PART 2:

PROBLEM SOLVING

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this session, students should be
able to:
1. Define the term problem solving.
2. Explain the steps involved in problem solving.
3. Describe various problem solving tools with
examples how to use the tools.
4. Create a problem and Apply the steps in
problem solving to solve the problem.
MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Contents

Definition of Problem Solving

Steps in Problem Solving
Problem Solving Tools
References

Problem Solving
What is problem solving?
- A systematic approach to defining the problem
and creating a possible solutions.
- The process of transforming the description of
a problem into the solution by using knowledge
of the problem domain and use appropriate
problem solving strategies, techniques, and
tools.
MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Steps in Problem Solving

PROBLEM SOLVED!!

Evaluate the outcome

Develop a Plan

4
3

Analyse the Problem

Define the Problem

If the problem isnt

solved

Implement the Plan

2
1

MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Step 1: Define the problem.

- The first step in problem solving is to define
precisely the problem that you want to solve.
- Think through the key facts about the problem,
and gather any relevant information.
- It is a good idea to be able to look at the
problem from the perspective of multiple people.
- This can be accomplished through selecting
a group that will look at and define the problem
from their perspectives.
MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Step 1: Define the problem (contd)

- Engineers solve problems by creating new
products, systems, or environments.
- Before creating something, it is very important to
define the problem. Otherwise, you might build
something only to find that it does not meet the
original goal.
- To define your problem, answer each of these
questions:
What is the problem or need?
Who has the problem or need?
Why is it important to solve?

MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Step 2: Analyse the problem.

- To act most effectively, at the root of the
problem, you should analyse its causes and
prioritize the most important factors.
- Acting on those critical causal factors will solve
most of the problem.
- The following are some of the principal tools
that enable you to analyse and prioritize the
root causes of identified problems and to assist
in problem-solving activities.
MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Problem Solving Tools

- They are many tools that could be used to
analyse the problem.
- Some of them are:
1. Cause-and-effect diagram (Ishikawa or
Fishbone diagram)
2. Flowchart
3. Histogram
4. T-chart
5. Brainstorming
MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Cause-and-effect diagram (Ishikawa

or Fishbone diagram)
- A diagram that presents a systematic
representation of the relationship between the
effect (result) and affecting factors (causes).
- Solving a problem in a scientific manner requires
clarification of a cause and effect relationship,
where the effect varies according to factors.
- To obtain a good work result, you must identify
the effects of various factors and develop
measures to improve the result accordingly.
MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Cause-and-effect diagram (Ishikawa

or Fishbone diagram) (contd)
Example1

Smudges on the
copied surface
Internal devices not
working smoothly

Quality of
Copying Paper

Malfunction of
the roller
Printing too
lightly

Running out
of stock
Too thin
Dampened
Folded

Deterioration of
Error in
performance due
placement of
to high
paper (setting
temperatures
its face up)

Keyboard handling
error
Error in selecting a
scale of reduction

User

Error in
selecting
shading

Nicotinestained

Dirt on the
glass
surface
Dust

Many Copying Errors!

Mechanism of
Copying Machine

Surrounding
Environment MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Cause-and-effect diagram (Ishikawa

or Fishbone diagram) (contd)
Example 2

MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Cause-and-effect diagram (Ishikawa

or Fishbone diagram) (contd)

MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Flowchart
- A flow chart is a graphical representation of a
process by a different symbols and contains a
short description of the process step.
- They illustrate the flow of an activity or process
from beginning to end.
- Flowcharts are used in analysing, designing,
documenting or managing a process or
program in various fields.
MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Flowchart (contd)
The standard symbols generally used are:
SYMBOL

DEFINITION

Process steps.
Decisions, or branches in
the process.
Connectors which act as
jump nodes from one
showing where the process
starts and stops.
Process flow direction.
MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Flowchart (contd)
Example 1

MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Flowchart (contd)
Example 2

MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Histogram
- A histogram is a bar chart mainly used to show
the frequency of certain activities.
- In a histogram, the horizontal axis signifies
some quality being measured, while the vertical
axis measures frequency.
- It is similar to a Bar Chart, but a histogram
groups numbers into ranges.

MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Histogram
Example 1

MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Histogram
Example 2

MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

T-chart
- T-Chart (also known as weighted decision making
method) is an organizational tool that is designed to
place information into two separate columns.
- The purpose of the two columns is to enable group
compare various ideas and, in the end, make better
decisions.
- Topics can include anything that can be cleanly divided
into two. For example, evaluating the pros and cons of
a major decision is a common use of T-Charts.
- Other opposing views that work well include facts vs.
opinions, advantages and disadvantages or strengths
and weaknesses.
MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

T-chart example (contd)

- This example weighs the pros and cons of buying
a new car to replace an old car.
- The weighted pros and cons are purely examples;
they are not in any way suggestions of how you
should make such a decision.
- the decision-making criteria depend on our own
personal situations and preferences and your
criteria and weighting will change according to
time, situation, and probably your mood too.
MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

T-chart example (contd)

Should I replace my old car with a new one?
pros (for - advantages)

score

cons (against - disadvantages)

score

better comfort

cost outlay will mean making sacrifices

lower fuel costs

higher insurance

lower servicing costs

time and hassle to choose and buy it

better for family use

disposal or sale of old car

better reliability

big decisions like this scare and upset

me

it'll be a load off my mind

total 6 pros

20

total 5 cons

16
MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

T-chart (contd)
- Use whatever scoring method you want to. The
example shows low scores but you can score
each item up to 10, or 20 or 100, whatever
makes sense to you personally.

MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Brainstorming
- Brainstorming is a technique for generating
useful ideas through open discussion among
team members.
- It works by focusing on a problem, and then
deliberately coming up with as many
deliberately unusual solutions as possible and
by pushing the ideas as far as possible
- Brainstorming is not appropriate for testing an
idea; it is used to generate ideas
MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Brainstorming (contd)
- There are four basic rules in brainstorming:
1. No criticism: Criticism of ideas are withheld during the
brainstorming session as the purpose is on generating varied
and unusual ideals and extending or adding to these ideas.
Criticism is reserved for the evaluation stage of the process.
This allows the members to feel comfortable with the idea of
generating unusual ideas.
2. Welcome unusual ideas: Unusual ideas are welcomed as it is
normally easier to "tame down" than to "tame up" as new
ways of thinking and looking at the world may provide better
solutions.
3. Quantity Wanted: The greater the number of ideas generated,
the greater the chance of producing a radical and effective
solution.
4. Combine and improve ideas: Not only are a variety of ideals
wanted, but also ways to combine ideas in order to make them
better.
MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Brainstorming (contd)
Brainstorming steps:
Gather the participants from as wide a range of disciplines
with as broad a range of experience as possible. This brings
many more creative ideas to the session.
Write down a brief description of the problem - the leader
should take control of the session, initially defining the
problem to be solved with any criteria that must be met, and
then keeping the session on course.
Write down all the solutions that come to mind. Do NOT
interpret the idea.
Once all the solutions have been written down, evaluate the
list to determine the best action to correct the problem.
MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Step 3: Develop a plan.

- Once the solution has been selected, develops
an action plan outlining how to implement the
solution.
- The plan should include action steps for
implementation, responsibilities for specific
steps, target completion dates, and an
evaluation plan, including timelines.

MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Step 4: Implement the plan.

- Once a plan of action has finished, we can start
executing the plan.
- During this step, it must be supervised and
monitored to ensure that the plan is followed
accurately, implementing corrective action
when necessary.

MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Step 5: Evaluate the outcome.

- The final step is to evaluate to outcome of the
executed plan. It is important to measure and
analyse its success.
- This tells you whether the solution has been
effective in solving the problem and how useful
it will be in solving similar problems in the
future.

MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

References

Short, P. & Greer, J. (2002). Leadership in empowered schools: Themes from innovative efforts. Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
St. Croix River Education District (n.d.). Problem solving model. Retrieved on March 8, 2010, from:
http://www.scred.k12.mn.us/School/Index.cfm/go:site.Page/Page:29/Area:8/index.html
Zimmerman, J. (2006). Why some teachers resist change and what principals can do about it. NASSP
Bulletin 90(3), 238-249.

MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL

Exercise
1. Define term problem solving
2. List and Explain the steps in problem
solving.
3. State and Describe five tools that could
be use to analyse the problem. Provide
example to support your answer.
4. Create one example of problem and
Apply problem solving steps to solved the
problem.
MUHAMMAD ISHA ISMAIL