Expert answer:5- Assignments
Expert answer:TUX Case Mod 1 Case Assignment Reflection Questions If Melanie decides to get a technical certificate and not pursue a college degree, how do you see it affecting her future:in the short run, andin the long run?Do you see any way Melanie might strike a balance between pursuing her career interest and obtaining her college degree so that she could work toward achieving both goals at the same time?Can you relate to Melanie’s story in any way, or do you know anyone else who is having a similar experience? File Name TUX101_Mod2_Case1_ Sandi ______________________________________________________________________________ BUS101Case Mod1 Write a 2- to 3-page paper reviewing how you researched Problem Solving using the Internet. Find two websites on Problem Solving to use in writing your paper Your paper should discuss the following: How you found your websites/references on Problem Solving and how you applied the key guidelines to identifying credible Internet sources.Compare the two methods of Problem Solving that you found and comment on which you think is most useful to you.Report any issues you had conducting your research and/or formatting your document in Microsoft Word. STEP 4: Format your paper to the Assignment Expectations below. Assignment Expectations Format your paper using the following parameters: Center the title, your name, and date on a separate page. Use Times New Roman and 14 point font. Bold the title onlySet Left and Right margins at 1 inchNumber the pagesInsert a footerIntroduction: Left justifiedTimes New Roman, 12 point fontLine spacing at 1 ½Middle Paragraphs Use bulleted list in one paragraphInsert a picture or chartConclusion Right justifiedTimes New Roman, 11 point fontLine spacing at singleComplete a word count of the entire document and report it at the end of your document before the References section.Include a References section using the guidelines from the Trident University Writing Style Guide provided above. Include this site as a reference in addition to the two sites you found on Problem Solving.Upload your document as a Word doc or pdf into the Case drop box by the module due date. Name of FileBUS101_Mod1_Case Sandi ____________________________________________________________________________ BUS101Case Mod1 Write a 2- to 3-page paper reviewing how you researched Problem Solving using the Internet. Find two websites on Problem Solving to use in writing your paper. Your paper should discuss the following: How you found your websites/references on Problem Solving and how you applied the key guidelines to identifying credible Internet sources.Compare the two methods of Problem Solving that you found and comment on which you think is most useful to you.Report any issues you had conducting your research and/or formatting your document in Microsoft Word. STEP 4: Format your paper to the Assignment Expectations below. Assignment Expectations Format your paper using the following parameters: Center the title, your name, and date on a separate page. Use Times New Roman and 14 point font. Bold the title onlySet Left and Right margins at 1 inchNumber the pagesInsert a footerIntroduction: Left justifiedTimes New Roman, 12 point fontLine spacing at 1 ½Middle Paragraphs Use bulleted list in one paragraphInsert a picture or chartConclusion Right justifiedTimes New Roman, 11 point fontLine spacing at singleComplete a word count of the entire document and report it at the end of your document before the References section.Include a References section using the guidelines from the Trident University Writing Style Guide provided above. Include this site as a reference in addition to the two sites you found on Problem Solving.Upload your document as a Word doc or pdf into the Case drop box by the module due date. Name of FileBUS101_Mod1_Case Stephanie ______________________________________________________________________________ SLP 1 When faced with a problem, what do you do to solve it? In this SLP assignment you will apply a systematic approach to problem solving. SLP 1 is divided into two (2) parts. In Part I, of the assignment, you will read three (3) articles that present variations on step-by-step problem solving strategies and then select one (1) of these strategies; you will engage in pre-writing to develop a solution to a problem scenario. In Part II of the assignment, you will present a synthesis of your ideas about solving the problem. As Voltaire said, “No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.” There are multiple elements to this SLP. Please make sure that you follow the requirements very carefully and double-check your work against the requirements before uploading. Part I Preparation and Pre-writing: Follow the steps below to explore a problem through reading and writing – 1. Choose one (1) of the problem scenarios as a topic choice for your paper Scenario 4: You are a sales representative for a company that encourages staff to log time in the field and away from the office. You are expected to begin and end your day at the office. You notice that each day when you arrive and return another co-worker is already there, and you wonder whether this person spends most of his / her time at the office. At your weekly sales meeting, you are informed of your co-workers’ outstanding sales performance. You suspect that this co-worker is spending more time flattering the boss instead of working leads in the field, and as a result is getting the best client referrals. Your own sales numbers have steadily decreased since this other sales representative was hired. 