Problems, probLEMS and PROBlems
Life is full of problems, isn’t it? Be
it managerial, psychological, mathematical, chemical, physical or in the form
of whatever word ending in “-al”, one has to face problems and come out with
solutions. Mind you, finding the problem itself is not a child’s play in the
first place, but, once found, a question remains if all problems need to be
solved? What I intend to mean becomes clear when we consider that whenever
faced with some problem, there are just three options. First, and the most
preferred option, is to eliminate the problem forever from the root. Second
acceptable choice is to conquer and change the situation to your favour. And if
both fail, then accept it as-is and bear with it forever. In some cases,
the third option does make sense and saves a lot of time, effort and
deliberation if the problem is akin to a dog’s tail.
Problem’s out there… How to solve?
Having introduced ourselves to the
problem and its nature, it can be categorized as either simple or complex.
Likewise, the solutions to problems could also be simple or quite complex. If
we imagine a 2 x 2 matrix of problems and solutions, then the part where
complex solutions solve complex problems is the most elusive and specialized in
terms of competence. Although such a combination does bring out the best, the
solutions cater to a chosen few. What fun in that?
Simple Problem
(I)
And Simple Solution
|
Simple Problem
(II)
And Complex Solution
|
Complex Problem
(III)
And Simple Solution
|
Complex
Problem (IV)
And Complex Solution
|
A common phrase in everyday
parlance is K.I.S.S intending to mean “Keep it Simple, Stupid!”! A popular
notion or perception is that solutions to complex problems need to be complex,
more on the lines of saying “More is better”. Yet, a commonly unrecognized fact
remains that, on occasions, keeping things simple is the right way to
go.
In my opinion,
the mark of a genius lies in solving complex problems in a simple manner, with
a deft trick of sorts. Solutions which are not understandable to the masses and
cannot be reproduced are of little use, especially in a managerial sense. And,
they are not very attractive, to say the least, are they? On the other hand,
the subtlety and guile of a simple solution or trick captivates the audience
and a single piece of a puzzle is sufficient to unravel the whole mystery. If
that piece is found, you have conquered the whole thing!
A simple example of a Rubik’s cube
comes to mind. On the face of it, the cube presents a complex problem to be
solved in terms of aligning coloured faces once scrambled. Since the scrambling
is random, a host of problems can be devised. Yet, the knowledge of a generic
algorithm does the trick and is enough to solve each and every problem. This is
a basic tenet of Creative Problem Solving. The solution to the problem lies in
a subtle step which makes the solution simple. Yet, when that step is known,
the nature of the problem and the solution both get undermined. Perhaps this is
the reason why the whole thing becomes trivial and the purpose or learning
behind the whole process is lost.
Creative Problem Solving
If you are thinking you have heard
of problem solving before and from where this “Creative” popped in, then let me
enlighten you with a fact that Creative Problem Solving basically entails
creating solutions to problems from scratch rather than employ already deployed
ones. A problem, simple or complex, can have multiple solutions. Each solution
has a niche element associated with it and when an entrepreneur taps into a
particular solution, an organization is born. The Khan Academy was born out of
a problem of educating kids. Hasn’t this been solved before? Yet, why has the
way Khan Academy has grown in terms of popularity the way it has? It is just
that the entire process of pedagogy is made simpler and more interactive. A
niche way to solve a known problem and there you go, the man is a hero today!
Solutions to the
problem of education have been found before yet none simpler than what Sal Khan
thought of. The differentiating factor lies in the solution yet, in retrospect,
couldn’t anyone have made a video at home to teach stuff and posted it in YouTube?
Being simple is complex
Seems ironical, isn’t it? Why
should being simple be difficult? Most of us have heard the phrase “Common
sense is uncommon in common people”. It is a wonder as to why that should be
true. One reason might be that our minds are trained and oriented towards
convention, towards a notion that as problems get bigger, so do the solutions.
We are essentially moving just between quadrants I and IV in the matrix and
somewhere down the line we missed the existence of the other two quadrants. Of
course, quadrant II is not fancied at all. But, quadrant III is where the fun
lies!
We all want fun to be part of our
lives. So, how do we make ourselves fit in quadrant III? As they say, the first
step towards solving a problem is to BEGIN. And, probably we are going wrong in
the first step itself by not creating solutions but incorporating solutions
learnt from someplace else. Perhaps, Edward de Bono can help us out with one of
his videos here.
Or perhaps what makes things complex is that we do not have an outlook, a goal
to look forward to and direct our efforts towards achieving that goal.
Creativity in Organizations
The
“Survival of the fittest” rule for organizations in the new age world can
better be modified to be called survival of the cleverest, nippiest and the
most innovative for organizations need to constantly innovate and come up with
creative solutions to customer requirements posing as problems. Failure to do
so can lead to obsolescence pretty soon. Not just create and innovate, an
organization needs to take that step further and maintain its supremacy over
time. Take the case of Motorola, for example, which invented the cell phone.
Others have gone ahead and beyond with that technology now with Samsung leading
from the front and Motorola has well and truly missed the bus.
And, no organization can learn to be creative in a day right?
You either have that creative edge in your DNA, like Google or Apple, or hire
creative people so that the organizational culture is transitioned over time.
As organizations grow and prosper, problems are faced on a larger, more complex
scale. And, if you have read till now, it should be aptly clear that the
simpler the solution to a complex problem, the better it is!
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