing our own words that can help us recognize errors in our thinking. Once you’ve identified, and evaluated all of your assumptions, between both potential solutions, you’ll be able to develop, and fine-tune your ideas.

Identifying assumptions

We all make assumptions, it’s important for us to be able to identify our assumptions, and how they can help, or hinder us in coming up with a viable solution to our problem.

For example, I’ve assumed that I must have more money. There may be additional ways to cut my budget that will not affect negatively my household. For instance, maybe I could reduce how much toner I need to use, for my printer, by communicating more electronically, through emails, text messages, blogs, etc. If I use less toner, than I don’t need to replace the toner as frequently, saving me money!

Play the Devil's Advocacy

Much like dialectical inquiry, the devil's advocacy model used for problem solving, and decision-making is based on conflict. In this approach, you’re going to grill each potential solution, with every possible question, or negative scenario, you can think up.

Like the dialectical inquiry, develop a plan to solve the problem, making sure to write down all identified key assumptions behind your solution, but rather than focus on a critical comparison between two potential solutions, you’ll be focusing on one solution at a time, trying to uncover everything that is wrong with the solution, and any mistaken assumptions you may have, making adjustments to your solutions, based on your conclusions.

It may be difficult to stay objective, in order for these strategies to work, we must be open-minded, and honest with ourselves about our biases, opinions, and fears. It may help if you imagine that you are talking with someone else who is having the problem, you are trying to solve, and it may make it less personal for you.

For example:

What if I don’t get hired?

What if I can’t find any projects?

What if I can't keep the lenders at bay?

What if I end up missing a valuable opportunity that could lead to me realizing my long-term goals, if I take a full time position that doesn’t allow me to telecommute?

Using Conflict Effectively

In both the dialectical approach, and the devil's advocacy approach, structured conflict is a central part of figuring out the best solution.

Do you have a better understanding of the problem you were thinking about when you began reading this article? Do you have a solution in mind?

The following Hubs have instructions, on how to use other problem solving strategies:

Reflective Problem Solving

Creative Problem-Solving