2. Read the following articles: “Einstein’s Secret to Amazing Problem Solving (and 10 Specific Ways You Can Use It),” located at https://tinyurl.com/5ft7lm“The Problem Solving Process,” located at https://tinyurl.com/yjngchc“Interpersonal Conflict and Effective Communication,” located at https://tinyurl.com/5nvvlj 3. Select one (1) of the step-by-step problem solving strategies outlined in one (1) of the articles. Using the chosen problem solving strategy as a model, brainstorm ideas for each of the steps to develop a solution to the problem scenario you chose. Part II Synthesizing and Writing: Now that you have developed a solution to the problem by pre-writing about your ideas – Write a paper in which you: Analyze the problem scenario that you have chosen, and organize your analysis into sections that correlate to each step in the selected problem solving strategy.Apply each step within the selected problem solving strategy to related elements of the scenario that you have chosen.Suggest alternative actions to the situation(s) within the scenario that correspond to each of the steps within the selected problem solving strategy.Speculate on whether or not the same problem-solving strategy would be effective if used with different scenarios. The paper should follow guidelines for clear and organized writing: Write at least one paragraph for each of 1-4 above using complete sentences.Address main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.Adhere to standard rules of English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.After you have reread and edited your paragraphs, add an introductory paragraph and concluding paragraph. Your introductory paragraph should begin with a broad sentence such as “There are many approaches to solving any problems…” or “When faced with a problem I find…” Then continue with more specific information about what you will discuss in your paper.Your concluding paragraph should summarize your problem solving approach and reflect on the things you have learned from the assignment. SLP Assignment Expectations In addition to the above writing guidelines, your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: Center the title, your name, and date on a separate page. Use Times New Roman, 14 pointBold the title onlySet Left and Right margins at 1 inchNumber the pages File Name is BUS101_Mod1_SLP1_ Sandi ______________________________________________________________________________ Module 1 – SLP Word Processing and Problem Solving Techniques SLP 1 When faced with a problem, what do you do to solve it? In this SLP assignment you will apply a systematic approach to problem solving. SLP 1 is divided into two (2) parts. In Part I, of the assignment, you will read three (3) articles that present variations on step-by-step problem solving strategies and then select one (1) of these strategies; you will engage in pre-writing to develop a solution to a problem scenario. In Part II of the assignment, you will present a synthesis of your ideas about solving the problem. As Voltaire said, “No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.” There are multiple elements to this SLP. Please make sure that you follow the requirements very carefully and double-check your work against the requirements before uploading. Part I Preparation and Pre-writing: Follow the steps below to explore a problem through reading and writing – 1. Choose one (1) of the problem scenarios as a topic choice for your paper Scenario 3: You have two jobs—one during the week from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and one on Saturday from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm. You are taking two classes—one that meets from 6:00 to 10:00 pm, and one class online. You have two kids—one who plays soccer, and one who is in band. You have two elderly parents who no longer drive. You have two siblings—one who lives two (2) miles away, and one who lives in another state. You have two (2) papers due in your classes the same week that one (1) of your children has a soccer tournament, and the other child has a band concert. You are coaching the soccer team, and you are in charge of fundraising for the band. You have a goal to complete your degree in two (2) years. Your doctor tells you that your blood pressure, your cholesterol, and your weight are too high and recommends several medications that cost you nearly $200 per month after your insurance co-pay. 2. Read the following articles: “Einstein’s Secret to Amazing Problem Solving (and 10 Specific Ways You Can Use It),” located at https://tinyurl.com/5ft7lm“The Problem Solving Process,” located at https://tinyurl.com/yjngchc“Interpersonal Conflict and Effective Communication,” located at https://tinyurl.com/5nvvlj 3. Select one (1) of the step-by-step problem solving strategies outlined in one (1) of the articles. Using the chosen problem solving strategy as a model, brainstorm ideas for each of the steps to develop a solution to the problem scenario you chose. Part II Synthesizing and Writing: Now that you have developed a solution to the problem by pre-writing about your ideas – Write a paper in which you: Analyze the problem scenario that you have chosen, and organize your analysis into sections that correlate to each step