Step or Stage 3:

Goals & Planning

Ideal Problem Solving Needs Goals and Planning

In today’s competitive environment, it is necessary to control time, labor, and budget, and to submit periodic reports and results. Therefore, in complex problem solving, we must have a step or stage for setting goals and having a problem solving plan. These goals may change drastically as work progresses so they must be updated constantly. Goals should be described in writing, not just committed to memory. Serious complex problem solving sometimes requires years of effort, patience, and will power.

Goals: State - Present State - Goal State

  • Imagine what could be or may result from the goal
  • Must be realistic, feasible, and anticipate consequences
  • Should be both long and short term
  • Cover the real purpose and needs involved; stay properly focused
  • Criteria and values must be involved - constraints?
  • Set target dates for stages and completion
  • Aim for exactness on important points, but remember that even in ideal problem solving perfection is not always affordable or adequate resources may not be available
  • How much risk are you willing to take?

Problem Solving Plan - Type of Problem

Problems are often classified in many ways. Some are:

    Textbook, Exercise, Closed End, or Puzzle Problems
    These are highly structured problems that students are taught to solve at all grade levels.


    Structured Problems
    How to solve these problems is usually known or easily found out.


    Complex, Ill-Structured, Real-World Problems
    The way to solve these difficult problems is unknown and the means vary with each problem. These may be of an evaluation type or an open ended developmental type. Complex problem solving is covered in this booklet, and not the first two types above.

Your Problem Solving Plan

Do the following:

  • Often technical or specialized knowledge is needed. If you don’t have what is required, seek help from a specialist.
  • List resources you have available.
  • Keep a good list of tentative solutions.
  • Place priorities on the sub-problems.
  • Organize your problem solving team and problem solving group advisors.
  • Utilize sketches and diagrams.
  • Line up people, facilities, and supplies.
  • Prevent trouble. . . anticipate difficulties.
  • Consider risks involved.
  • Go around obstacles that are difficult to solve.

Your Problem Solving Plan - Consider the Following:

  • What strategies and tools are you going to use?
  • Time, budget, contract requirements, priorities
  • Laws, licenses, legalities, patent searches, environment, and impact on society
  • What action methods will you use?
  • Consulting people involved - have advisory committee
  • Read articles on planning
  • Data needed, what must be done?
  • What stresses are involved for you and others? Understand your emotions
  • People being studied react differently than they normally would
  • What instruments or equipment will you need?

Ideal Problem Solving - Remember as You Proceed

Use a computer and problem solving software to help you. Computers were invented to provide problem solvers with figures, information, procedural methods, and mind expanding programs.

Use math, math programs, and models whenever possible in problem solving.

Use the internet, books, and libraries as a source of information.

  • Develop a desire for accuracy and control personal characteristics. Analyze your reasoning as you go forward.
  • It is important to use bounded rationality if practical as many problems only require a satisfactory solution. See Step or Stage 7.
  • Suspend judgment until your final conclusion and even beyond that.
  • Develop your learning skills. Use analogies.
  • Problem solving consequences - If your problem solving plan is carried out in both short term and long term. What other problems are affected?

Find out if others have tried to solve this problem or a related problem.

Thinking out loud by yourself or with associates may help.

Next - Steps or Stages 4 and 5: While Steps or Stages 4 and 5 are listed as separate stages, you should be aware the entire time that you are gathering evidence so be alert for creative and logical solutions.