Module 6 · Thinking & Decisions

Solving problems

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Finding the real problem before solving the wrong one.

By the end of this module

You will define problems clearly, tell symptoms from causes, break big problems down, test your assumptions with small experiments, and know when to simplify or ask for help.

Lessons

• What is the real problem? — Most stuck problems are being defined wrongly. Defining it well is half the work. (8 min)
• Symptoms and root causes — Treating what hurts is not the same as fixing what causes it. (7 min)
• Breaking a complex problem down — Split it into parts, find the constraints, and simplify where you can. (8 min)
• Options, assumptions and small tests — Generate more than one idea, name what you are assuming, and test it cheaply. (8 min)
• When an attempt fails — and when to ask for help — A failed attempt is data. So is the moment you realise you need someone else. (7 min)