in the selected problem solving strategy.Apply each step within the selected problem solving strategy to related elements of the scenario that you have chosen.Suggest alternative actions to the situation(s) within the scenario that correspond to each of the steps within the selected problem solving strategy.Speculate on whether or not the same problem-solving strategy would be effective if used with different scenarios. The paper should follow guidelines for clear and organized writing: Write at least one paragraph for each of 1-4 above using complete sentences.Address main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.Adhere to standard rules of English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.After you have reread and edited your paragraphs, add an introductory paragraph and concluding paragraph. Your introductory paragraph should begin with a broad sentence such as “There are many approaches to solving any problems…” or “When faced with a problem I find…” Then continue with more specific information about what you will discuss in your paper.Your concluding paragraph should summarize your problem solving approach and reflect on the things you have learned from the assignment. SLP Assignment Expectations In addition to the above writing guidelines, your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: Center the title, your name, and date on a separate page. Use Times New Roman, 14 pointBold the title onlySet Left and Right margins at 1 inchNumber the pages Note: Please do not sin the article .File Name is BUS101_Mod1_SLP1_ Stephanie _________________________________________________________________________________ BUS101 Mod 1 Case 1 When faced with a problem, what do you do to solve it? There are many ways to approach a problem. In this first Case Assignment, you will apply basic research and word processing skills to write a brief review of problem-solving techniques found in an Internet search. There are multiple elements to this Case Assignment. Please make sure that you follow the requirements very carefully and double-check your work against the requirements before uploading. STEP 3: Write a 2- to 3-page paper reviewing how you researched Problem Solving using the Internet. Find two websites on Problem Solving to use in writing your paper Your paper should discuss the following: How you found your websites/references on Problem Solving and how you applied the key guidelines to identifying credible Internet sources.Compare the two methods of Problem Solving that you found and comment on which you think is most useful to you.Report any issues you had conducting your research and/or formatting your document in Microsoft Word. STEP 4: Format your paper to the Assignment Expectations below. File Name is BUS101_Mod1_Case1 _Sandi When faced with a problem, what do you do to solve it? There are many ways to approach a problem. In this first Case Assignment, you will apply basic research and word processing skills to write a brief review of problem-solving techniques found in an Internet search. There are multiple elements to this Case Assignment. Please make sure that you follow the requirements very carefully and double-check your work against the requirements before uploading. STEP 3: Write a 2- to 3-page paper reviewing how you researched Problem Solving using the Internet. Find two websites on Problem Solving to use in writing your paper Your paper should discuss the following: How you found your websites/references on Problem Solving and how you applied the key guidelines to identifying credible Internet sources.Compare the two methods of Problem Solving that you found and comment on which you think is most useful to you.Report any issues you had conducting your research and/or formatting your document in Microsoft Word. STEP 4: Format your paper to the Assignment Expectations below. File Name is BUS101_Mod1_Case1 _Stephanie
einstein__amazing_problem.docx
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Einstein’s Secret to Amazing Problem
Solving (and 10 Specific Ways You Can Use
It)
Einstein is quoted as having said that if he had one hour to save the world he would spend fiftyfive minutes defining the problem and only five minutes finding the solution.
This quote does illustrate an important point: before jumping right into solving a problem, we
should step back and invest time and effort to improve our understanding of it. Here are 10
strategies you can use to see problems from many different perspectives and master what is the
most important step in problem solving: clearly defining the problem in the first place!
The Problem Is To Know What the Problem Is
The definition of the problem will be the focal point of all your problem-solving efforts. As
such, it makes sense to devote as much attention and dedication to problem definition as
possible. What usually happens is that as soon as we have a problem to work on we’re so eager
to get to solutions that we neglect spending any time refining it.
What most of us don’t realize — and what supposedly Einstein might have been alluding to — is
that the quality of the solutions we come up with will be in direct proportion to the quality
of the description of the problem we’re trying to solve. Not only will your solutions be more
abundant and of higher quality, but they’ll be achieved much, much more easily. Most
importantly, you’ll have the confidence to be tackling a worthwhile problem.
