The Ten Commandments of Problem Solving
The Epistemology of a Problem Solver.
“All Problems that do not defy the laws of physics are soluble. The question is: ‘Can we solve them in time?’” - David Deutsch
If your goal is to become a better problem solver, we suggest trying to be mindful of the following TEN COMMANDMENTS OF PROBLEM SOLVING.
They are as follows:
1) Start with the problem, and try to identify it correctly. Most people fail with this first step. Identifying the problem correctly is a problem in itself, and it should be identified explicitly.
2) Believe that all problems that do not defy the laws of physics are solvable, because they are. This isn’t optimism in the prophetic sense. But it is the root of the Theory of Optimism.
3) Seek out as much information about the problem as possible. Find other people who may have already previously solved the problem, failed to solve the problem, or opened ideas on how to solve it, and try to learn from them.
4) Attempt to solve problem in highly aligned, high-trust groups whenever possible, using systems that prevent echo chambers, low rung thinking, and groupthink. Humans solve problems better in groups, but there are also perils in groups that must be accounted for.
5) Make sure all individual members of a problem-solving group understand the problem. This may require study and effort, but it almost always does not require expertise in the entire field of study. In other words, experts are not needed to solve problems, only people who understand the problem are needed. However that understanding might require a level of study.
6) Come up with intelligent guesses on how to solve it better. All science knowledge comes from conjecture, i.e. creative and purposeful guessing with incomplete information. We can turn these conjectures into hypotheses and eventually theories. To aggregate conjectures from large crowds, use systems such as human swarm intelligence systems, think tanks, idea labs, and other collective intelligence and collective creativity systems.
7) Test hypotheses and be results-driven. Use clearly stated metrics to measure solutions whenever possible, and set specific goals for your problem solving attempts. When two or more theories arise, find ways to experiment them against each other.
8) Solve the problem with systems whenever possible, over humans. People are fallible. Systems are less so. If the solution is to “hire better people” or “elect better people” or “find the right person” then it is only a temporary solution, and it is an easily corruptible solution. A well designed systemic solution is nearly always more trustworthy, longer lasting, harder to corrupt, and easier to build upon. Of course other solutions like new knowledge, new laws of physics, new equations, and more can be solutions as well. But when given a choice between a human and a well constructed system, choose the less fallible of the two.
9) Nurture error correction. Have trustworthy systems that use error correction for growth. No theory is ever settled. In fact we are trying to disprove all theories by testing them and experimenting against them when other new theories arise. Error correction is the heartbeat of good problem solving.
10) Seek to understand. Be on a quest to discover and create new explanatory knowledge. A “good explanation” is one that makes narrow predictions, is hard to vary, and is testable. The main goal of all understanding, problem solving, and science is to create explanatory knowledge in order to better problem solve both now and in the future.
Thanks for reading!
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For over 3 billion years on this planet there were only single-celled organisms. Then one day they somehow learned to work together and make complex multi-celled creatures . Right now we are like those single-celled organisms. Our next evolution is finding how to work together, better… (like we wrote about here).
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I think this is a good list. We may sometimes find that assumed problems aren't really problems at all but just interpreted inappropriately.
11 : NEVER EVER try to solve a problem with the same mindset that created it in the 1st. place !!
For sure, you know whose quote this is.