Problem Definition Tools and Strategies
The good news is that getting different perspectives and angles in order to clearly define a
problem is a skill that can be learned and developed. As such, there are many strategies you
can use to perfect it. Here are the 10 most effective ones I know.
1. Rephrase the Problem
When a Toyota executive asked employees to brainstorm “ways to increase their productivity”,
all he got back were blank stares. When he rephrased his request as “ways to make their jobs
easier”, he could barely keep up with the amount of suggestions.
Words carry strong implicit meaning and, as such, play a major role in how we perceive a
problem. In the example above, ‘be productive’ might seem like a sacrifice you’re doing for the
company, while ‘make your job easier’ may be more like something you’re doing for your own
benefit, but from which the company also benefits. In the end, the problem is still the same, but
the feelings — and the points of view — associated with each of them are vastly different.
Play freely with the problem statement, rewording it several times. For a methodic approach,
take single words and substitute variations. ‘Increase sales’? Try replacing ‘increase’ with
‘attract’, ‘develop’, ‘extend’, ‘repeat’ and see how your perception of the problem changes. A
rich vocabulary plays an important role here, so you may want to use a thesaurus or develop your
vocabulary.
2. Expose and Challenge Assumptions
Every problem — no matter how apparently simple it may be — comes with a long list of
assumptions attached. Many of these assumptions may be inaccurate and could make your
problem statement inadequate or even misguided.
The first step to get rid of bad assumptions is to make them explicit. Write a list and expose as
many assumptions as you can — especially those that may seem the most obvious and
‘untouchable’.
That, in itself, brings more clarity to the problem at hand. But go further and test each
assumption for validity: think in ways that they might not be valid and their consequences. What
you will find may surprise you: that many of those bad assumptions are self-imposed — with just
a bit of scrutiny you are able to safely drop them.
For example, suppose you’re about to enter the restaurant business. One of your assumptions
might be ‘restaurants have a menu’. While such an assumption may seem true at first, try
challenging it and maybe you’ll find some very interesting business models (such as one
restaurant in which customers bring dish ideas for the chef to cook, for example).
3. Chunk Up
Each problem is a small piece of a greater problem. In the same way that you can explore a
problem laterally — such as by playing with words or challenging assumptions — you can also
explore it at different “altitudes”.
If you feel you’re overwhelmed with details or looking at a problem too narrowly, look at it from
a more general perspective. In order to make your problem more general, ask questions such as:
“What’s this a part of?”, “What’s this an example of?” or “What’s the intention behind this?”.
For a detailed explanation of how this principle works, check the article Boost Your Brainstorm
Effectiveness with the Why Habit.
Another approach that helps a lot in getting a more general view of a problem is replacing words
in the problem statement with hypernyms. Hypernyms are words that have a broader meaning
than the given word. (For example, a hypernym of ‘car’ is ‘vehicle’). A great, free tool for
finding hypernyms for a given word is WordNet (just search for a word and click on the ‘S:’
label before the word definitions).
4. Chunk Down
If each problem is part of a greater problem, it also means that each problem is composed of
many smaller problems. It turns out that decomposing a problem in many smaller problems —
each of them more specific than the original — can also provide greater insights about it.
‘Chunking the problem down’ (making it more specific) is especially useful if you find the
problem overwhelming or daunting.
Some of the typical questions you can ask to make a problem more specific are: “What are parts
of this?” or “What are examples of this?”.
Just as in ‘chunking up’, word substitution can also come to great use here. The class of words
that are useful here are hyponyms: words that are stricter in meaning than the given one. (E.g.
two hyponyms of ‘car’ are ‘minivan’ and ‘limousine’). WordNet can also help you finding
hyponyms.
5. Find Multiple Perspectives
Before rushing to solve a problem, always make sure you look at it from different perspectives.
Looking at it with different eyes is a great way to have instant insight on new, overlooked
directions.
For example, if you own a business and are trying to ‘increase sales’, try to view this problem
from the point of view of, say, a customer. For example, from the customer’s viewpoint, this
may be a matter of adding features to your product that one would be willing to pay more for.
Rewrite your problem statement many times, each time using one of these different perspectives.
How would your competition see this problem? Your employees? Your mom?
Also, imagine how people in various roles would frame the problem. How would a politician see
it? A college professor? A nun? Try to find the differences and similarities on how the different
roles would deal with your problem.
6. Use Effective Language Constructs
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula for properly crafting the perfect problem statement, but
there are some language constructs that always help making it more effective:
•
Assume a myriad of solutions. An excellent way to start a problem statement is: “In
what ways might I…”. This expression is much superior to “How can I…” as it hints that
there’s a multitude of solutions, and not just one — or maybe none. As simple as this
sounds, the feeling of expectancy helps your brain find solutions.
•
•
•
Make it positive. Negative sentences require a lot more cognitive power to process and
may slow you down — or even derail your train of thought. Positive statements also help
you find the real goal behind the problem and, as such, are much more motivating.
For example: instead of finding ways to ‘quit smoking’, you may find that ‘increase your
energy’, ‘live longer’ and others are much more worthwhile goals.
Frame your problem in the form of a question. Our brain loves questions. If the
question is powerful and engaging, our brains will do everything within their reach to
answer it. We just can’t help it: Our brains will start working on the problem immediately
and keep working in the background, even when we’re not aware of it.
If you’re still stuck, consider using the following formula for phrasing your problem
statement:
“In what ways (action) (object) (qualifier) (end result)?”
Example: In what ways might I package (action) my book (object) more attractively
(qualifier) so people will buy more of it (end result)?
7. Make It Engaging
In addition to using effective language constructs, it’s important to come up with a problem
statement that truly excites you so you’re in the best frame of mind for creatively tackling the
problem. If the problem looks too dull for you, invest the time adding vigor to it while still
keeping it genuine. Make it enticing. Your brain will thank (and reward) you later.
One thing is to ‘increase sales’ (boring), another one is ‘wow your customers’. One thing is ‘to
create a personal development blog’, another completely different is to ’empower readers to live
fully’.
8. Reverse the Problem
One trick that usually helps when you’re stuck with a problem is turning it on its head.
If you want to win, find out what would make you lose. If you are struggling finding ways to
‘increase sales’, find ways to decrease them instead. Then, all you need to do is reverse your
answers. ‘Make more sales calls’ may seem an evident way of increasing sales, but sometimes
we only see these ‘obvious’ answers when we look at the problem from an opposite direction.
This seemingly convoluted method may not seem intuitive at first, but turning a problem on its
head can uncover rather obvious solutions to the original problem.
9. Gather Facts
Investigate causes and circumstances of the problem. Probe details about it — such as its origins
and causes. Especially if you have a problem that’s too vague, investigating facts is usually more
productive than trying to solve it right away.
If, for example, the problem stated by your spouse is “You never listen to me”, the solution is not
obvious. However, if the statement is “You don’t make enough eye contact when I’m talking to
you,” then the solution is obvious and you can skip brainstorming altogether. (You’ll still need to
work on the implementation, though!)
Ask yourself questions about the problem. What is not known about it? Can you draw a diagram
of the problem? What are the problem boundaries? Be curious. Ask questions and gather facts. It
is said that a well-defined problem is halfway to being solved: I would add that a perfectlydefined problem is not a problem anymore.
10. Problem-Solve Your Problem Statement
I know I risk getting into an infinite loop here, but as you may have noticed, getting the right
perspective of a problem is, well, a problem in itself. As such, feel free to use any creative
thinking technique you know to help. There are plenty to choose from:
You may want to give yourself an Idea Quota of problem statements. Or write a List of 100
problems to solve. SCAMPER your problem definition. These are just some of dozen techniques
you can try.
Of course, how much effort you invest in defining the problem in contrast to how much effort
you invest in solving your actual problem is a hard balance to achieve, though one which is
attainable with practice.
Personally, I don’t think that 55 minutes of defining a problem versus 5 minutes acting on it is
usually a good proportion. The point is that we must be aware of how important problem
defining is and correct our tendency to spend too little time on it.
In fact, when you start paying more attention to how you define your problems, you’ll probably
find that it is usually much harder than solving them. But you’ll also find that the payoff is well
worth the effort.
References:
•
•
Einstein’s Portrait: Yousuf Karsh.
Einstein’s Quote: Cracking Creativity.
…
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